SALEM — Matt Buchanan, a Connect for Success program educator at Salem High School, was recently named the recipient of the Salem Alliance For the Environment (SAFE) 2025 Local Climate Champion Award.
The award was announced by SAFE Executive Director Bonnie Bain and Buchanan was honored Nov. 13 at the second annual SAFE Fundraiser and Community Awards at Cinema Salem. He received his honor alongside Stacy Kilb, Salem’s Sustainability Engagement Coordinator & Energy Coach, who received the 2025 SAFE Speak Up! Award.
The fundraiser also featured a screening of the documentary “Emergent City” centered around the conflict between residents, city officials and planners regarding the plans for a Brooklyn industrial space.
Buchanan, a Gloucester native who has taught at Salem High for 25 years, has been committed to maintaining local farms, reducing food insecurity in the city and introducing his students to the vital role local growing and farming plays in the community.
“It’s an amazing honor to be selected,” said Buchanan, who has long worked with Salem High students in the former Bridge Academy and currently the Connect for Success program that focuses on at-risk students in the district.
While caring for the city’s gardens, he’s provided jobs to many of his students, including Salem High graduate Jorge Mueses who oversees the Salem YMCA GreenSpace at Palmer Cove.
“It’s a seven-day a week commitment for eight months out of the year and full-time in the summer, but it’s important work for the city,” he added. “I’m honored to be recognized for seeing the environment in terms of food security and investing in our young people. I’ve always been very passionate about getting these kids to work.”
Under former mayor Kim Driscoll, Buchanan and his company, Homegrown Urban Abundance Gardening, planned and helped construct Mack Park Farm, a 10,000-square-foot municipal food farm in Salem that opened in 2020.
“Mayor Driscoll wanted a farm in the city, so we spent a whole year planning, finding the best location, and performing soil tests,” said Buchanan. “Everything we grow goes to the people of Salem. And any remaining food goes to The Salem Pantry.”
Mack Park Farm continues to provide organically grown fruits and vegetables distributed between its own farmers market and The Salem Pantry. Outside of the winter months, the farm stages a weekly volunteer day each Saturday as well as a free farmers market every other week for Salem residents.
“I’m really proud of (Mack Park Farm),” said Buchanan. “Local food never leaves Salem. It goes right to our people. By growing locally, our food tastes better, it’s more nutritionally dense, and we’re burning far less fossil fuel.”
Buchanan also oversees gardens at Lifebridge Community Shelter, the Salem YMCA GreenSpace and several others around the city. He has played a significant role in maintaining gardens at each of the Salem Public Schools.
Buchanan, a 1995 graduate of Gloucester High, graduated from Stonehill College in 1999 and earned his master’s degree in school administration in 2011 from American International College. He lives in Salem with his wife Luisa.