Speak for the Trees Annual Report 2022

Growing Tree Equity Annual Report 2022

In 2018, when Speak for the Trees was founded, the world was a very different place. In the past five years we witnessed a global pandemic, a reawakened national conversation around racial equity, and a deepened commitment to climate justice. Speak for the Trees has risen to the moment: what started off as a seed of an idea has grown into a powerful environmental nonprofit in Boston focused on racial, social, and environmental justice. As outlined in this 5-year anniversary report, since 2018 the organization has planted and distributed hundreds of trees, has learned from and collaborated with hundreds of residents, and has begun to transform how residents, developers, and elected officials think about Boston’s urban forest. We are nourished by the stories we hear from residents of the power and meaning of trees in their lives and the importance of our work. As outgoing board chair and incoming board chair, we’re immensely proud of the growth of the organization. But we also recognize much work remains to ensure that Boston’s urban forest grows and thrives, sustaining its residents’ mental, physical, and economic well-being. Thank you for being part of our journey, Dr. Atyia Martin Outgoing Board Chair Liz Luc Clowes Incoming Board Chair Worked across 3 mayoral administrations in the development of Boston’s Urban Forest Plan, which centers equity Grown from 2 volunteer founders working in cafes to 5 employees +3 interns +18 teens and young adults working in an office in Dorchester • Distributed 3,208 trees • Planted 375 trees • Educated 51 high schoolers and young adults • E ngaged with thousands of residents at giveaways, plantings, walks, and talks Created Boston’s first Tree Equity map highlighting the relationship between people, environment, and trees Achievements over the past 5 years:

Planting a tree is an investment in the future; the impact of young trees increases each year as they grow. p. 10 Partnerships and collaborations p. 8 Looking to the future p. 6 Building equitable, resilient communities through neighborhood trees p. 2 2022 in review

Growing an appreciation and love for trees and a healthy tree canopy Plantings Giveaways In partnership with the City of Boston, PowerCorpsBOS, local neighborhood groups, residents, and corporate volunteers, in 2022 we planted 112 trees in parks and streets in Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, and Mission Hill. In 2022 we continued our free tree giveaway program where we gave away over 1,200 free trees for residents to plant in their yards. Among the species this year were paperbark maple, river birch, linden, tulip poplar, and Kwanzan cherry. Hundreds of people got to learn about different species, explore the benefits of trees, and gain knowledge about how to plant and care for their trees. We see it at every planting and giveaway event: residents’ and volunteers’ eyes light up with love and appreciation for new trees. One of our core approaches to expanding Boston’s tree canopy is through tree plantings and giveaways. As these trees mature, the benefits they provide will grow too. 2

Tree Walks with residents to share their tree stories Neighbor - Woods tree plantings in private yards In 2022 hundreds of residents of all ages were engaged, educat ed, and activated around the importance of urban trees. Tree Keepers to educate community members how to care for and advocate for their local trees 1 1 2 t r e e s p l a n t e d 1 , 2 1 6 t r e e s g i v e n a w a y 6 5 h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s e d u c a t e d 2 0 c o m m u n i t y m e e t i n g s h o s t e d 3 New rings for 2023 and beyond:

Harambee Park, Dorchester MA In partnership with the City of Boston and PowerCorpsBOS, and supported by Salesforce and American Forests, dozens of volunteers came together to plant 44 trees in Harambee Park. Ranging from eastern redbuds and black tupelos to sugar maples and dogwoods, these trees will provide spring flowers, fall foliage, and, most importantly, cooler and cleaner air, to this Dorchester park. Tree Stewardship Perhaps you spotted a group of high-school students this summer with their watering carts and hydrant meters. As in years past, this year we welcomed 15 Boston young adults to our 6-week summer Teen Urban Tree Corps program. These participants took on a new role of caring for and watering over 200 street trees. Considering the heat and drought, the trees certainly appreciated the extra TLC! 4

Branching Out into New Communities Boston is a city of neighborhoods and we feel lucky when we are invited to work in a new one. Allston-Brighton, like many areas of the city, is a heat island. A group of residents recently banded together to form the Allston- Brighton Tree Alliance with the goal to improve their neighborhood’s urban forest. In October we worked together to run a tree giveaway. We’re excited to continue working with them... and every Boston neighborhood! Enrichment Programs for Children In our continued efforts to educate more Bostonians about trees, this year we piloted enrichment art and education programs for children and families. Through a series of workshops, over 150 Boston youth learned about trees through collages, mappings, and tree identification walks. We aim to continue to build out projects and activities for in-school and after-school programs so that more children can learn about and appreciate their local trees. 5

