Tree Trust in North Minneapolis

On May 22nd, 2011, a tornado ripped through North Minneapolis taking two lives, injuring many, causing damage to homes and buildings, and tearing out trees. Since then, a variety of Tree Trust programs have worked in North Minneapolis to aid in tornado recovery. 

YouthBuild

In the immediate aftermath of the tornado, YouthBuild participants and staff members who lived in North Minneapolis were out in their community cleaning up debris and helping neighbors. These individuals live in North Minneapolis, and they also spend their days working there.

Our YouthBuild program rehabs and rebuilds homes and apartment buildings, primarily in North Minneapolis. This program typically only runs during the school year, but this summer, thanks to a grant from the Minnesota Helps - North Minneapolis Recovery Fund, YouthBuild was able to have a crew working in the tornado-affected area.

This program works with youth who are in school, but are at risk of not succeeding in education or employment. They learn construction skills and employment soft skills in their work rehabbing and rebuilding houses and apartment buildings. Since the tornado, participants have worked on tornado-damaged residences as well as rehabbed other buildings to increase the number of rentals available to those without housing as a result of the tornado.

North Minneapolis Reforest Project

Thousands of trees were lost in the tornado and our Community Forestry Department is doing its part to reforest North Minneapolis.

In the fall of 2011, thanks to a grant from State Farm Insurance, Tree Trust staff and volunteers distributed 202 trees to North Minneapolis residents to plant on private property. There were also five trees given to Nellie Stone Johnson Community School to plant on their grounds.

A number of North Minneapolis residents were unable to plant their own trees. We did not want that to stop them from participating in the program, so our Young Adult Conservation Corps, under the guidance of our Community Forestry Specialist, planted some trees for residents who could not plant them on their own.

Tree Trust has had a presence in North Minneapolis for many years. Our programs serve many disadvantaged youth and adults in that community and around the metro. Our Youth Conservation Corps, YouthBuild, and Young Adult Conservation Corps have completed many landscaping, construction, and home rehabbing projects in North Minneapolis. Community Forestry has brought our Learning with Trees program to a number schools in North Minneapolis neighborhoods over the years. Tornado recovery efforts are an extension of the services that Tree Trust already provides.

Photo documentary to benefit Tree Trust

Two Twin Cities organizations, EDIT and Bolder Options, have partnered on a project to document the damage in North Minneapolis from the May 22nd, 2011 tornado.

The mission of EDIT is to empower youth and communities to expand their awareness of diversity issues, embrace a journey toward greater understanding and acceptance, and become committed to social action in order to create a more inclusive society. The mission of Bolder Options is Teaching Youth to Succeed in ALL of Life's Races. Both organizations work to involve youth in a number of different programs.

This particular project involves 15 youth, ages 10-14. Youth wanted to show the struggle, hope, and need that resulted from the tornado through a photo documentary project. Participants went into the North Minneapolis community where each youth took photos of the people, places, landscape, and anything else that inspired them. Their photos will be displayed at the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC). The gallery opening will be Thursday, January 12th from 5-7 PM.

This event will be a fundraiser for organizations that have worked in North Minneapolis on the recovery and rebuilding effort. Tree Trust and Urban Homeworks are the two organizations that the participants selected as beneficiaries.

For more details on Tree Trust's tornado recovery efforts, please check our News and Stories page tomorrow, December 30th.

Winter Program Highlights

To an outsider, it appears that the slowest time of year at Tree Trust is the winter. Our Community Forestry department holds planting events in the spring and fall in order to work in ideal weather conditions for young trees, and our Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) works with participants in the summer since they are in school for the rest of the year. 

We may not have as many program participants and volunteers in the winter, but that does not mean that winter is slow for our staff. Those programs involve a lot of planning and evaluation throughout the rest of the year in order to improve them and provide participants and volunteers with the best possible experience.

Additionally, Tree Trust has many other programs that involve participants year-round. Highlights from some of those programs follow:

Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC)

• YACC's graduation ceremony was held on December 2nd; 13 young adults graduated from the program
• A new YACC cohort began on December 6th and will involve 16 young adults in on-the-job training in landscape and construction, as well as employment soft skills
• A new crew leader has also been hired, but has not yet begun work with Tree Trust

Youth Development Services (YDS)

• YDS has a new case manager; Sally Murphy started on November 14th
• Sally will be working with youth in Eden Prairie and Brooklyn Center High Schools to help youth with education, employment, and life skills

YouthBuild

• YouthBuild youth participants have been busy restoring and rehabbing homes and apartment buildings in North Minneapolis
• Participants are currently working to replace the roof of a home that was affected by the May 22nd tornado

All of our programs provide meaningful experiences for youth and adults, whether they are program participants or volunteers. No matter the season, there is never a dull day at Tree Trust. If you would like further information about any of our programs, please visit our website. For regular updates, follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

Tornado anniversary

Thanksgiving is a bittersweet holiday this year for many of our neighbors in North Minneapolis. Yesterday was the 6-month anniversary of the tornado that devastated a large swath of the city that was already battling poverty and related problems. Six months have passed and many homes still have tarps on roofs and windows to keep out the cold and snow.

