Keyang Pang | UNE News Express
For Dr. Luna Lu, nature and parks are a platform for reconnecting with herself in a foreign land, giving back to her community, and promoting the well-being of elderly members in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
Born and raised in Shanghai, China’s largest economic and trade hub, Dr. Lu had little contact with nature in her youth. In such a fast-paced city, outdoor activities were not a part of her upbringing.
It wasn’t until she moved to Pasadena, Southern California, to pursue a master’s degree that she truly encountered nature. Surrounded by the lush Angeles National Forest, Dr. Lu began hiking and exploring the outdoors. These peaceful, green moments gradually became a cherished part of her life.
Later, while pursuing her doctorate and living in Orange County, weekend walks and hikes in nearby parks became a routine and a much-needed break from her academic and professional demands.
Eager to better understand her environment and become more engaged in her community, Dr. Lu joined the Irvine Ranch Conservancy as a volunteer. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to restoring and protecting over 40,000 acres of wildlands in Orange County.
“During volunteer training, I met many people who shared my love of nature,” Dr. Lu said. “We learned about local plant species, how ecosystems function, and the importance of environmental conservation. That experience helped me develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world around me.”
Her volunteer work gave her access to stunning places like the Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve and marked the beginning of her journey into local conservation and public education. Dr. Lu trained as a trail guide, turning her love for nature into action and sharing ecological knowledge with the broader public. She especially admires Orange County’s commitment to incorporating parks and green spaces into urban planning—an approach she believes more regions should emulate.
Dr. Lu is the Clinical Director at the Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center, one of the oldest nonprofits in Orange County. The organization supports AAPI seniors with services addressing health, social needs, mental well-being, and community engagement, with a strong emphasis on native-language communication, cultural understanding, and intergenerational connection.
She firmly believes that connecting with nature not only eases psychological stress but also fosters emotional bonds and a sense of community. Her vision is to help AAPI elders step out of their apartments and into the sunlit parks around them—using nature as a bridge between physical health and social connection.
A 2023 study published in Science Advances, led by Lifang Hou, Director of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention at Northwestern University’s Department of Preventive Medicine, found that “greater exposure to greenery is associated with slower biological aging. People living near green spaces appeared to be, on average, 2.5 years younger than those who didn’t.”
This further affirmed Dr. Lu’s resolve to turn her passion into professional practice. With the support of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s resources and volunteer network, she organized multiple outdoor excursions for AAPI elders to explore Orange County’s protected natural areas. To ensure accessibility and safety, she and her team arranged transportation from senior housing complexes to destinations like The Sinks, a geological wonder dubbed the “Mini Grand Canyon” of Southern California.
Many of the elderly participants, immigrants from various Asian countries who had spent decades in the U.S., had never experienced such natural beauty due to language barriers, limited mobility, or the absence of nearby family. Dr. Lu recalls one trip in particular when the oldest participant was 99 years old, and the youngest was 78—the average age over 80.
Luna remembers that one elder passed away suddenly from a heart attack just a month after the April outing. While the loss was heartbreaking, she says it strengthened her conviction: “At least in the final chapter of his life, he had a chance to step into nature and feel peace and beauty. It reaffirmed the meaning of what I do.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Lu shared that her organization continues its longstanding partnership with Abrazar Inc., another nonprofit that provides transportation services for seniors. Unfortunately, in recent months, many nonprofits, including hers, have faced funding cuts. Transportation services, once available for various purposes, are now limited to medical trips only.
Still, Dr. Lu remains determined. If some elders can still drive or have family support, she will continue organizing outdoor programs and offering guided tours in Mandarin, ensuring seniors not only experience nature but also understand and connect with it.
She also urges more funding to be directed toward mental health services for AAPI elders. “Many Asian immigrant seniors tend to suppress emotions and hesitate to seek help. Culturally sensitive mental health support is especially crucial for them.” Dr. Lu hopes to use her expertise and passion to build a bridge for AAPI elders—one that connects them to nature, social life, and overall wellness. “Nature is a right everyone should enjoy—regardless of age, language, or background,” she says.
Ultimately, she hopes more cities will prioritize parks and green spaces for vulnerable communities. Because a truly inclusive city is not just one with leafy streets—but one where someone is willing to take an elder by the hand and walk with them into the beauty of the landscape.
This story was produced by American Community Media in collaboration with the Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies (LENS) at UCLA as part of the Greening American Cities initiative supported by the Bezos Earth Fund. Read more stories like this by visiting the Greening Communities homepage.
