Amy Wentz of Southside ReLeaf joined Amy Lacey on Virginia This Morning to discuss the Cool the City campaign and why planting more trees is critical for combatting extreme heat in Richmond.

8News got a visit from a special guest with Southside ReLeaf on Monday to talk about their Cool the City campaign. 8News anchors Autumn Childress and Madison Moore were joined by Amy Wentz to talk about its mission.

Shannon Heckt of the Virginia Mercury highlights how Cool the City’s efforts and new proposed canopy requirements are addressing extreme heat in underserved neighborhoods.

With the help of dedicated volunteers, we planted 34 trees at Boushall Middle School to bring more shade and stormwater drainage to the school grounds.

As part of the effort to “shade the stop,” the Greening Bus Stop Alliance hosted a tree planting demo at bus stop #3667 during Richmond Tree Week

Local Richmond artist Paris Allen completed a huge, powerful mural at 411 N 1st Street, capturing the essence of the Cool the City campaign’s efforts to combat extreme heat and reforest Richmond’s hottest neighborhoods.

We hosted our first Cool the City Climate Connector workshop, bringing together Richmonders from various faith communities to discuss the impacts of urban heat, extreme weather, and flooding.

Interns in the Mayor’s Fellow Program joined us for a day of volunteer service at the Hillside Court Mini-Farm.

We hosted our first two Cool the City Community Forums, gathering with community members at Studio Two Three to explore green solutions and learn how localities make decisions about which projects to fund.

We depaved asphalt on the 22nd Street Parking Lot and replaced it with 151 native trees in a tiny forest known as a Miyawaki forest.

WTVR highlights the kick-off of the Cool the City campaign and emphasizes the importance of addressing extreme heat in Richmond’s hottest neighborhoods.

Sara Molina of WRIC highlights the Cool the City campaign’s official launch on Earth Day and explains why addressing extreme heat matters.

The Cool the City coalition launched our campaign to address extreme heat in Richmond’s hottest neighborhoods with a block party and honorary tree planting on Earth Day at Broad Rock Sports Complex.

Patrick Larson of VPM highlights the launch of the Cool the City campaign and identifies key priorities that the coalition hopes to achieve.

We spent International Day of Forests under the canopy at Ernest Road Park with community members learning about the role of trees in healthy communities.