Mel is originally from New York City and there, he became interested in plants in the city's parks. He is a senior at Brandeis University, majoring in Environmental Studies. A pivotal early class in tree identification inspired Mel to become interested in trees and urban forestry, and he hopes to continue to pursue these interests in his career. In his free time, Mel loves to hike, draw and make collages, read, and explore Boston. 

Emiliana is an international student from Caracas, Venezuela, currently completing her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science at Suffolk University. Growing up in Venezuela, she spent a lot of time hiking and biking at El Avila, a local mountain that surrounds the city. She is passionate about exploring nature and understanding the interactions within it. She also loves design and marketing, and she hopes to combine both her environmental and creative interests during her time at Speak for the Trees. In her free time, she enjoys going on walks, doing yoga classes, running, and exploring Boston. 

Gabe grew up in the Seacoast of New Hampshire, where he developed his love for nature. From swimming at the beach to skiing up in the mountains, he spent much of his childhood outside. A recent graduate from Tufts University, he devoted his time to learning about ecology and conservation. Outside of school, Gabe worked at several after-school programs. He is passionate about maintaining and growing the natural resources around us and instilling that same passion within the younger generations. Gabe’s other interests include skateboarding, good food, and spending time with family and friends.

Kate is a Northwest Indiana native. She grew up hiking the trails of the Indiana Dunes and watching the sun set over Lake Michigan, which instilled in her from a young age a love for the environment that has since bloomed into a passion for environmental justice, policy, and conservation. In May, she will graduate from Purdue University with a B.A. in Political Science, B.S. in Psychological Sciences, and NRES minor before pursuing a J.D. in environmental law. With this, she hopes to make a career out of advocating and legislating for both the environment and the people/species who call it home. Speaking of home...this is her first time in Boston, so she is excited to explore the city's music scene, nature trails, restaurants, farmers markets, local coffee and book shops, and hidden gems. She is also determined to become best friends with Luna, the bodega cat across from her apartment.

Shayna grew up in the sunny and warm city of Phoenix, Arizona, where she spent most of her time outdoors. Living in the incredibly biodiverse Sonoran Desert, she developed a deep passion for the environment. Shayna began her university journey studying biology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She is now continuing her education at Boston University in a dual degree program, pursuing a BS/MPH in Public Health. In her free time, Shayna enjoys being outdoors, exercising, traveling, cooking, exploring new restaurants, thrift shopping, attending concerts, and spending time with family and friends. She is thrilled to serve as a team leader for the 2024 Teen Urban Tree Corps program and looks forward to working with the teens to explore neighborhood forests, care for the trees, and advocate for the community’s health and well-being.

Good news from the State House! Not only is the Commonwealth making progress in investing in climate mitigation and resilience through its Climate Bill, but... "An Act to update the public shade tree law" was reported favorably by the Municipalities and Regional Government Committee and referred to the House Ways and Means

You can read more about the proposed changes here.

This common-sense bill won’t receive much attention in the press, but it’s a critical piece of legislation that has the support of the Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters’ Association and was informed by feedback from the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

And, to make it even easier: this bill won’t cost the state a penny and it would go a long way to update one of the country's oldest public shade tree laws, providing clarity on issues such as arborist certification and fee structure, (so that cars, and not horses, can be charged for damages. Yes, the law currently fines “an animal” for injuring or destroying a tree, but not cars!)

Tree wardens already work so hard and do so much to plant, preserve, and care for trees across the Commonwealth. This bill gives them the tools they need to help trees thrive in the 21st century.

Common-sense bills like this one aren’t flashy, they don't make the front page of the Globe, and they fly under the radar. Heck, your representative might not even know about it. That's why a call to your representatives goes a long way! Let your rep know about bill Bill H.4732 and urge them to support it. You can find your state rep here. And, please share with your friends and neighbors.