Driven by the Youth-led Participatory Action Research (YPAR), the Koreatown, Pico Union, and Westlake Rooted (KPWR) Youth Project, through KYCC’s Prevention Education program, seeks to enhance greenspace access for 30 young individuals in these areas, equipping them to serve as environmental advocates in their local communities. 

 

From April to November, KPWR youth interns participated in weekly meetings, covering the following modules—Greenspaces Curriculum, Changing Community Series Curriculum, Storytelling Interviewing Curriculum—which emphasize the health and environmental advantages of greenspaces, educating about local government systems empowering youth to engage in discussions with local decision-makers, and equipping youth with the skills needed to conduct interviews with community leaders and experts in the environmental sector.

 

Interns honed their facilitation and public speaking abilities by presenting group discussions on the topics of  plants for health, the importance of green spaces in a city, and food security to their fellow students.  

 

The interns also went on ten field trips to a variety of cultural and natural locations, including the Los Angeles County Arboretum, MacArthur Park, La Fayette Park, Golden Age Park, the Los Angeles River, Los Angeles City Hall, the MC Francis Community Garden, and KYCC’s Environmental Services Field Office. 

 

Throughout these excursions, interns acquired knowledge about the history of various sites and engaged with local garden members to explore seasonal gardening, native plants, and wildlife. They participated in unique, hands-on activities such as bird watching, testing the water quality of the LA River, and utilizing research tools to explore the urban heat island effect in Los Angeles. During the summer, the youth also had the opportunity to attend a live City Council meeting and meet Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez from City of Los Angeles Council District 1.

 

Additionally, the interns supported in carrying out a total of 35 Green space Environmental Scan surveys during visits to local parks and community gardens. The purpose of these surveys was to evaluate the accessibility and condition of the amenities and features found in these cultural and green spaces. To view a sample of the Green Spaces Environmental Scan Survey, click here.

Moreover, valuable partnerships with organizations such as the Field Deputy of the Office of the City of Los Angeles Council District 1, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Mujeres de la Tierra, Friends of the LA River, and Resident Master Gardeners have fostered enriching opportunities for community engagement.

Funding by California Natural Resources Agency and Youth Community Access 

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