Swe Swe Aye | Myanmar Gazette
Underserved communities, disproportionately impacted by extreme heat and lacking access to green spaces, are taking matters into their own hands to bring nature into their neighborhoods.
These grassroots efforts often involve collaboration across generations, according to Rosemary Ruiz, an 11th-grader at Brio College Prep in downtown Los Angeles.
Ruiz, the founder of the school’s “Go Green” initiative, empowers students to become environmental stewards by providing them with free plants to cultivate at home and on campus. This hands-on approach not only enhances the green spaces surrounding their school, but also instills a sense of ownership and connection to nature within the students.
“In our school location, it is very hard to find green areas open to the public,” Ruiz explained. “We have maintained our community garden for the last three years.”
This dedication has transformed the school’s barren landscape, adding five trees, including an apricot tree, where none existed before.
Ruiz’s ambition extends beyond her school’s boundaries.
“We are currently on the process of expanding within the district and other schools in the area, especially for the underserved community,” she said, demonstrating the potential for these grassroots initiatives to create a ripple effect of positive change throughout the region.
Christos Chrysiliou, the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Chief Eco-Sustainability Officer, reaffirmed the district’s dedication to supporting student-driven environmental projects.
“I am here with support throughout,” he emphasized.
Chrysiliou acknowledged the crucial role that student passion and care play in inspiring further action: “Your care and your passion help inspire to do more. So, we are here to help support you”.
The challenges of maintaining green spaces in an era of climate change were also highlighted by Chrysiliou.
“Greening is maintenance,” he said, pointing to the struggles of existing plantings in extreme weather.
To address this, Chrysiliou advocated for a proactive approach: “We need to plant ahead to provide the right care for them.”
Marcos A. Trinidad, Senior Director of Forestry at Tree People, emphasized the long-term commitment required for urban greening.
“Each tree you plant will need at least three years of maintenance,” he explained, highlighting the importance of consistent care during the establishment phase.
But the journey doesn’t end there.
“It can take years for the tree to reach maturity. I mean 20 to 30 years,” Trinidad said, underscoring the extended timeline involved in cultivating a thriving urban forest.
“Some trees will continue to grow for hundreds of years,” he adds, emphasizing the diverse lifespans of different species.
These interviews were gathered during an onsite gathering hosted by Ethnic Media Services: “From Asphalt Jungle to Green Haven: Urgent Work for Schools and Neighborhoods in LA” at LA Historic Park on May 3, 2024, fostering discussions on urban greening initiatives.
The panel, representing a cross-section of environmental expertise, included representatives from forestry organizations, LAUSD school board members, the Assistant General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, and the UCLA Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies.
This story was produced by Ethnic Media Services in collaboration with the Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies (LENS) at UCLA as part of the Greening American Cities initiative supported by the Bezos Earth Fund.
Swe Swe Aye wrote this fellowship story for LA-based Myanmar Gazette, the only Burmese-language newspaper in the U.S.
“Involving Youth in Greening, Maintaining Green Spaces in Schools” examines grassroots campus greening efforts by LAUSD students and staff like Brio College Prep junior Rosemary Ruiz and LAUSD Chief Eco-Sustainability Officer Christos Chrysiliou — as well as the challenges of maintaining green space amid worsening climate change well after the planting is done.
Aye, a reporter for the Gazette since 2013, said “National parks, parks in general, mountains, and beaches are essential to me because they always give me positive energy. When I am overloaded with stress, going to parks and beaches are my outlets. I usually go to national parks almost every summer to stay away from the heat. Many Burmese immigrants live in multigenerational homes, and both the elderly and the young need parks for their physical and mental well-being.”