A lot of great organizations, government agencies, and individuals have been on the ground providing assistance, but there is much more to be done. As we give thanks this year for all that we have, please don't forget those who are less fortunate. Consider making a donation to help our neighbors this Thanksgiving. The Minnesota Helps - North Minneapolis Recovery Fund supports many organizations in recovery efforts, and there are also many other opportunities to help that may fit your interests.

Tree Trust continues to partner with the City of Minneapolis and others to aid in recovery efforts. Our YouthBuild program has worked to rehab and rebuild homes and apartment buildings in tornado damaged neighborhoods. Our Community Forestry Department has distributed 202 trees so far to residents of North Minneapolis who had their tree canopy devastated by the tornado. YouthBuild and Community Forestry will continue working in the area in the coming year. Visit Tree Trust's website to make a donation or for more information.

If you are a resident of North Minneapolis who was affected by the tornado, the City of Minneapolis established a tornado assistance fund to help homeowners rebuild. If you think you may qualify, visit the tornado recovery page of the City of Minneapolis website for more information on available resources.

National Philanthropy & Give to the Max days

This week was an important one for fundraising. November 15th was National Philanthropy Day, which is a day to celebrate the contributions that philanthropy has made to our lives, our communities and our world. November 16th was Give to the Max Day in Minnesota. The goal was to raise as much money as possible for nonprofit organizations in 24 hours.

Individual donors are very important to Tree Trust and help us to achieve our mission. Support from donors allows us to provide meaningful opportunities for youth and adults to experience success, learn job skills, boost their self-confidence, and be gainfully employed while improving our local environment.

Young Adult Conservation Corps at Westwood Hills Nature Center

 
Support from donors also allows us to involve students and community members in tree planting workshops, school tree plantings, and community tree plantings. Students and volunteers have opportunities to learn about trees and the environment, spend time in nature, and work together as a team, all while they improve and green their own communities.

Learning with Trees at Hilltop Primary School

Tree Trust was fortunate to benefit from the generosity of many Minnesotans on Give to the Max Day again this year! Did you miss out on Give to the Max Day? There is plenty of time left to make a donation this year. Visit our website to make a donation to Tree Trust or find other ways to get involved.

Young Adult Conservation Corps recruiting participants

Tree Trust’s Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) program is recruiting participants for its next session. The program is designed for low-income young adults, ages 18-21, and the upcoming session begins December 6th and lasts three months.

YACC crew building a boardwalk at Westwood Hills Nature Center

Participants are paid minimum wage to start. Their work consists of landscaping and construction work including parks improvement projects, year-round maintenance services along the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority trail system, planting trees and shrubs, and mowing lawns and shoveling snow at foreclosed properties.

Additionally, there is an educational component to the program; participants spend four hours of their 39-hour work week in Tree Trust's classroom. They learn about topics such as: tool safety and operation, employment readiness (resumes, interview skills, etc.), and money management. They are also certified in First Aid and OSHA 10-hour safety.
 

You can find more information about the program here. If you have additional questions or need more information, please contact Keith Wyne at keithw@treetrust.org or 612-590-3655.

The start date is fast approaching and Tree Trust is excited to connect with enthusiastic applicants.

Tree Trust recruiting schools for Learning with Trees

Tree Trust is recruiting school partners for this spring’s Learning with Trees program. Learning with Trees helps schools around the state build  environmental science programs that involve the creation of outdoor learning areas on their grounds.

Tree Trust provides a combination of trees, shrubs, benches, and bird feeders that are placed on school grounds to fit the school's needs.The program is free of charge and culminates in an all-school planting day where every student plays a role in planting a tree.

 

Students at Hilltop Primary School on their planting day

Learning with Trees engages teachers, staff, parents and guardians, and volunteers to create Green Teams that develop a landscape plan that will meet the school's environmental and educational goals.
 

Prior to the school's planting day, Tree Trust brings the Our Town Trees Exhibit, developed in conjunction with the Minnesota Science Museum, to the school. The exhibit includes five interactive modules that teach students the importance of trees to the environment.

On the planting day, Tree Trust staff and volunteers lead groups of students through the entire process of planting a tree. The students are assigned various roles - digger, planter, mulcher, waterer - and trained volunteers and staff make sure they plant their trees properly. Every student gets to help plant.

Following the planting, schools receive a Tree Trunk, which is a duffel bag that includes 20 lessons for grades K-12, as well as outdoor activities and environmental education tools. The lessons cover a variety of subjects including forest management, science, math, social studies, and language arts.

If your school is interested in becoming a partner school, please visit the Learning with Trees program page for more information, or contact Karen Zumach at karenz@treetrust.org or 612-590-2536.

Winter maintenance for trees

Hungry animals and the extreme weather of Minnesota winters are potential threats to young trees. The following includes a few tips to help prevent some of the damage that can occur in the winter months.

