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Boston Urban Forest Friends Symposium 2022
The event brought together tree friends from throughout the city

SFTT Community Outreach Manager, Jerel Ferguson, hosted this year's BUFF Symposium.

The Boston Urban Forest Friends (BUFF) held its first Symposium on June 25th at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. With nearly 40 people in attendance, the event was an opportunity for residents and organizations to learn, connect, celebrate, and share stories about the work they are doing to plant, care for, and save trees in their communities. (Missed the event? Watch it on YouTube!)

Jerel Ferguson, Community Outreach Manager at Speak for the Trees, welcomed guests and hosted the event. Judith Foster of HERO Nurturing Center, provided the keynote address. Her powerful speech about the language of trees and how they are in constant communication with each other as they live harmoniously in community set the stage for the remainder of the event.

Presenters at the BUFF Symposium include, from left to right: Maggie Owens, Erica Holm, Judith Foster, Molly Henry, and Evan Kuras.

Featured presenters included Maggie Owens from the Boston Parks & Recreation Department who shared an update about the City of Boston’s creation of the first ever Urban Forest Plan (UFP) and Evan Kuras of BU URBAN who shared info about three of his PhD students and the research they are doing around air pollution, soil microbes, and how gas leaks affect tree health. Erica Holm, Urban Ecologist at Mass Audubon, spoke about urban forestry, the importance of skilled labor, and the critical need for collaboration in t he work they are doing from Boston to Lowell. Finally, Molly Henry of American Forests shared details about their Tree Equity Score tools, including the Tree Equity Score Analyzer (TESA) that will be making its way to Boston very soon.

Natalie Merline, TerraCorps member at Speak for the Trees, mentioned a new EPA-funded project at SFTT to capture stories and create community tree walks. The three partnering community organizations were able to meet and learn about each other and the other program partners on the grant. She ended the morning session by sharing a wonderful "Tree Story" from Robin in Hyde Park.

David Meshoulam, executive director of Speak for the Trees, closed out our symposium with thoughtfulness, care and a mission to remember that trees bring us together, and he set forth a collective challenge: for each individual and community to meet this moment and build a healthier and more equitable future.

This event was funded in part by the USDA Forest Service through the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Urban and Community Forestry Program.

Learn more about BUFF and join the coalition
 
Help us welcome more of our Summer Teen Urban Tree Corps staff
Welcome Marcella Domiciano

We are excited to introduce Marcella Domiciano as a Teen Urban Tree Corps Team Leader! Marcella is studying Natural Resource Conservation with a minor in Psychology at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her goal is to one day work with youth and the natural world to better the planet's future. She is excited to start her work in the world of sustainability with the TUTC program this summer.

Welcome Jamila dePeiza-Kern

We are also excited to welcome Jamila dePeiza-Kern as a Teen Urban Tree Corps Team Leader! Jamila is a recent graduate of Smith College, where she majored in Anthropology with a minor in Landscape Studies. Originally from Jamaica Plain, she grew up in and around many urban parks and community gardens. Today, Jamila is passionate about creating and cultivating public green spaces and making them equitable, accessible, and healthy for all. She is excited to learn more about Boston's urban trees.

Support our program to help us grow trees and teen leaders for Boston's future

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