Creating sustainable school buildings and playgrounds is crucial for student well-being and academic success, especially in the face of climate change. Concrete and asphalt schoolyards worsen the heat island effect, leading to higher temperatures and increased health risks. Research indicates that deteriorating and unsafe facilities not only harm students’ respiratory and physical health but also affect cognitive development, academic performance, and emotional well-being. Despite the urgent need for change, many schools, particularly in the U.S., continue to maintain traditional structures.

Our new report focuses on the Los Angeles Unified School District (LA Unified), the second-largest district in the U.S. Serving a predominantly Latina/o student population, the report analyzes the district’s facilities and proposes policy recommendations for creating healthier, greener, and climate-resilient schools. This case study sheds light on how climate change impacts and environmental injustices affect Latina/o students in their educational environments.

Parents from LA Unified, engaged in ABC’s Padres Organizados por la Salud Ambiental (POSA) Program, offer perspectives on the transformative impact of green spaces in schools. POSA is an advocacy and leadership training initiative empowering parent leaders to enhance environments for Latinas/os, fostering livable communities with increased access to parks, green spaces, playgrounds, and exercise opportunities.

Bertha Terrones, a mother of three, is actively advocating for accessible green spaces. Inspired by ABC’s POSA program, she has formed a support group with fellow parents to champion the creation of environments where children can learn from nature’s beauty and wildlife, envisioning a future where all students can enjoy the benefits of green spaces during their school days.

Irma Lopez

Irma Lopez, a mother of four, is passionate about advocating for children’s well-being in the community. Believing in the importance of school greening, she urges parents to unite and demand local, state, and national institutions to introduce more greenery to campuses, replacing asphalt for the benefit of students’ academic performance and overall health.

Lilian Baires

Lilian Baires, a mother of five from La Libertad, El Salvador, is actively involved in advocating for green spaces at Elizabeth Learning Center in Cudahy, where her children attend different grade levels. Inspired by ABC’s POSA program, she aspires to actively contribute to the creation and sustainability of school gardens, aiming to maximize green spaces amid ongoing construction updates at the school, driven by her passion for enhancing her children’s educational environment.

Maria Vicencio

Maria Vicencio, a mother of three originally from Guerrero, Mexico has become passionate about climate change issues through her participation in ABC’s Padres Organizados por la Salud Ambiental (POSA) program. She aims to continue advocating for green spaces at her children’s school, driven by her newfound awareness of environmental concerns and a desire to address the impact of extreme heat in her community.

Severiana Perez

Severiana Perez, a mother of five residing in Southeast Los Angeles, is involved in advocating for greener spaces at her children’s school. Inspired by ABC’s POSA program, she envisions green areas at the school contributing to cleaner air and fostering environmental education, creating a positive learning experience for students and encouraging a sense of responsibility towards the environment. Her goal is to garner support from the school and the community to champion the cause of bringing greenery, including trees, plants, and healthy soil, to the campus.