FWD has been working with BKLVLUP for several years to assist in the community exchange, visioning, and grant-writing for the Community Land Trust.

Flatbush, East Flatbush and Flatlands are at the frontline of climate injustice initiatives. These neighborhoods experience some of the hottest surface temperatures, with the fewest trees and cooling centers. East Flatbush has the 3rd highest soil lead content in the city. Working alongside, students at Pratt Institute, BKLVLUP and FWD are building awareness and co-designing ideas with the community for how to approach our neighborhoods resiliency and future.

The project introduces a mobile cooling space that is a direct response to rising air and surface temperatures in a neighborhood with inconsistent tree canopy cover. The portable garden integrates naturally cooling, culturally-significant planting and doubles as a community engagement space for the neighborhoods of Flatbush, East Flatbush, and Flatlands.