Healthy Community Services NOLA

In fall 2013, Healthy Community Services (HCS) began as a grassroots group in New Orleans' 7th Ward, helping residents understand the impacts of climate change on food sovereignty, flood risk, public health, and coastal resilience, particularly in underserved African American communities. As part of the Water Wise Gulf Collective, HCS supports green infrastructure to help residents adapt to flooding, with an annual ecosystem benefit of $19.3M, per Earth Economics. It offers educational spaces, including a 500 sq ft Learning & Training Center, outdoor areas, a solar greenhouse, and a weather station. The organization has installed stormwater systems capable of handling over 70,000 gallons per event and has planted 1,000 native trees for its Urban Heat Island research with partners including the University of Michigan, Dillard University, Groundwork New Orleans, Water Wise Gulf South, and the NOLA Tree Project.