We are seeking an energetic current or recently graduated college or graduate student for a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) internship for the spring semester. The intern will be responsible for helping organize and conduct outreach for a series of community events that make up our annual Arbor Week Celebration at the end of April. They will also help with the organization of our first ever in-person fundraising event. We are looking for a go-getter with strong organizational skills, comfort learning to use new online platforms, an interest in social media and marketing, and a passion for tree equity and environmental justice. Interns earn $18 an hour, 12 to 16 hours a week. If this sounds like a good match for your interests and skills, please click here to learn more and apply. If you have any questions, please email [email protected], and we will get back to you promptly. 

The City of Boston is looking for a skilled and passionate arborist to contribute to the preservation and enhancement of our urban greenery. Responsibilities include managing the maintenance and care of municipal trees in public ways and City owned Parks, cemeteries, and other public open spaces, monitoring activities related to planting, watering, pruning, pest control, removals, warranties, and storm response and utilizing a work order management system related to arboriculture operations to ensure efficient use of labor, materials and equipment. The City of Boston seeks applicants with three to five years of arboriculture experience and those with a certification as an arborist by either the Massachusetts Arborist Association or by the International Society of Arboriculture. If you are interested, please refer to the job posting here. 

With deep gratitude to all who contributed, we are thrilled to report that our GivingTuesday campaign brought in 34 donations totaling $3,870. Your generosity brings community, cooler and cleaner air, reduced stormwater flooding, and many other benefits to the Boston neighborhoods where trees are most needed. 

Boston Urban Forest Friends is a coalition of organizations, community groups, and individuals focused on increasing partnerships and collaboration around growing Boston’s urban canopy. BUFF is open to the public, and everyone is welcome. Our next meeting is tomorrow, Friday, December 8th, 2023, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. You can register here. We look forward to seeing you!

Speak for the Trees worked with Artists for Humanity to design and install new decals for our trailer. Special thanks to the youth and staff at Artists for Humanity for brightening our trailer! 

Claire’s insights and expertise were highlighted in NewScientist’s November 17, 2023 article “The trees in our cities are dying - a sick microbiome may be to blame,” where she shared that “It’s really the people in the community who are going to keep the trees alive." These valuable perspectives on community efforts to maintain and enhance the urban tree canopy are applicable across the board.

David Meshoulam was quoted in the recent article, “Federal grant to help Boston grow city’s tree canopy,” in The Bay State Banner on October 18, 2023. The article showcases the City of Boston’s and SFTT’s dedication and contributions to growing Boston’s tree canopy. “There’s a lot of interest we see from residents and organizations to plant trees. The challenge is making sure that the trees are planted the right way at the right time, it’s the right species, and there’s someone caring for and keeping an eye on that for you, especially for the first couple of years.” This highlights the intentionality of planting trees and how imperative it is to protect them from a very young age.