We continue to focus our work on environmental justice neighborhoods of Boston where trees are most needed. Key Tree planting Tree giveaway Engagement Teen Urban Tree Corps participant Building equitable, resilient communities through neighborhood trees 6

Tree Outreach Maps Targeted Plantings We continue to hear stories about trees being removed or developers who neglect their promises for tree plantings and care. Our monthly Boston Urban Forest Friends network connects residents to resources and allies in joint efforts to preserve trees facing threats. It’s not always easy to see the forest for the trees. Our tree equity maps provide a tool for residents, elected officials, and municipal workers to better understand a neighborhood’s tree canopy and its relationship to people and the environment. View maps at treeboston.org/tree-equity Our parcel-level tree canopy, environmental, and demographic data, along with the city’s priority zones and American Forests’ Tree Equity scores, allows us to target specific areas for tree planting and giveaways. These types of tools ensure that equity and justice are prioritized in all our work. 7

Looking towards the future In an era of climate change, what does our shared future hold? We believe in a future where every Boston resident lives in a neighborhood with a healthy and mature tree canopy— where every block has trees to keep hot summer streets shaded and cool, has leaves to capture air pollutants, and has roots to absorb rainwater and keep basements dry. We believe in a future where every Bostonian understands the importance of trees and connects to a tree in their yard or street. Boston’s Urban Forest Plan In September Boston released its first ever Urban Forest Plan, a blueprint for growing Boston’s forest for decades to come. Ranging from staffing and care to planting and education, the plan calls for increased coordination, new education programs, and deepened collaboration among the government, nonprofits, the private sector, and residents. 8 Former board chair, Atyia Martin, giving remarks at the release of the UFP

Community and Youth Education Schools and community centers are places where residents gather and spend time together to learn and grow. As the Boston Public Schools begin to incorporate more environmental education, we have begun to develop activities for young people to appreciate, learn about, and celebrate trees. Tree Walks In partnership with 3 community groups, we’re developing a series of community-led tree walks in Mattapan, Dorchester, and East Boston. Residents will share their favorite neighborhood trees, their personal tree stories, the challenges that urban trees face, and the role of trees in building healthy and vibrant communities. NeighborWoods Tree Planting Private land makes up the majority of land in Boston, with plenty of opportunities for planting trees. In the coming years we’ll be working with landowners —whether they be residents, houses of worship, or private businesses—to plant trees. We’ll make sure that the right tree goes in the right place, and we’ll even bring and install the tree. Tree Keepers Training In 2023 we will be piloting a training program to activate residents of Boston’s environmental justice communities to become Community Tree Keepers, caring and advocating for their tree canopy. Through a series of training sessions, residents will learn about the importance of trees, receive training on proper tree care, and learn how to advocate for their local urban forest. 9

Local Partnerships Trees are rooted in local neighborhoods, and so are our partners. In 2022 we partnered with groups such as Allston-Brighton Tree Alliance, Arnold Arboretum, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, Edgewater Neighborhood Association, Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, The Trustees of Reservations, Thornton Street Farm, Tree Eastie, and many more! Spreading roots and nurturing each other Scientists have recently demonstrated that trees live in community: they share food through underground fungal networks and communicate through airborne chemicals. Just like a tree, our organization lives in community— and is nurtured by the stories, love, and partnerships we find there. Boston Urban Forest Friends Every month we convene a network of people and organizations interested in urban forestry to explore and discuss opportunities, challenges, and partnerships. We’ve also hosted guest speakers from the City of Boston and from across the country. And this year we held our first BUFF Symposium at the Boston Public Library, where we gathered to connect, share, and learn. We invite you to join us. Read more at bostonforest.com 10

