July/August 2022: Environmental Justice

Meet Our Team JULY/AUGUST 2022

Environmental Justice: Improving Access to Community Trees Celebrate With Us: 2022 Member Summit

Matt Spitsen, Program Manager, Alliance for Community Trees

October 17–19 in Nebraska City

What do you love about your work at the Arbor Day Foundation? I truly love getting to work with our nonprofit partners around North America that help us plant trees in neighborhoods and communities where they’re needed most. Building relationships with these organizations and working to develop new resources and funding opportunities for them, like our Environmental Justice grant program, is something I look forward to every day.

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The event will be held October 17-19 at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City. Attendees will enjoy three days of immersive activities and educational experiences for a meaningful, member-focused event like never before.

A One-Of-A-Kind Experience At the summit, attendees will:

How did you develop a connection with trees? Besides climbing them when I was a kid, I think my first true connection was with my Eagle Scout project in high school. While I would say they are tree adjacent, we planted 45 shrubs along the perimeter of a soccer field that ran parallel and uphill from a street at a local grade school. These shrubs grew together to form a living fence to stop soccer balls from rolling down into the street. And they’re still there 17 years later!

• Hear from industry experts on issues trending in the forestry community • Meet with Arbor Day Foundation leadership

• Interact with fellow members and share their passion for trees

• Receive VIP access and a behind-the-scenes look at the property

A Historic Destination Nestled in Nebraska City, Nebraska, Arbor Day Farm encompasses 260 acres of natural beauty and historical significance. This national treasure is home to Tree Adventure, our new-and-improved Apple House Market, and beautiful walking trails and scenic views.

What is your favorite tree? This is random, but ever since I saw the movie Gladiator, I have loved the Italian cypress. It is such a beautiful and regal tree that immediately improves your landscaping — and it’s great for adding attractive privacy to your home!

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Arbor Day Foundation

oin us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Arbor Day Foundation and the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day at the 2022 Member Summit!

But perhaps most importantly, Arbor Day Farm is where the Arbor Day Foundation’s simple mission — to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees — comes to life. Learn more and RSVP today at arborday.org/2022Summit.

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211 N. 12th St.

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Lincoln, Nebraska 68508

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lack of tree canopy is commonly found in underserved, underprivileged neighborhoods and often caused by a historic lack of investment in green infrastructure. This inequity means many people don’t have access to beneficial green space. That’s why the Arbor Day Foundation focuses on community tree planting where it’s needed most. Chicago’s Englewood community is just one example of this work. Englewood has long suffered from a lack of investment in green infrastructure. With an average tree canopy cover of just 23%, this Chicago community contends with the impervious surfaces that cover 51% of the land area. Amid this concrete urban expanse is Lafayette Terrace, a subsidized housing complex for seniors. Unfortunately, residents are exposed to higher surface temperatures, noise, and poor air quality due to a lack of trees.

Greening for a stronger community Through a partnership with the Chicago Region Trees Initiative at The Morton Arboretum — and support from our dedicated members, donors, and corporate partners — 21 trees were planted and 30 trees were distributed to add much-needed tree canopy to the housing complex grounds and surrounding area. These trees will grow to reduce air temperatures and noise while increasing air quality. They will also provide residents with green spaces to engage with one another, reducing isolation and loneliness. A total of 27 volunteers gathered to support the project. “It was wonderful to see so many people from different organizations and the community come together to improve Lafayette Terrace,” said LeeAnn Kruszynski with The Morton Arboretum. “The excitement of the residents and staff for the new trees was visible.” This is just one example of the dedicated tree planting happening to ensure equitable access to green space and a better future for all of us.

It Takes a VILLAGE

The Riverside Food Systems Alliance

Northside Innovative Agricultural Center to Address Community Issues

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Susan’s Inspiration The project facing Riverside was a large one, but Susan’s personal experiences spurred her on. “My background is community health — my goal is to see how I can improve the health of the community I live in. I also teach sustainability, and for me, it has to do with equity as well.” About six years ago, the city of Riverside brought in a consultant to guide the community and more than 80 stakeholders in an

ocated in Southern California, the city of Riverside understands firsthand the issues a heat island and food desert can cause. Oak Society member Susan Fahrney and her neighbors knew the community needed a change. The solution? A grant surpassing $3 million, along with communication, vision, perseverance, and commitment. The road to meaningful change has not been an easy one. Complications emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying the project’s completion. But the community’s dedication to ensuring sustainability and collaboration was never sacrificed.

Volunteers and community members discuss plans for the Northside Innovative Agricultural Center at a June 2021 event.

extension of their agricultural roots. Originally stemming from navel orange production in the 1800s, the community’s dedication to hard work through agroforestry is clearly a value passed down through generations of people in this community. After recognizing the need to formulate a plan, the Riverside Food Systems Alliance (RFSA) was born. Susan has been on this board since its beginning and appreciates the synergy among similar governmental,

educational, and community agencies. “A lot of what we’ve done is take organizations and people interested in sustainability, urban forestry, open space, and community health, and we’ve leveraged the knowledge, resources, and skills to move forward with a grant in order to develop the space,” she said. Despite the pandemic postponing the timeline, all parties involved have maintained the integrity of the project and remained mindful of the goal at hand.

Due to the magnitude of this undertaking, the project is happening in phases. Community members are the primary people responsible for planting the garden, which is set to be the first footprint of the project. The grant also requires that 453 trees and shrubs be planted. The committee intentionally selected trees and shrubs with the largest carbon capture. Every aspect of this project has included strategic thinking, collaboration, and community commitment, with longterm outcomes top of mind to improve not only the community canopy but the lives of the residents as well.

Community Impact Another important aspect of this development is the focus on agroforestry, with a grove of fruit trees designed to help fight local food insecurity. Community members also plan to use part of the harvest to sell at a produce stand to further promote sustainability and provide resources to care for the trees and property. Because of this care, the trees will yield food and educational opportunities for years to come. Community members will also be able to take part in an accredited beginner farmer training program with a 10-month curriculum, which

includes the opportunity to apply their who set up neighborhood and agency learnings on dedicated land at the tables as well as photo booths for those new center. RFSA has worked with in attendance. The afternoon was a huge local government and educational success, drawing more than 200 visitors agencies to ensure the participants from the area and spreading more receive certification upon completion information about the project’s impact. and access to county workforce development scholarship funds. Looking to the Future The use of greenhouses and Susan said this process has been solar panels are an important part a group effort. She has appreciated of the plan for the property. They the wholehearted involvement and will promote sustainability through dedication of the entire group of continued food production, lower people who committed to not energy and water use, and only work together to find provide year-round training common resolutions, but opportunities. The trees to do so with integrity The property will also and a solution-based will yield food house an event space, mindset. and educational offering a “co-learning” She doesn’t plan opportunities area for other groups to to stop with the for years to use. Every detail (down completion of the come. to the decomposed Northside Innovation granite permeable parking Agricultural Center — that lot) has been considered, is just the beginning. Susan’s making this collaboration a true hope is that other communities can community improvement that is sure incorporate similar opportunities for to stand the test of time. their own neighborhoods through collaborative efforts, focusing on The Project in Action needs specific to their own goals. In June of 2021 the RFSA held the And her community looks forward to first Northside Innovative Agricultural sharing the knowledge they’ve gained Center event at the site of the future through this process as well as any center. It was hosted by 27 volunteers chance to promote equity, education, sustainability, and health for everyone.

Heat islands and food deserts are among the top issues the Riverside community plans to address by planting trees. © Riverside-C orona Resource Conservation Dis trict

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