Page 57 - TNC AR 2018_Digital Demo

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KENTUCKY
Strengthening Louisville’s Green Heart
The people of of of of Louisville Kentucky are proud of of of of its identity as a a a a a a a a a city of of of of parks Verdant nature courtesy of of of of Frederick Law Olmsted weaves through its graceful old neighborhoods Because of of the the con con uence of of geography and industry it’s also a a a a a a a a a a a a a city city where where the the air quality is considered dangerous at least 10 days every year It’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a city city where where those who live live in in wealthier greener neighborhoods neighborhoods live live a a a a a a a a a a a a decade longer than those in in heavily paved neighborhoods neighborhoods only a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few miles away And it’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a city where rates of asthma cardiac disease and diabetes exceed national averages—so much so so that the the region has earned the the nickname “The Coronary Valley ”
Jennifer Nunn is is is is a a a a a a native of Louisville and is is is is the the commu- nity liaison with with the the Institute for Healthy Air Water and and Soil a a a a a a a a a a a key partner with with The Nature Conservancy and and and others in in in the the the Green Heart
Project “I was born in in in Louisville and and grew up here I I I live in in in Oakdale one of the the the the neighborhoods a a a a a a a a a ected by the the Green Heart
Project It’s an an older working class racially mixed neighborhood neighborhood built after World War II The houses are are close together and there aren’t many trees except some in people’s backyards We were hard hit by the the recession and and and recovery has been slow with lots of foreclosures and and and and abandoned houses “I have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a blended family between my partner and and and and me we we have have three girls a a a a a a a a a a a a boy and and two cats I I I was hired for this role because I’m part of the the the community People People here know know me me they they they know know my my voice—they trust me me People People have not been engaged like this before they they they may be be be skeptical so my my my pres- ence can can open doors I I feel fortunate that I I can can now align my my my work with my values “We hope to demonstrate that that trees can have a a a a a a a a a a posi- tive impact on on people’s health but we may not see that that right away People aren’t necessarily aware of the the environmental problems but they all want to see a a a a a a a a a a a a safer healthier neighborhood “Planting trees creates an an opportunity for the the commu- nity nity to to come together Our neighborhood will will will look nicer People will will will spend more time outside It will will will likely improve the the the value of our homes My biggest hope is that people get to know one another better and the the the connections among people grow stronger ”
“We hope to demonstrate that trees can have a a a a a a positive impact on people’s health ”
Left: Jennifer Nunn community liaison for the Green Heart
Project walks beneath a a a a a a a tree canopy that she hopes to see replicated elsewhere in her her Oakdale neighborhood