TreePeople

COVID-19 employment downturns continue to disproportionately impact underserved populations of LA County at the same time the existing urban forestry workforce is aging out, struggling to cultivate the next generation. The need for a younger, diverse workforce trained to conserve CA’s natural lands and combat wildfires is now. To address these environmental workforce issues, TreePeople is implementing an equity-focused, green pathways program that increases green job opportunities and experiences for youth in underserved communities.

Calles Verdes is a community-driven green streets project in the City of San Fernando. LA2050 would support the project by hiring a youth and community organizer to rally community members, young and old, to transform the city, resulting in cool city streets, increased water supply, removal of toxins from the water, increased tree canopy, improved access to healthy food and more walking and biking.

TreePeople will conduct a pilot-to-scale project in two communities that will determine what inhibits and motivates people to take specific environmental actions related to rainwater harvesting and tree canopy, based on socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental characteristics. With the information we learn, we will create models to mobilize similar communities throughout LA, which has the potential to reduce water importation by at least 40% and increase tree canopy to an equitable 25%.

On TreeMapLA Angelenos can crowd-source a healthier future by revitalizing our urban watershed: one tree and one rain garden at a time.