Shade Equity in LA
Improving health in Los Angeles communities
Locator Map of Community Organizations
Introduction
Like many US cities, Los Angeles is fighting to overcome the damaging legacy left by redlining, but the economic and racial segregation created by this practice persists to this day.
Recent research links redlining to lack of shade, contributing to dangerous urban heat islands. The correlation between neighborhoods that were redlined as hazardous for loans and higher than average temperatures shows that inequities in these areas continue today.
Urban Heat Islands
This is all the more concerning as COVID-19 afflicts these vulnerable neighborhoods with higher rates of death than historically favored neighborhoods.
"We must work together to make change to improve the lives affected by heat."
Tree Canopy
As you walk through your neighborhood, the trees that line city streets hold great value as shade is becoming more of a precious commodity.
History
1964-1968 Civil Rights Movement
After years of activism and work by Black Americans and some White allies in the Civil Rights Movement, the Fair Housing Act is passed, prohibiting discrimination in the housing market based on race, sex, skin color, nationality, or religion.
2021 Today
The Cal State LA SEEDS scholars embed themselves in local nonprofits like City Plants and employ their learning from the City of LA to real-world problems.
Policy
The City of LA's goal is to plant 90,000 trees by 2021 and increase tree coverage in the city by 50% by 2028.
Growing a Greener & More Equitable Future for LA
City of LA's goal
Call to action
It's important to understand what's happening in your community. Asking questions can provide more data for organizations to utilize. Fill out the survey and see your answer and others' in the map tour below.
ArcGIS Survey123
What does tree shade mean to Angelenos?
Gerald
Keisha
Devon
Abby
Omar
Reyna
Miles
Crystal
Brandon
Harriet
Martha
David
Lily
Jasmine
Ijeoma
Harriet
Brooklyn
Kyra
Max
Jorge
Gerald
Improving overall air quality for me and my family.
Keisha
Giving my grandma protection from the hot sun on her daily commute.
Devon
Provides habitats for wildlife.
Abby
Regulating the climate around my neighborhood.
Omar
Being able to breathe in fresh air
Reyna
Shade equity means being able to stand outside in the blistering heat and not have to worry about getting burnt by the sun.
Miles
Conserving water to help the environment.
Crystal
Taking my dog on a walk and not having to worry if his feet will get burnt when its too hot outside.
Brandon
The amount of days I spend inside versus outside
Harriet
Having shade at the bus stop every day when its really hot outside
Martha
Not having to worry about it i'll get sunburnt or not taking the bus
David
Improving drainage infrastructure
Lily
Providing rain, sun, heat, and skin protection.
Jasmine
Not breathing in as much toxins from the air because of more trees around my neighborhood
Ijeoma
Reducing traffic speeds and crashes because urban street trees create vertical walls framing streets, providing a defined edge and helping motorists guide their movement and assess their speed (leading to overall speed reductions).
Harriet
Creating increased security with more pleasant walking environments
Brooklyn
Reducing harm from tailpipe emissions.
Kyra
Absorbing harmful pollution.
Max
Lowering urban air temperatures.
Jorge
Having better and safer neighborhoods
Learn more
To learn how governments, nonprofits, and businesses can address racial inequity, visit Esri’s website on Racial Equity. Explore deeper GIS resources for racial equity on the Racial Equity GIS Hub, including a dataset on redlining and exposure to urban heat islands. View free resources on Urban Tree Canopy from the Esri Press book, GIS for Science.
