ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Teens in the South Valley are helping the city look a little greener, getting ready to plant hundreds of trees. The non-profit Nature Niños invited kids from Mark Armijo and RFK High School for the kick-off of a big goal — planting more than 500 trees throughout the South Valley, all to address the sweltering heat index and replenish the dwindling tree canopy.
“It is considerably warmer in this community. And by adding green space, by adding more trees, we’re then encouraging our families and our youth to spend time outside,” said Sarah Candelaria, executive director of Nature Niños.
Green Latinos, a national non-profit of Latino leaders confronting environmental issues, provided Nature Niños with a $500,000 grant to invest in sustainable practices to provide some respite from the sun.
“What we see across the country, not just here, is that a lot of schoolyards are very open to the sun. There’s not a lot of trees in the area. There’s not a lot of room for kids to go outside and stay cool,” shared Joe Toolan, Justicia Y Equidad Fund Director of Green Latinos.
Nature Niños is putting the power and control in the hands of our youth, letting them lead this project to green their very own schools and communities. “It’s so critical that our youth understand how to make these changes, and that they have voices that they can use themselves to be able to advocate for these changes in their community,” emphasized Candelaria.
Saturday’s kick-off serves as a platform to encourage families to take action. Everyone went home with free plants, trees, and tree vouchers, so they can help achieve the goal.
“If we can start making those changes now, then future generations can use these trees, can spend time outside, find meaningful relationships with their families in an outdoor space comfortably and happily,” said Candelaria.
The goal is to begin planting those trees this fall.
