Looking at a map of tree cover can often tell more than the number of trees in a given neighborhood. There is a critical link between tree canopy cover, environmental justice, and historic investment. Communities with less tree cover face higher temperatures, dangerous humidity, and flood risks. This disparity can be traced back to redlining legislation that labeled whole neighborhoods as hazardous, leading to lower property values and fewer green investments. Planting trees is a simple and tangible action to raise home values and improve health outcomes. Advocating for tree equity can also be a community-led solution. Local actions are a powerful lever to bring about the systemic change needed to address climate threats and racial injustice. Hear one personal journey from high school activism to serving on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, showing the power of using one's voice to spark a movement. Jerome Foster II is an environmental activist and served as the youngest-ever White House advisor in United States history as a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council within the Biden administration. Foster is a leading voice for marginalized and working class communities in spaces pushing for social, economic and environmental justice. Foster is one of the major organizers of Fridays for Future; holding weekly climate strikes at the front gates of the White House for over 57 weeks. He has previously served as a congressional intern for U.S. Representative John Lewis at the age of 16 and served on the Washington DC State Board of Education's Advisory Council at the age of 14. Foster has helped organize some of the largest climate marches in Washington, D.C., and has spoken at the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Youth Climate Summit. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx