DENSE TREE CANOPY MAKES NEIGHBORHOODS NOT ONLY MORE INVITING BUT CAN REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

A 2019 STUDY FOUND LITTLE VILLAGE WAS AMONG THE COMMUNITIES BURDENED BY HIGHER AIR POLLUTION AND NOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS FINDING SEEDS FOR CHANGE.

IN APRIL -- PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET 31 CLIMATE -- INCLUDING SEVERAL AT SCHOOL.

>> I THOUGHT WE WOULD GATHER AND DO SOME GARDENING.

WE HAVE A LEARNING GARDEN.

WE HAVE THE KIDS COME UP WITH AN IDEA THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO PLANT SOME TREES.

WE GOT IN TOUCH WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION WHO TOLD US ABOUT OPEN LANDS AND THAT THEY HELP WITH THAT.

THEY HELP BRINGING THE TREES, PLANTING THEM, GATHERING THEM, WHATEVER.

ORGANIZING THE VOLUNTEERS, PLANNING THE AREA WHERE THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PLANT THESE NOT ONLY -- BUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> WE ARE GOING TO TEACH THEM THAT YOU CAN MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WAS MORE EXCITED ABOUT.

WE WENT FROM THIS BEING A THEORY, EVEN JUST READING ABOUT IT, WE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE FULL PROCESS OF BEING PROACTIVE AND PUTTING THINGS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE ARE TEACHING THEM A LESSON THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THEY CAN GO ALL THE WAY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.