I’m writing to you from Chicago, where tree advocates, planters, and leaders from across the country are gathering for Arbor Day’s annual Partners in Community Forestry conference. It’s always inspiring to be in community with folks from across the country, making connections, learning about exciting projects, and feeling rejuvenated by the vision, energy, and stories that people bring and share. In past years this conference has hosted about 600 participants. This year there are nearly 1,000 people here, a testament to the growing passion for and recognition of urban trees!
At the same time, hanging over the conference is a sense of uncertainty and anxiety over the dramatic shift in politics and funding that awaits the country, especially as it relates to social and racial equity, climate change, environmental justice, and urban forestry. How will the US Forest Service change? Will the EPA continue to support environmental justice and ensure that the most vulnerable communities continue to receive the support they need?
Although the anxiety is palpable, there’s also a deep sense of hope, strength, and mutual support. There’s a joint commitment and recognition that, at this moment in history, our work to build tree equity is more important than ever. We take our collective lesson from trees: there may be years of stress, pests and drought, when trees may struggle; but it’s during those very years that trees band together and collectively support each other. They do this by sharing resources and speaking to each other, often through networks that are invisible to the human eyes and ears. And, when communities of trees come together they emerge stronger, taller, and more rooted in their place.
The future will surely hold many challenges. But, just like trees, it's only through our continued collective support that we will emerge stronger, more resilient, and more deeply rooted in our values and vision for the future. Thank you for being part of our journey.
David | 
