WILMINGTON, Calif. — TreePeople is on a school greening project mission to transform campuses across Los Angeles, Southern California, and the state that are laden with heat-absorbing asphalt.

Most schools across LA Unified School District are concrete jungles with few trees, which contribute to the heat island effect.

TreePeople is in the early planning stages to transform Wilmington Middle School.

The school suffers from heat and pollution with its proximity to the ports, freeways and oil refineries.