Study Architecture 
ProPEL 
Author(s): Taraneh Meshkani
Social drivers and spatial practices have perpetuated systemic racism, resulting in uneven resource distribution and environmental inequalities in urban processes like development, infrastructures, management, governance, and ecologies. Limited investigation into the environmental effects of struc¬tured racism calls for research initiatives, design courses, and workshops exploring the relationship between spatial segregation, ecological processes, and landscape biodiversity in marginalized communities, specifically in the east side of Cleveland, Ohio. This paper focuses on distinct neighborhoods in east Cleveland, mainly Central neighborhood, with the highest environmental justice burden scores according to Cuyahoga County Environmental Justice Index Map. The research uses quantitative and qualitative methods to study spatial manifes¬tations of environmental injustices in areas with the highest black population, examining housing segregation, hazardous material use, proximity to toxic industrial sites, waste hazards, lack of tree canopies, and landscape heterogeneity. Four pedagogical approaches are incorporated: Environmental Justice Education engages residents in understanding the impacts of redlining and uneven resource distribution, Participatory Action Research (PAR) showcases data on health problems and community experiences, and Fostering Environmental Awareness through Place-Based Education involves students and the community in studying tree canopy disparities. Additionally, Design and Planning Studios envision future trajectories for more equitable urban greening initiatives and social justice. By integrating residents’ perspectives and these pedagogies, the research aims to inform more sustainable and socially equitable spatial practices, addressing systemic racism and fostering positive transformations in the well-being of communities in Eastern Cleveland.
https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.Teach.2023.32
Volume Editors
Massimo Santanicchia
ISBN
978-1-944214-44-9
