Thank you to all those who joined on Monday, December 16, us at our end-of-year celebration at Long Live Roxbury! It was wonderful to connect with our amazing partners, volunteers, and supporters in such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The event was filled with laughter, great food from Mei Mei Dumplings, shared stories, networking, board games, and even some record-spinning - all bringing a sense of community and gratitude. Thank you to everyone who joined! You made our celebration truly special! Cheers to the connections we’ve made in 2024 as we build towards an even brighter new year ahead.

During the Summer and Fall of 2024 we piloted five Community TreeKeeeper training sessions. We received great feedback from our attendees and we hope to continue proving this training to community members next year.

Over the winter we will be reflecting on the feedback and refining the program to provide the requested education. We’d like to say a thank you to those who attended, and we hope to see you next year!

We are excited to announce that our Teen Urban Tree Corps School Year program began early this month! We welcomed some new youth into the program and welcomed back some returning TUTC members. The School Year Program members will be assisting us with developing outreach materials, posting to our social media pages, conducting research on Boston’s urban canopy, and planning for our Third Teen Tree Summit. Stay tuned as we provide more updates in the coming months. And follow our Instagram (link?) as we introduce TUTC members over the next few weeks.

I was recently awarded a Partners in Community Forestry travel stipend by the Arbor Day Foundation that gave me the opportunity to attend my first ever conference in Chicago. I had the pleasure of getting to meet inspiring professionals and hearing them speak about their journeys into Urban Forestry and the tireless work they do to combat climate change. I was also happy to represent the non-profit I work for, Speak for the Trees Boston and talk to others about the work we do here in Boston. 

I was able to make some amazing friends with people from all over the country. I was fascinated by the work of many nonprofits that work to expand tree canopy and engage community members in environmental stewardship. I hope that I can replicate these efforts in Boston. There were so many people that inspired me with their personal stories of how they persevered through barriers and how community forestry has given them a renewed sense of purpose. 

A year ago, I would've never thought that I would've been given such an amazing opportunity for professional development and a chance to travel to a new place. The urban forestry community has welcomed me with open arms and empowered me to pull through all my hardships. I am patiently awaiting all the new experiences and opportunities this career path has to offer. I'm glad that diversity and inclusion are being prioritized, and organizations are focused on breaking down barriers for those us who haven't been given the opportunity to apart of this space before.

Join concerned community members on 12/22 from 1pm to 3pm to gather and honor the trees at White Stadium in Franklin Park 450 Walnut Ave, Boston.

An Elder Mother Tree is facing destruction as developers plan to expand and renovate the White Stadium sports complex. This proposal seeks to privatize and remove free use and enjoyment of a public treasure.

Among trees at risk of removal in favor of new construction include this healthy pin oak tree. This tree is sparking concern among community members, environmentalists and park users who view it as more than just a tree—it’s a source of life and cultural significance.

Join on Sunday, December 22nd from 1pm to 3pm to raise our collective energy and  acknowledge the spirits of nature to protect the life of these precious trees as plans continue against the wishes of the greater community.  Songs, poetry, art, ideas welcome.

Have you noticed trees in your neighborhood that look like this?

Trees growing into wires can pose a serious risk to public safety. If branches are touching transformers or primary wires they may cause fires or rip the wires down in storms. They can also energize the tree! Resulting in the flow of electricity through the conductive tissues, posing a danger to people on the ground.

If you notice trees touching the wires or transformers please call your local power company. Their arborists are professionally trained to safely prune trees near wires. You may be preventing the next power outage or electric shock