EmpowerStreets: A Path to Urban Leadership for Environmental Justice, and Community Services

Green Space, Park Access, and Trees

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

We understand the lack of greenspaces and parks can have negative implications for community well-being, physical and mental health, and overall quality of life. Limited access to nature and recreational areas in these communities can contribute to higher levels of stress, reduced opportunities for physical activity, and decreased social cohesion. Community clean-ups and environmental services contribute to the improvement of the local environment. Planting trees, cleaning up public spaces, & addressing pollution can enhance air and water quality, making the neighborhood cleaner and healthier for residents. Many individuals have limited access to leadership development in urban areas, particularly those from marginalized communities, & may face barriers when it comes to accessing leadership development opportunities. This can be due to limited resources, lack of mentorship, or absence of structured programs that focus on leadership building specifically tailored to urban communities.

EmpowerStreets focuses on creating & enhancing greenspaces while emphasizing leadership development and providing valuable resources & support to participants. Our participants actively engage in planting trees, maintaining community gardens & beautifying public spaces. We will organize regular community clean-up and act-of-good initiatives at various local sites, including residential areas, community gardens, parks, public rights-of-way and other public spaces and we are committed to consistently maintaining all community projects. Additionally, the program provides environmental services such as recycling programs, waste management initiatives & educational campaigns to raise awareness about environmental sustainability while contributing to the ongoing maintenance & preservation of these areas, ensuring their long-term sustainability & benefit to the community. We aim to cultivate a new generation of leaders who are passionate about environmental sustainability and community engagement by actively participating in greenspace development, community clean-ups, and environmental services, participants not only contribute to the well-being of their neighborhoods but also develop a sense of ownership & pride in their communities. Through leadership training, resources, mentorship & programming, our program empowers participants to become influential advocates for environmental justice, inspiring others to join the movement towards creating greener & more resilient communities.

The city could experience transformations resulting in a generation of empowered community leaders who are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and resources to make a significant impact. Leaders would actively engage in addressing local issues and advocating for positive change in their neighborhoods. Los Angeles would witness significant improvements in environmental sustainability such as cleaner air, reduced pollution, and better waste management practices. Through greenspace development, the urban landscape would become greener, offering eco-friendly improved and urban cooling. Our program's success would foster a stronger sense of community in Los Angeles. Through community clean-ups, environmental projects, and collaborative efforts, residents would feel a greater connection to their neighborhoods, leading to enhanced civic pride and engagement. The shared goal of environmental stewardship would bring diverse communities together, fostering a collective sense of responsibility.

Our approach to measuring the impact of your environmental program and tracking the progress of our participants is commendable by reporting the bagged-up trash for pickup service, we quantify the tangible outcome of your litter removal efforts. Additionally, receiving receipts from MyLA311 and Caltrans provides evidence of successful trash collection & validates the effectiveness of our program in improving the cleanliness of the community. Implementing surveys during the enrollment period and after the program period allows us to gather valuable data on participants' knowledge, expectations, and reflections on their skills gained and impact made to their community. These surveys provide insights into the participants' growth and development, as well as the program's ability to meet their expectations and empower them as leaders. Our continuous progress and success rate we observe indicate that our system is working effectively and demonstrates our program generates positive outcomes.