CHILDREN-CENTERED COOLING NETWORK

Kennedy Community, Stockton, CA

Early exposure to temperature extremes has profound and lasting effects on children’s health, particularly during critical phases of brain development. Research shows that children of color are disproportionately vulnerable to the adverse outcomes of rising temperatures and extreme heat events. My thesis project highlights the critical need for targeted public health measures and design interventions to mitigate the impacts of summer heat on children’s health, particularly in low-socioeconomic-status neighborhoods where vulnerabilities are most pronounced.

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The study centers on the Kennedy community in Stockton, California, an underserved and unincorporated neighborhood in the city’s southern region. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, the project seeks to develop heat mitigation strategies specifically tailored to safeguard children in disadvantaged communities. These strategies aim to be both scalable and transferable, offering solutions that can be adapted for similar regions worldwide.

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