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Growing up on Chicago’s Southwest Side, Rolando Favela lived across from a factory. Loading docks were his playground, he said, whereas trees and green spaces seemed to only exist in other parts of the city. Favela is now helping tackle this disparity as an environmental justice steward with the Southwest Collective. About seven volunteers from the nonprofit are tree ambassadors, part of the ...

Since the tragic heat wave of 1995, the city has taken several steps to protect vulnerable populations against heat emergencies. Heat Watch Chicago is another volunteer effort.

Chicago’s tree canopy falls short compared with other cities, and in past years, the city planted fewer trees in neighborhoods on the South and West sides, according to an investigation.

Pilot programs for tree ambassadors were launched in Little Village and North Lawndale, where volunteers were taught how to advocate for trees and to file 311 requests for viable planting locations.

The city has already planted more than 14,000 trees in historically marginalized and underserved communities. But ensuring the trees survive the next 3 years is crucial to the program’s success.