P&R Now

Growing Through Green

In the May issue of P&R, we featured a Q+A with Alice Ewen Walker ("Seeing the City for the Trees," page 67), executive director of the Alliance for Community Trees, a volunteer-driven nonprofit that has planted 7.8 million trees in cities and towns across the country. More than simply planting trees, for ACT it’s about growing stronger communities through citizen involvement and the promotion of healthier urban ecosystems.

In the follow-up below, Monique Torbert, a youth volunteer and leader from Detroit, talks about how a greening experience with ACT radically changed her life--and her perception of the power of green:

Before I was exposed to the wonderful world of trees, I was in a depressing stage in my life. I felt like there was no hope for me to do good or move forward. I didn’t have enough support from the people around me when I needed them most, and I just began to feel so angry inside.

I was at a loss; I didn’t know what I wanted or where I was going. My grades were failing and I became very violent. Really, I felt alone. Growing up close to the North End in the treeless 12th Street neighborhood, I didn’t know that urban forestry would play such a turnaround role in my life.

During the summer of 2002, I was just looking for a way to make some extra money. There weren’t many jobs available to high-school-aged kids. So when I found out that the Greening of Detroit’s Green Corps was hiring, availability was the initial attraction.

Trees weren’t central to how I grew up. And actually, I wasn’t sure if outdoor activities were really my thing. I remember enjoying the TreeKeepers Kids program in elementary school, which was my first exposure to trees. But my family thought the outdoors aspect of the Green Corps would be a positive activity in my community.

"Trees brought us together, like a shared experience."

Long story short, I applied and secured an interview, but was not selected. Although I applied with a “nothing to lose” mindset, the rejection was pretty upsetting. Afterwards, the Greening wrote me a personal note encouraging me to try out again, in 2003. Their support helped me to realize that I hadn’t gotten the job the first time because I kept to myself too much, and didn’t show that I could be a team player. I tried again the next year and have been with the Greening almost five years.

The work we did always started with trees, but it was more than that. It was about people. We were meeting people and talking with them about their experiences, who they were, and what they wanted, and you always found that you had things in common. Trees brought us together, like a shared experience.

It’s funny, too, because now I read studies about how kids in treeless neighborhoods play outdoors less and are more prone to approach life the way I did, and I can see the evidence in my own life. The other thing about Green Corps was that you had to depend on other staff and peers and find a new comfort level. I could have gotten work experience anywhere, but what we were doing mattered to the community and to everyone I worked with, and that was unique.

Before working with trees, I couldn’t have said what had to change because I didn’t know what I wanted. After two years with the Greening, I knew what I wanted and applied to be a team leader to further develop my skills. Being a leader among peers was challenging, but for the first time I felt confident that I could be a leader.

In 2006, I applied to be an AmeriCorps Vista, which continues until August 2008. After that, I hope to continue working with trees.

Through the AmeriCorps program, I’ve earned over $9,000 in education awards for school, which is a tremendous help to me. I’m at Wayne County Community College working on an associate degree, and will transfer to Wayne State University to get my bachelor’s in social work. Next, I plan to transfer to Michigan State to work on a Master’s. If everything goes to plan, I’ll be finished by 2013.

The changes in me came out of nowhere. Suddenly I was a self-starter, a leader, more confident, not getting into trouble anymore, and starting a college degree. I never thought I’d be where I am today and making positive changes in the community.

I hope I encourage inner-city youth like me that no matter how hard life gets, you have to keep taking chances because you never know which opportunity will come. I don’t want to imagine where I’d be if I didn’t work for the Greening of Detroit. I’m truly honored to be a part of an incredible organization and hope to stay.

Working with trees gave me direction and peace when I needed it most.

For more information about organizations like the Greening of Detroit, contact the Alliance for Community Trees, a national federation of 150 community groups dedicated to tree planting, care, and community education. ACT member organizations lead youth development programs in neighborhoods in Detroit, New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston, Minneapolis, Baltimore, and other cities. Together, ACT affiliates have planted 7.8 million trees in cities with help from 450,000 volunteers. Visit www.actrees.org to learn more.

A Tree (Sometimes) Grows in Brooklyn

The May issue of Parks & Recreation offers a first-person look at how New York City is tackling a number of ambitious "greening" efforts by way of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's PlaNYC initiative. One of those undertakings is the planting of 1 million new trees across the city by 2017, as explained by author Adrian Benepe, director of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Now, you might think that most folks would jump at the opportunity for the city to plant a tree in their front yard. After all, an urban canopy of trees provides air conditioning, increases home values, and naturally filters and cleans the air. But evidently, some New Yorkers haven't taken such a shine to the idea.

In fact, as urban forester Arthur Simpson tells the New York Times, he's received a particularly unfriendly welcome from some residents. Check it out here.

