Mohave Today

Tempe, AZ - For 14-year-old Mariangela, it’s seeing her parents struggle while they work outdoors during sweltering summers. For 15-year-old Zulema, it’s worrying about how to stay healthy in extreme heat so she can play volleyball. For 17-year-old Anaya, it’s fear of another heat stroke.

Summer heat impacts all of us differently – from our health to our hobbies.

Youth Stories of Heat explores the experiences of teens at Tempe and McClintock high schools and the Tempe Public Library. The five-part audio series provides a snapshot of how heat impacts all aspects of community life and, importantly, how growing a sustainable city helps us all be resilient for our future.

“During the summer, I do wake up earlier around 5 or 6 a.m., just to do the things that I want to do before the sun rises because it becomes difficult,” said Zulema, a freshman at Tempe High. “I struggle…you can run the risk of passing out or suffering seizures or stuff like that.”

The unique project is an outgrowth of Tempe’s Climate Action Plan Update, which offers a comprehensive roadmap toward sustainability and climate change resilience. Specifically, in the Youth Agenda, they ask to see better access to food and transportation options, and they ask the City of Tempe for support in greening their school campuses. Capturing youth voices on extreme heat was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Cool Kids, Cool Places, Cool Futures grant has allowed our office to spend more time building platforms that elevate Tempe youth voices. These students have dreams and desire for their community now and the future, and it is irresponsible of a city to not bring their perspectives to the table.” said Eric Iwersen, director of the Sustainability and Resilience Office.

Youth Stories of Heat highlights the lived experiences of youth around heat. Students were given prompts to explain how they are impacted by heat. Through recorded conversations, the students relayed common concerns – and at times fear – about the impacts of heat on their daily lives.

Tempe’s young residents focus on the lack of transportation and walking outdoors, struggles with heat and staying safe while with family and friends, and challenges taking part in hobbies during the hottest months of the year.

The impacts run the gamut: wearing protective gear while playing sand volleyball to keep from “scorching our feet,” staying indoors rather than taking siblings to a park with hot metal slides, walking in areas with no shade, sensory overload from extreme heat and humidity.

Their stories are threaded with memories of feeling tired, dizzy and nauseous, of almost fainting, having headaches and being overwhelmed. One teen describes having to leave an outdoor event early. “I couldn’t finish it…I was so drained and tired.” Another talks about walking with her sister outdoors and feeling “heat flashes. My sister almost passed out. It was really bad.”

This project aims to highlight youth voices and experiences - and also spur action.

“As our office works on implementing our Climate Action Plan Update, it’s these real voices and experiences that will help us craft how we implement future policies and infrastructure to build more resilient neighborhoods in Tempe,” said Brianne Fisher, Tempe’s Climate Action Manager.  

The Sustainability & Resilience office works on community solutions as part of their operations. This past April, the office teamed up with business partners, nonprofits, and a school to plant a hundred trees at a school, parks, and residences. Resilience hubs and access to local healthy food are priorities, as is energy equity for vulnerable Tempeans. The office will continue to engage with youth in Tempe schools in this work.

Find Youth Stories of Heat here and on YouTube.  Learn more about the Office of Sustainability and Resilience: tempe.gov/Sustainability.

Media contact: Susie Steckner at susie_steckner@tempe.gov or 480-734-5186.

Original source can be found here.