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Charlottesville's 10th & Page has fewer trees and higher temperatures than other residential neighborhoods — and it's not by accident

Charlotte Rene Woods

March 14, 2022 |

Charlottesville Tomorrow |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlottesville, Virginia

Residents are working together to plant trees in order to boost the urban tree canopy in Charlottesville. With increasing global temperatures, a city’s tree canopy impacts how high the temperatures can go. An ambassador program sends teens from door to door to educate residents and convince them to allow trees to be planted on their properties.

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Cleveland's reforesting efforts take root in once-redlined neighborhoods

Jen Jones Donatelli

February 02, 2022 |

Planet Detroit |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

Activists in Cleveland, Ohio are reforesting the city's vacant lots one community garden at a time. Gwen Garth, a local activist in the city, partnered up with churches, in order to create a long-term plan to plant gardens to also increase tree canopy in the city in a more equitable approach by focusing on historically redlined neighborhoods. The plan includes reaching 30% tree canopy by 2040, which means planting 361,000 new trees.

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Growing Community in Vacant Chicago Lots

Jordyn Harrison

February 01, 2022 |

Yes! Magazine |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

On average, community gardens don't last longer than a decade, but Harambee Garden in Chicago is defying the odds during its 12th year in operation. A large part of its success lies in the involvement of local churches, library, firehouse, and multiple youth volunteer organizations, one which even paired local high school students with adult mentors.

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Turkey Bets on Green Card

Sevilay Nur Saraçlar

January 25, 2022 |

Inside Turkey |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Turkey, Antalya

A program in Turkey allows residents to recycle its waste, and in return, receive points that can be used to pay for goods or be withdrawn as cash from an ATM. When the Green Neighbor Card program launched in 2016, the first month saw residents turning in over 8,700 kilograms of waste. By 2020, it has grown to 200,000 kilograms a month. Some say the program has some flaws, but residents have earned 5.3 million liras since the program began.

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Maryland Town Turns Flood Zone into a Tourist Attraction

David Kidd

January 20, 2022 |

Governing |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Frederick, Maryland

When algae overgrowth began to plague the Carroll Creek flood control project, a group of volunteers cultivated 1,000 floating canopies of plants to block the sunlight that algae need to grow, allowing the community to maintain the effective underground concrete conduits that move storm water. 250 volunteers maintain the plants throughout the year and the creek, previously made unusable by the algae, now draws tourists to see various attractions.

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The Biggest Crop in Prison Gardens: Hope

Eva Herscowitz

December 21, 2021 |

The Crime Report |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

A gardening program for correctional facilities is introducing incarcerees to vocational gardening and landscaping, but also provides much more than a chance to get their hands dirty. Insight Garden Program provided a “safe space” for introspection and growth, reduced anxiety and depression, and then eventually helped formerly incarcerated people adjust to life after prison with services that include housing.

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Can green spaces help curb Philly's gun violence problem?

Tamala Edwards

December 06, 2021 |

WPVI-TV |

Broadcast TV Talk Show |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia's LandCare program has cleaned and greened 12,000 vacant lots, removing trash and other signs of blight. A study showed that the program led to a large drop in violent crime in the cleaned-up areas. A U Penn researcher who led that study and a community leader whose Philly Peace Parks in west and north Philadelphia have developed a more welcoming, healthy environment talk about the emotional impact such programs have on residents when they see that their neighbors care about the neighborhood. Says organizer Pili X, "It does something to the heart and soul of people."

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Could Greater Investment in Greening Help Reduce Gun Violence?

Emily Previti Stephanie Marudas

December 02, 2021 |

Kouvenda Media |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The city lot where Sanctuary Farm now grows vegetables that it distributes free to the community once was strewn with trash and drug paraphernalia, hardly a hospitable place for the neighborhood kids who played in it. Now it's a lush garden and safe hangout for kids who help with the gardening, do art projects, or just play. It's similar to a broader Philadelphia program that "cleaned and greened" thousands of lots and made a measurable decline in violence. Sanctuary's impact on crime isn't known for sure, but some neighbors say the farm is a positive influence.

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Digital Debris: How an App Is Changing the Trajectory of Athens' Litter Abatement

Reed Winckler

November 15, 2021 |

Grady Newsource |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Athe, Georgia

Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful uses the Marine Debris Tracker app to motivate locals to reduce and clean up litter. The app collects information from locals about the type and location of litter they see to inform what abatement efforts are needed there.

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Sanitation Solutions: How hidden cameras became Philly's fiercest weapon in the war on dumping

Meir Rinde

October 19, 2021 |

WHYY |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia has 300 surveillance cameras and, increasingly, sees them as central to its strategy of holding individuals accountable for illegal dumping. This has led to empty lots remaining garbage free, and setting examples of those who are caught and prosecuted.

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