Collaborating Partners We continue to collaborate with national organizations such as American Forests and Arbor Day Foundation . They provide training on the latest software tools, resources related to tree species selection for climate change, connections with local partners, and, through Alliance for Community Trees , learning opportunities from urban forestry nonprofits across the country. We also partner with the US Forest Service , the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation , and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to plant trees and build community around trees. Finally, we partner with local organizations such as College for Social Innovation and TerraCorps to increase our capacity and deepen our partnerships. Celebrating Five Years It’s hard to believe, but in April, 2023, we celebrated our 5 year anniversary! To kick off the occasion, we hosted our first ever Annual Celebration in November 2022. Our forest friends gathered as we feted three of the amazing tree volunteers, advocates, and organizers from the past year: Hilani Morales, Aalana Foster, and Max Rome. Arbor Week In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Arbor Day, during the last week of April we hosted a week’s worth of public walks, talks, plantings, and tree giveaways throughout Boston. We engaged with hundreds of people and raised awareness about the importance of Boston’s trees. We’re excited to make Arbor Week an annual event. 5 5 11

Financials Thank you to our donors! $50,000 and Above American Forests Bank of America Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Cedar Tree Foundation Delta Air Lines Liberty Mutual Foundation Mabel Louise Riley Foundation Salesforce The Boston Foundation USDA Forest Service $20,000–$49,999 Boston Youth Engagement & Employment John Hancock La Mariquita Fund Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation $5,000–$19,999 Anonymous (2) Accenture Arbor Day Foundation Boston After School and Beyond Cheek Family Foundation Jeff Gore Lawrence Green Greening Youth Foundation Kathleen Koplik* Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Natixis Investment Managers Susanna Badgley Place Robert F. Schumann Foundation Stop & Shop Restore Temple Ohabei Shalom The Beker Foundation Verizon WS Development $1,000–$4,999 Anonymous (2) Arborway Tree Care Beacon Hill Garden Club Judy L Bernstein Brookline Booksmith CitySide Subaru Eastern Bank Foundation ESEN at State Street Jet-Set Offset Karl Iagnemma and Ann-Kristin Lund KMA, LLC Charles and Rosalyn Lowenhaupt Ingrid Martin Merck Foundation Uriel and Rahel Meshoulam* Rebeca Plank Marilyn Ray Smith* Sunwealth Power Philanthropy Committee S&P Global Susan Shafer Renata von Tscharner $500–$999 Anonymous (3) Claire Barker* Peter Gus Bell Kostia Bergman Anne Covert Andrew Droste Artie Helgason Klieger Family Giving Fund Grey Lee Harry Lowd Meg Macleod Mameleh’s Martha Fay Africa Family Fund Jordana Muroff Elizabeth Pyle Ress Family Foundation Susan E. Roe Daniel Schaefer Tufts University Vyne Medical Bob Weintraub $250–$499 Anonymous (2) Bob Barney Jennifer Brett Cambridge Naturals Lara Caralis Angela Lee Chan Christa and Henrik C. Bauge Christopher and Rosalind E. Kabrhel David H. Townsend and Sara Anne Begg Frankie Doolittle Frank J. and Laurie V. Glavin Victoria Frothingham Garden Club of the Back Bay Madeline Garnett Sonia Gupta 12 Revenue Expenses Grants 81% $869,409 Donations 12% $123,278 Other 7% $74,335 Total $1,067,022 Program 69% $424,059 Administration 19% $115,055 Fundraising 12% $75,684 Total $614,799

