Milwaukee Flood-Health Vulnerability Assessment
Groundwork Milwaukee, Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action, The New School Urban Systems Lab, Data You Can Use, Medical College of Wisconsin, December 8th, 2022
Our most current report, Milwaukee Flood Health-Vulnerability Assessment, and the storymap that accompanies it, tell the history of housing discrimination in Milwaukee, and the impacts of climate change in one neighborhood, Metcalfe Park. We’ve spent the last year assisting neighbors developing and installing green solutions in areas which are vulnerable to flood and extreme heat.
Milwaukee Heat Mapping Campaign Featured on the Weather Channel
The Weather Channel, June 28th, 2022
Groundwork Milwaukee’s Outreach and Organizing Director, Jess Haven, is interviewed on the The Weather Channel about the upcoming Milwaukee Heat Watch Mapping Campaign. Watch the video at the link below or sign-up to volunteer to participate in the mapping campaign. Watch. Volunteer.
Left Turn: Dr. Rene Settle-Robinson
Alexander Kostal and James Wieland, WXRW, May 24th, 2022
What is 'environmental justice?' Milwaukee practitioner Dr. Rene Settle-Robinson sat down with Alex and James of Riverwest Radio’s Left-Turn production and discussed impacts of climate change and pollution on our most vulnerable neighborhoods. They discuss the political will it will require to address the greatest impacts and prioritize equity. Listen.
Beating the heat: Milwaukee to join cities across the nation in measuring heat island effect
John Davis, WPR, May 9th, 2022
This piece on Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) discusses extreme heat events in Milwaukee. This summer the Wisconsin DNR is leading a NOAA funding campaign to map heat in Milwaukee using a method that involves enlisting volunteers to drive traverses across the city collecting data points at three times on a hot summer day. The data is hoped to provide detailed insight into places that are most exposed to heat. Groundwork’s Outreach and Organizing Director Jess Haven talks about the issue and the mapping campaign in the context of the Climate Safe Neighborhoods initiative. View article.
Focus on Energy helps homeowners with rebates, improved efficiency. Activists want to expand it to help renters as well.
Corrinne Hess, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 3rd, 2022
This article summarizes a press conference held by the Sierra Clubs’ Wisconsin Chapter. At the event residents and local social organizations advocated for the State of Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program to be extended to renters to relieve energy burden in Black and Latinx communities. Groundwork Milwaukee’s Climate Safe Neighborhoods Organizing Associate, Keviea Guiden, spoke at the event in support of expanding the program. View full article.
Planting Trees to Offset the Legacy of Racist Housing Policies
Joe Purtell, Undark, August 16th, 2021
Undark magazine explores the relationship between urban green space and the legacy of redlining. The article focuses on Richmond, CA and features interviews with members of Groundwork Richmond. To aid the conversation, Climate Safe Neighborhoods maps prepared by Groundwork Milwaukee were included. View full article.
Resilience and Equity in a Time of Crisis: Investing in Public Urban Greenspace is Now More Essential Than Ever in the US and Beyond
Jean C. Bikomeye, et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, August, 8th, 2021
Jean Bikomeye of Medical College of Wisconsin, alongside a team of researchers and community partners, recently had this article approved for publication by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The article includes an exhaustive literature review that indicates the importance of equitable expansion and improvement of public greenspaces in urban settings. A more thorough argument for Groundwork MIlwaukee’s mission has probably never been written. We’re proud to have had the opportunity to review and contribute. View full article.
Racism is Magnifying the Deadly Impact of Rising City Heat
Nature, Alexandra Witze, July 14th, 2021
This article in Nature explores the relationship between institutional racism and the dangerous impacts of extreme heat events in American cities. Scientists are mapping correlations between race, poverty and heat in cities, and suggesting solutions to reduce the dangers. The article includes map layers created by Groundwork Milwaukee’s Deputy Director of GIS, Lawrence Hoffman, in his role as the lead GIS expert for Groundwork USA’s Climate Safe Neighborhoods initiative. View full story.
Climate Safe Neighborhoods Story Maps
Climate Safe Neighborhoods Homepage, April 13th, 2021
Over the past three years, Groundwork Milwaukee has been providing GIS support to the Climate Safe Neighborhood partnerships. A major part of this collaboration has been the construction of multi-media story maps that incorporate text, photos and maps to guide viewers through the equity-based climate resiliency work our colleagues around the country are undertaking in their communities. Yesterday, the final story map of the second cohort of Groundwork Trusts to participate in Climate Safe Neighborhoods was published. View the story maps on the Climate Safe Neighborhoods Homepage.
How Decades of Racist Housing Policy Left Neighborhoods Sweltering
New York Times, August 24th, 2020
This article in the New York Times explores how the legacy of redlining has left certain neighborhoods disproportionately vulnerable to extreme heat which is predicted to increase as the climate changes. Groundwork’s Climate Safe Neighborhoods project is referenced as an example of climate resiliency advocacy work. View full story.
The Link Between Racist Housing Policies of the Past and the Climate Risks of Today
Yale Climate Connections, March 18th, 2021
Groundwork USA, a network of environmental justice organizations, is exploring the connection between formerly redlined neighborhoods and the climate crisis today. As part of its Climate Safe Neighborhoods initiative, Groundwork overlaid historic redlining maps from nine U.S. cities with data about tree cover, heat, and impervious surfaces such as asphalt and concrete. All of the maps discussed in this interview were made by Groundwork Milwaukee. View full story.
Mapping Project Explores Links Between Historic Redlining and Future Climate Vulnerability
WBUR-Boston, March 6th, 2021
This story on Boston’s local NPR station, WBUR discusses Groundwork USA’s Climate Safe Neighborhoods efforts in the Lawrence, MA area. All of the maps discussed in this story were made by Groundwork Milwaukee! Learn more about Climate Safe Neighborhoods below. View full story.