Growing Tomorrow's Green Leaders

As part of our ongoing "green" series, leading up to the NRPA Summit on Environmental Stewardship, May 4-7 in Portland, Ore., we featured a great story in the February issue of Parks & Recreation that combines the best of youth development and conservation efforts. It's the KidsGrow program, run by Baltimore's Parks & People Foundation.

The full article, of course, is in the magazine. But we were also able to catch up with Jackie Carrera, the foundation's executive director, and Monica Logan, KidsGrow program manager, to ask a few questions about their experiences with getting the program up and running, and what they might suggest to other agencies considering a similar program.

Here's what they had to say:

P&R Now: What were some of the challenges you experienced in getting the KidsGrow program going?

Jackie Carrera: Our challenges early on were finding funding following an initial investment by the U.S. Forest Service. This challenge remains today. 

Secondly, while we originated our program in recreation centers, we eventually had to move to schools. Our hope was to integrate the program into the recreation center programming, but the attendance in our program was low and inconsistent. We found that some children had a hard time getting to the centers after school and others were never a part of the center to begin with, so they were reluctant to join. By being school-based, we met the kids where they were and were able to build a solid program from there.

Monica Logan: Presently being in school settings we have experienced some logistical challenges acquiring space for the program and in hiring school-day teachers. Most school-day teachers are unable to commit to a five-day-a-week program at lower wages then they might through a school-subsidized program.  Once we had staffing and logistics in place, the program has been very successful in engaging and retaining students.

PRN: How difficult was it to get funding?

JC: Initially, the program was funded by the U.S. Forest Service. Beyond the first couple of years, we were able to tap into the foundation community’s targeted funding for programs for middle school children. This funding was supplemented with small environmental project grants and occasionally a bigger government program, but only temporarily.

In recent years, the program has been funded primarily by the after-school community. Education funding requires a high level of alignment with the state curriculum and is harder to come by.  Environmental education funding is sparse. 

ML: Over the years it has become more challenging to find large multi-year grants from funders. As is key to the sustainability of any program, it is important to have a diversified array of support.

KidsGrow has received funding from environmental education, youth development, and academically focused sources. Thankfully, over the past two to three years, the Baltimore city government and the public schools system have given increasing financial support to after-school programs that have proven [achievement in] positive youth development and academic outcomes.

PRN: How have the kids responded to the various programs? Can you provide any specific examples?

ML: Students, parents, and principals consistently give KidsGrow high marks for the diverse hands-on experiences, outreach, and trips that are at the foundation of the program. A student from our 2004-2005 [program] wrote the following:

“I think [KidsGrow] is inspiring and educational because it keeps children out of trouble and teaches them about the environment. Also, it is good for children to learn more after school hours. We have many decisions and categories to choose from when we do different things. [It] is a place where I can go and express myself with no problems. Next, we are learning how to recycle in our community by picking up trash so we don’t have a lot of pollution.”

Below are some student quotes from our 2007 year-end evaluation:

“I learned you should always eat healthy food so you can get stronger.”
“I learned to pick up trash for the community.”
“I learned to plant and ride boats.”
“I liked the teachers and the trips and the cool things we are learning.”

JC: The older children tend to like the advocacy component of the program, while the younger children are excited to learn the facts.

One past group of middle-schoolers, after discovering a polluted quarry in their neighborhood, contacted their city council representatives and spoke out on a local [National Public Radio] talk show. As a result, the company that owned the site paid $50,000 to clean it up. The kids knew they did something to make their neighborhoods safer and cleaner. They all like to be a part of something positive.

PRN: What recommendations might you have for other public park and recreation agencies that would like to begin offering "green" or environmental programming?

ML: I would recommend that groups offer “green” programming that will be relevant to the population they are targeting. In KidsGrow, and all of Parks & People’s environmental outreach, we strive for others to see the link between their actions and the impact on the environment. Once this connection is made, the children and adults are more receptive and even enthusiastic about greening issues. Programming should also be diverse, hands-on, and engaging.

JC: Partner with local environmental groups to maximize each agency’s expertise. Nonprofits have the ability to raise funds and work flexibly to create innovative solutions, while government agencies have the skilled youth development staff and, of course, the kids.

PRN: What impact do you think the program has had on the greater community--aesthetically or otherwise?

ML: Over the last decade, KidsGrow has made a strong and lasting impact on its participants and the greater Baltimore community. This is evidenced by the hundreds of trees planted, gardens created and tended, streams and neighborhoods cleaned, and other outreach activities. Most importantly, KidsGrow has instilled a sense of curiosity in children about their natural surroundings, and the belief that they play an integral part in ensuring that Baltimore is clean and green.

Discover more by visiting the Parks & People Foundation’s Web site.