The Ingrid Rasch Legacy Fund enables Earth Economics to provide pro bono technical assistance to one non-profit or community-based organization each year to advance local solutions to environmental injustice, climate hazards, and the threats of displacement.
2022 Recipient: Amigos de Los Rios
Photos courtesy of Amigos de los Rios
We are pleased to present the inaugural Ingrid Rasch Legacy Fund award to Amigos de los Rios, a non-profit based in Los Angeles, California. For nearly 20 years, Amigos de los Rios has been committed to improving the built environment and bolstering civic engagement in under-served communities. They work to empower community members with shared values of environmental stewardship, cultural awareness, and the power to effect positive change.
The Emerald Necklace
Amigos de los Rios is working to create the Emerald Necklace: a natural infrastructure network of green spaces, green schools, parks, and trails throughout under-served communities in the Los Angeles Basin. As part of this initiative, they’ve transformed schoolyards at 16 schools and counting across Southern California. Greening schoolyards comes with a host of benefits: climate-friendly solutions to the heat island effects created by outdated, often toxic asphalt blacktop schoolyard models; opportunities for regenerative open play spaces; stormwater runoff solutions; and improved mental and physical health for students and educators.
The Value of Greening Schools
Earth Economics will partner with Amigos de los Rios to measure the impact of greening schools. Our benefit-cost analysis of Green School projects will help reveal the public cost savings and multiple co-benefits of investing in greening schools. With this data and information, Amigos de los Rios will be able to make the case for future investment in green infrastructure initiatives and inform dialogue with the Los Angeles County Board of Education.
EARTH ECONOMICS CAN PROVIDE ECONOMIC VALUATION, MAPPING, AND TRAINING SERVICES.
ECONOMIC VALUATION of implemented or proposed projects including green infrastructure, green workforce development, tree planting, gardens, habitat restoration, or park development. Depending on data availability and need, services can include ecosystem service and community benefit valuation, qualitative valuation, and/or framework development.
MAPPING to show disproportionate impacts (e.g., from flooding or heat), natural assets, proposed greenspaces, or flows of impact to various sectors or stakeholders. Outputs can include interactive web-maps, GIS layers, or print maps that show historic, existing, or proposed natural assets.
TRAINING SERVICES on green infrastructure, natural capital, ecosystem services valuation, or mapping in the form of slides, presentations, and/or curriculum development assistance.
About The InGrid Rasch Legacy Fund
Ingrid Rasch served as Earth Economics’ Board Chair for 13 years, helping to build the board and set strategic direction. Ingrid was critical in doubling the size of our board and bringing in a diverse group of talented people from different industries that share the same vision at Earth Economics. Her efforts to connect with businesses and the finance sector have been instrumental in shaping Earth Economics’ future.
At the end of 2021, the Board of Directors created the Ingrid Rasch Legacy Fund, which honors Ingrid’s values as an advocate of the environment and wildlife. She has dedicated her life to advancing recognition for the importance of the environment to communities, economies, and businesses. With the Fund, we aim to spur innovative ideas and support environmental stewards who are forging change within their own communities.