Heather Nahas and Matthew Waugh Anna Loa Helgason Carolyn Jones Kelly Anne and Jeffrey Moriarty Liza Ketchum Daniel Kleinman Lawrence Climate Action Team Jennifer L. Loebach Bill Masterson Anne Mchugh Newtonville Books Nicie Panetta Richard D. and Karin Koehn Lehr Laura Rosen Natasha Seaman Caren and Scott Solomon Christopher Stadler* Joseph Stein Jennifer Stewart Kate Sutcliffe Barbara Borgstrom Taylor Thomas Caputo and Sarah Caputo James L. Thomson Vatche and Tania K. Chamlian George Viglirolo Shelley Yen Ewert $100–$249 Anonymous (6) Jessica Baum Bari Bendell Howard Birnbaum Liza Brantley Monica Briggs Leslie Caldwell Christopher Callaghan Bobbi Carter Catherine and Daniel Phillips Michelle Ciccolo Adrian Madaro Committee Tm Corke Daniele de Francesco Janene Donovan Molly Fairchild Aalana Feaster Peggy and Neal Fleisher Deena Fraint Sarah Freeman Thomas Gagnon Margaret Gardiner Ellen Giblin Josh Golin Google Kara Gordon Beverly Vassar Haas David Haskell Bobb Head Patrick Hellen Sharon Hessney Mitch Hilton* Beth Houston Christopher Ives Philip Katz Jennifer Kimball Kayleigh Koen Meolody and Joshua Komyerov David Krantz Arthur Kreiger Kenneth Kruckemeyer Angela Landon Kate and Paul Lazdowski Shirie Leng Steven Levy Barbara and Martin Lewinter Robin Lewinter Liberty Mutual Jennifer Lillis Karen Linitz Jade Lu Fran Ludwig Kelly Lufrano Fund Rick and Marcy Lynch Marc and Ilana Cohen Nancy Marshall S. Atyia Martin Meredith Mcintosh Robert Meek Bunny Meyer Deanna Moran William Morgan Melissa Moskowitz Thomas Edward Nelson Ari Joel Perlmann Jeannie Ramey Paula Rayman Amanda Rich Margaret Shean Ris Louise Robbins Stephanie Robert Nancy B Roberts Stephen Rock Meir Rosenberg Stephen Senna Ted and Dru Greenwood Kerry Tower Gretchen Van Ness Shelly Vermani Antonia von Gottberg Mari Vosburgh Jeri Weiss Harriett Wilby* Cole Wilson Cynthia Winters Karen N. Wolf Up to $99 Anonymous (24) Jenny Ahlen Titilayo Alabi Brian Andersen Irene Anderson Christine Araujo Michael Armstrong Susan Ashbrook Lois Baho Ilana Bareket Cynthia Barr Arvind Batwal Rachel Berger Christoph Borgers Nan Borod Sara Bothwell Allen Thea Brennan-krohn Sam Brewer Xtopha Buonopane Rachel Caldwell- Glixon Karen Caldwell Franco Campanello* Kimberly Chamberlain Daryl Christ Kimberly Clouse Molly Cohen Mary Cole Christa Collins Bob and Carol Croatti Jill Crouch Ben Dankwerth Corey Defreese Christina Dodd Nikunj Doshi Naomi Dworkin Gretchen Felopulos Ben Flaumenhaft Carolyn Fleiss Theresa Ford Mark Freitas Andrew Frothingham Sara Gardner Lisa Garrone Shane Garvey Scott Gelber Sophie Glasser Jonathan Glixon Judith Glixon Michael Goldring Daniel L. Goodman Christopher Grallert Brittany Gravely Atticus Graven Judith Greenspan Catheen Griffin Patricia Gromak Diana Haber-Daws Dene Hager Hawryluk-Collins Charitable Fund Heather Heerssen Pattie Heyman Ryan Hines Jack Hochleutner Heather Hoover Catharine Horn Ayobami J. Ifabiyi Grace Inman Jonathan Jacoby Tim Kachur Danielle Kaplan Seth Kempke Muskaan Khemani Janet Kolodner Lauren Kopans Ginger Kowal Margery Kowal Nancy Krieger Huong Mindy Lam Harmony Larson Gail Latimore Jacqueline Ledonne Ann Levy Andrea Lewinter Michelle Lewinter Andrew Liazos Jennifer Lopriore Louise and Charles Quigley Liz Luc Clowes Mark Manasas Hugh Mattison Ryan McSharry Leslie Meltzer Janice Merk Mary Merline David Meshoulam Calvin Miller Honey Moskowitz Jaydin Moskowitz Kaylis Moskowitz Suzanne Mrozak Margaret Muckenhoupt Barbara Mulcahy Sara Nelson Curt Newton Hien Nguyen Margaret Normile Oracle Ricki Pappo Elissa Pearmain Joan Perlman Alex Plotnikoff Gail Powell Maureen Pratt Brianna Rainville Katherine Ralston Pruess Red Hat Enterprise Linux Alex Reisman Ashley E. Romano Max Rome Marianne Rutter Stephen Ryan Jennifer Schiller Amy Schneider Frederic and Marcia Talmage Schneider Jim Sestito* Ajan Sharma Nathaniel Shaw Jane Sheena Sammi Siet Gary Smith David Soucy Pamela St. John Barbara Stein Renee Steinbrecher Genevra Stone Karen Storz Alex Tsouvalas Lynda Ueberall Tuija Vainio Teresa Vassallo Kathy Vines Suzanne Watzman David Webster Amy Whipfler James Wood Louide Xavier* Isaac Yang Mary Yardley Larry Yu Zazik/Gale Family Charitable Fund 13 * Recurring donor We have done our best to list all donors from 2022. Our apologies if we missed you.

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