Green Lents

OVER 2023, RESPONDING TO THE LOCAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, URBAN HEAT AND AIR POLLUTION, GREEN LENTS INCREASED ITS FOOTPRINT BY ENGAGING DIVERSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE I-205 FREEWAY. LEANING INTO DEEPLY- ROOTED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WE EXPANDED HANDS-ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND RESOURCE SHARING OPPORTUNITIES, MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A GREENER MORE RESILIENT PLACE. POLLINATOR HABITAT, GARDENING AID AND SUMMER YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS: THIS YEAR, WE HOSTED 7 GARDEN SWAPS, ENGAGING 150+ HOUSEHOLDS WITH 350+ PLANTS AND 100+ SEED PACKETS EXCHANGED, AND 4 LANGUAGES SUPPORTED. WE WERE BUSIER THAN EVER IN PLANTING AND RESTORATION PROJECTS WITH OUR 2 HIGH-SCHOOL INTERNS, LOCAL SCHOOL AND PARTNERS. TOGETHER, WE CONVERTED 2,800 SQ. FT. OF LAWN AND WEEDS INTO 7 POLLINATOR GARDENS - 3 WEST OF I-205 AND 4 EAST. A HIGHLIGHT WAS THE COLLABORATIVE INSTALLATION OF A 1,100 SQ. FT. BUTTERFLY GARDEN IN FRONT OF LENT ELEMENTARY, HOME TO THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM. IT ADDED 300 NATIVE POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY PLANTS, AND ENGAGED OVER 250 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, SUMMER INTERNS AND NEIGHBORS IN THE BILINGUAL OUTREACH AND 2- PHASED PREPARATION AND INSTALLATION HANDS-ON LEARNING AND WORK EVENTS. THIS PROJECT WILL CONTINUE GROWING AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GROUNDS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS. THE GARDEN BUILDS ON THE GREEN WALL PROJECT WHICH BEGAN WITH 14 PERIMETER TREES AROUND LENT ELEMENTARY FOR IMPROVED CANOPY AND FUTURE IMPACT ON HEAT, AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION LEVELS.