While the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent in the world around us, its impacts are not felt equally. Low-income communities of color are more likely to be exposed to climate threats such as extreme heat and air and water pollution, while being less likely to have climate-mitigating resources in their communities, such as tree canopy and access to green space.
City Parks Alliance, in partnership with Prevention Institute, hosted a peer conversation about advancing environmental justice in park and green space policy, planning, and systems change work.
We started the conversation by hearing from two members of Prevention Institute’s People, Parks, and Power (P3) cohort. These community-based leaders will discuss the advocacy and community-building work they’re doing to advance green space equity related to heat, air pollution, and flooding. Then attendees discuss how environmental injustice might be showing up in their community, and how they could work with various partners to address these issues.
CONVERSATION STARTERS:
• Arif Ullah, Executive Director, South Bronx Unite
• Masavi Perea, State Deputy Director, Chispa Arizona
MODERATOR:
• Diana Colangelo, Assistant Director of Programs, City Parks Alliance
PEER CONVERSATION:
Connect with your peers to candidly discuss the complex issues facing urban park systems. Actively talk about your real-world challenges and successes, brainstorm fresh ideas, swap resources, and gain insights from practitioners across the country.