CWA Cafe A Vine Trellis Project for Community Driven Heat Resiliency 20261022 115942 Meeting Recordi

Environmental injustice can be extremely localized in the urban landscape. Within a single Chicago ward, the health risks associated with climate change are greater in under-resourced areas than in more prosperous areas a few blocks away. Network49’s Environmental Justice Committee's Vine Trellis Project is designed to benefit residents of blocks with high heat disparities and low tree canopy. The core activity of the project is measuring the heat mitigation associated with increased tree shade. The project's broader goal is to build a cohort of young citizen-scientists committed to community engagement and environmental justice. This Chicago Wilderness Alliance Congress cafe will explore the flexibility of the Vine Trellis Project's techniques in both application and scale. Presenters: James Kern, Network49’s Environmental Justice Committee Lauren Casper, Loyola University Conor McGuire, Loyola University