A participant in the Nature Conservancy’s Youth Environmental Thinkers program is pictured. (WTTW News)

As brutal heat waves sweep across the globe, calls to address the effects of climate change have become increasingly urgent. But in addition to large-scale policy efforts, making lasting change often starts with individuals.

As part of our Last Word series, the Illinois Nature Conservancy’s community outreach team gives “La Última Palabra” on how they say bringing diverse perspectives to conservation can bring about a natural change. (WTTW News)

In Chicago, predominantly Latino communities often bear the environmental burden of heavy industry, and residents of those communities say they have a hard time making their concerns heard.

In the U.S., Black people are almost three times more likely than white people to live in “nature-deprived areas” – that is, areas without access to parks and other green spaces.  (WTTW News)

The Illinois Nature Conservancy’s community outreach team gives us “The Last Word” on how bringing diverse perspectives to conservationism - and truly listening to them - can bring about a natural change.