Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago has stepped up to the plate, forging a partnership with the Chicago White Sox for a community tree planting initiative. The city is swinging for the fences as they look to improve environmental justice and health equity during Earth Month, planting trees in underserved neighborhoods in dire need of green space, as per a recent press release on the city's official website.

The Our Roots Chicago program, part of the broader Chicago 2022 Climate Action Plan, aims to plant a total of 75,000 trees by 2026 and has already seen over 41,000 trees take root, aiming to transform neighborhoods into healthier, more climate-resilient spaces, “Making our neighborhoods healthier, more climate-resilient, and even more beautiful than they already are,” Mayor Johnson said in a statement obtained by the city's press. The South and West Sides are getting a lion’s share of the leafy additions, areas historically left in the shade when it comes to city planning.

In a show of support, the White Sox have made a $5,000 donation to The Morton Arboretum to support the tree canopy expansion, with the White Sox vice president of community relations, Christine O’Reilly, recognizing the importance of green spaces, she told reporters: “Green space is vital to health and wellness,” adding, "we are proud to lend our voice to such an important project and help promote environmental stewardship."

With the Volunteer Corps initiative, the White Sox have previously demonstrated a commitment to improving Chicago's quality of life; now, aligning with the city's green agenda in neighborhoods like Armour Square, where the tree canopy is at a premium, is part of this community-centered team spirit. In a move that roots itself in the value of local partnerships, the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC) has been tapped to help foster civic engagement and bring the benefits of tree planting home to first-generation immigrants and other residents in the neighborhood, according to statements made by Grace Chan 3McKibben, CBCAC Executive Director. “We are excited to be part of the City-wide effort to make our City greener and healthier,” she said, as detailed on the city's website.

Residents looking to get their hands dirty and request a free tree for planting can do so through the CHI311 app or by ringing up the number 311. With the Department of Streets and Sanitation actively planting this spring, and community organizations gearing up to become Tree Ambassadors, the program is branching out, sowing the seeds for a more equitable and flourishing urban landscape.