Today we’d like to introduce you to Saanvi Chiliveru And Lattika Adloor
Hi Saanvi Chiliveru and Lattika Adloor, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Our student-led organization Shade Seekers was inspired by the growing impact of rising temperatures on activities like band practices and athletic events. These activities use the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature to determine safe outdoor conditions, but increasingly, we’ve had to reschedule events due to dangerous heat levels. Recognizing the effect on our school, we were motivated to take action. As a result, we initiated our project to make a positive impact on our community. While the initial changes may seem small, we believe that success in our efforts will encourage others to adopt similar measures, ultimately enhancing our environment. Our goal is to mitigate rising temperatures by promoting initiatives that make urban areas more resilient to heat. By implementing strategies like tree planting and rooftop gardens, we aim to reduce the urban heat island effect, lower energy consumption, and create healthier outdoor conditions for everyone. Through educational workshops and community involvement, we hope to inspire broader awareness and action on sustainable practices. Our vision is for our project to serve as a model that can be replicated in other communities, fostering a more sustainable and climate-resilient future for all.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our biggest challenge at the beginning of Shade Seekers’ creation was finding a solution for the urban heat island effect around the globe. Since cities across the world face the UHI effect from big cities in the United States like NYC, Chicago, Seattle, and Dallas to London, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Lagos, Hong Kong, and more, this was a big problem to tackle all at once. We decided the first step towards success would be to find solutions for the urban heat island effect in Dallas, TX and create a scalable model for other cities to adopt! As a result, we could combat the rising urban temperatures in our community first and expand our knowledge before implementing solutions in other cities across the world. We decided to tackle the big problem of the UHI effect through small actionable steps towards success!
Another challenge that we faced along the way was reaching our community on a large scale. Initially, we faced obstacles with garnering huge engagement from our in-person and virtual events as they often had very few attendees. However, with the help of partnerships with clubs and other student-led organizations who strived to create a positive community impact such as Coppell NHS and Coppell Eco Club, we were not only able to boost engagement but also create an increased level of impact!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Our student-led organization aims to combat the urban heat island effect, which is causing temperatures to rise in cities over time. Concrete and asphalt absorb more heat and moisture than natural landscapes, leading to significant heat buildup over large urban areas such as the DFW Metroplex, NYC, and Los Angeles. This heat not only increases energy consumption from excessive AC use but also raises temperatures further as air conditioning runs on fossil fuels. To address these issues, we propose increasing green spaces by planting more trees and creating rooftop gardens in areas identified as lacking in greenery. Additionally, we plan to conduct tree planting workshops in our community and schools. Our goal is to develop a replicable model that can be implemented in other regions facing similar challenges. By expanding urban greenery, we aim to mitigate the heat island effect, reduce energy consumption, and improve overall environmental quality. This initiative not only benefits local communities by lowering temperatures but also promotes sustainability and resilience in urban planning.
Shade Seekers has made a positive impact by raising awareness about environmental issues and engaging the community in meaningful action. We’ve collaborated with organizations like Raq the Boat, the Coppell Sidekick, KCBY TV, Innobitious, and Singh’s Lemonade Stand to spread the word and raise funds. For example, we hosted an art sale where students created arts and crafts to raise over $300 for our upcoming workshops. We’ve also hosted webinars to inform people about environmental issues, focusing on the urban heat island effect and its interconnectivity with other environmental issues. Through our events and social media platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram, we have reached over 8,000 people digitally. We also hosted a book drive to support Dallas ISD schools and donated a total of 772 books for students and teachers alike. Additionally, we’re launching a magazine to highlight environmental topics and create a platform for Shade Seekers’ members to share their work! Finally, we are planning our first gardening workshop to encourage sustainable practices in DFW neighborhoods.
What are your plans for the future?
Our future goals include expanding Shade Seekers and making our impact global. We plan to achieve this by partnering with schools and nonprofits to engage youth and strengthen collaborative efforts. We also hope to secure various sponsorships and increase our community involvement! In the next few months, we plan to launch our gardening workshops to give communities the skills they need to expand green spaces in their own neighborhoods. Another goal of ours is to launch our app, which will help us foster environmental action and engagement. Eventually, we hope to empower others to start their own Shade Seekers chapters, spreading our mission worldwide!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadeseekers_?igsh=MzRqMDB6N2VjbXlh&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shadeseekers/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@shadeseekers?si=wUNSnTC6dM8XaJX0
- Other: mailto:projectshadeseekers@gmail.com
