For the past 2 years as our Community Tree Specialist, Claire Corcoran has planted nearly 200 trees and given away hundreds more. She could be found at tree planting events teaching volunteers how to properly plant trees, digging holes, or mixing soil to ensure the new trees would thrive. We wish her much luck and success at her new job at the Charles River Watershed Association. Her work and commitment to building a greener Boston remain deeply rooted in the trees she planted, the people she worked with, and the lives she touched.

Speak for the Trees is hiring for a full-time Community Tree Specialist. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the organization’s work related to tree siting, planting, and care. Responsibilities include scoping and selecting sites at the parcel level for tree planting, determining the best tree species for each site, and developing programs to support training of staff and volunteers on best practices regarding tree planting and care.

The ideal candidate will have a love for nature and trees, a commitment to issues of environmental justice, a knowledge of tree care, tree planting, and tree species (especially of the Northeast), and dedication to working collaboratively.

Speak for the Trees is currently preparing for the upcoming Summer Teen Urban Tree Corps program and is excited to announce that our Team Leader application is live! Team Leaders are young adults, ages 19-24, who supervise youth participants in caring for Boston's tree canopy by engaging in tree identification, climbing, plantings, watering, and more. This is a temporary paid position that pays $20/hr for 30 hours a week. Team Leaders will work 9 weeks from mid-June to mid-August, exact dates TBD. To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter along with 3 professional references to our Education Coordinator, Joshua Reed, at [email protected] and our Teen Urban Tree Corps Program Coordinator, Jamila dePeiza-Kern, at [email protected].

Boston welcome a new tree ordinance in December, 2023. Our executive director David Meshoulam was featured in a January 25th article, “New tree ordinance to protect urban canopy,” in The Bay State Banner. The article highlights Boston’s new public tree ordinance, which establishes new regulations that allow community members to be involved in the decision-making processes regarding trees on city-owned land. The new regulations build on the process that already exists in Massachusetts Law Chapter 87 “Public Shade Tree Act,” which protects public street trees. Meshoulam said, “The fact that there’s a process in place that will allow for public input, that will allow for transparency, that will encourage developers to work around instead of through trees is a great first step.” The law underscores the importance of community involvement and environmentally conscious practices in shaping a future where development coexists harmoniously and equitably with our natural environment.