Sun Protection

For fruiting, flowering and thin barked trees (such as maples, honey locusts, basswoods and aspens) it is important to protect the trunks during winter months. Sun scald occurs when the sun heats up the bark to the point in which the tree's tissues are stimulated as they are in warmer seasons in order to grow. However, when the sun goes away, the temperature drops quickly and kills the active tissue. Use a light colored guard such as paper tree wrap or tree tubes. The trunks should be protected from the ground to the first branch. Install the guards in the fall and remove in the spring.

Sun scalded maple

Root Injury & Frost Heaving

Soil temperatures in winter are much higher than air temperatures. Tree roots cannot withstand as cold of temperatures as the rest of the tree. Sandy or dry soil (as in drought years such as this year) hold less heat so frost penetrates more deeply, which can damage the tree's roots. With newly planted trees there can be small spaces in the planting hole backfill that allow cold air to reach the root zone. New trees should be mulched with 6-8 inches of wood chips or straw to insulate the soil around the roots.

Additionally, freezing and thawing of the soil repeatedly in fall or spring causes the ground to expand and contract, which can damage new trees. Mulch is the solution to this problem as well, as it helps to maintain consistent soil temperatures.

Animal Damage

Hungry animals nibble on trees in winter and can cause severe damage. Wrap the trunk with mesh hardware cloth from 2-3 inches below the soil (for mice) to 18-24 inches above the anticipated snow line for rabbits.

Repellants should be used if deer are a problem.These make the tree smell or taste undesirable without harming the animal. Repellants can also be used against rodents.

Employment roundtable led by Congressman Ellison

Tree Trust will hold a youth job training roundtable on Friday, October 21 which will be led by Congressman Keith Ellison. Ellison represents the 5th district of Minnesota, which includes Minneapolis and 11 surrounding cities.

Tree Trust's Vice President of Programming Norm Champ will serve as host for the event, which will run from 10:00 AM-11:30 AM. The roundtable will be attended by a number of organizations that provide employment services, including HIRED, Resource, Inc., YouthLink,  Project for Pride in Living, and others. The event has a closed attendance policy and all attendees were required to RSVP.

The roundtable's agenda includes discussion of the Put America to Work Act and the Emergency Jobs Act Now. Participating employment organizations are on the front lines of the employment crisis, and Ellison is interested in feedback regarding the challenges that they are facing in placing low-, middle-, and high-skilled labor in the current economy.

There will also be discussion of racial disparities in unemployment rates, which is currently particularly relevant for the Twin Cities. The Economic Policy Institute recently released a study showing that the Minneapolis metropolitan area has the largest disparity in employment based on race among the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas. The area's black population is nearly three times more likely to be unemployed than the white population.

The fragility of the economy will also be addressed, as well as nationwide data on challenges to employment.

Trees planted in N. Mpls & around the metro

It has been a busy fall for Tree Trust's Community Forestry Department. On October 2nd and 3rd staff and 22 volunteers distributed 207 trees to homeowners in North Minneapolis who lost trees in the May 22, 2011 tornado. This distribution was a part of our North Minneapolis Reforest Project (NMRF), which was supported by grants from State Farm Insurance, the Xcel Energy Foundation, and an in-kind donation from Bachman's Nursery.

Tree varieties included Prairiefire Crabapple, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, Northern Hackberry, and Royal Star Magnolia.

Our Young Adult Conservation Corps program was also involved in the North Minneapolis Reforest Project. On October 11th they planted trees for individuals who participated in NMRF but were unable to plant their own trees.

On October 6th, Tree Trust's Community Forestry Manager, Karen Zumach, was awarded the President's Award from the Minnesota Society of Arboriculture (MSA) for her many contributions to community forestry in the Twin Cities. Tree Trust also received the Practitioner's Award of Excellence from MSA for its innovative planting projects with the City of St Louis Park.

Tree Trust had a Green Futures tree planting at Marsh Lake Park in Bloomington on October 8th. We had beautiful weather and were able to involve 33 volunteers in the planting of 44 trees. Varieties included Boulevard Linden, Valley Forge Elm, Swamp White Oak, Prairiefire Crabapple, Autumn Blaze Maple, and Quaking Aspen.

We have one more Green Futures planting this fall on Saturday, October 15th at Musser Park in Sunfish Lake. Sign up to volunteer here, or contact Felecia Schmidt at felecias@treetrust.org or 952-767-3884 for more information.

Tree Trust's last Community Forestry event of the fall will be a Learning with Trees planting on October 17th at Hilltop Primary School in Minnetrista. The Learning with Trees program helps schools around the state build outdoor learning areas on school grounds that include trees, shrubs, and benches. Groups of students are led by Tree Trust staff and volunteers, and every student has the opportunity to be involved in planting a tree.

For more information about our Community Forestry programs, contact Diana Preisen at dianap@treetrust.org or 612-590-1421.

Youth graduate from job program

Graduates gather with Terry Egge of the Pohlad Family Foundation,
one of the Young Adult Conservation Corp program's funders.

At a youth recognition ceremony last Friday, 11 young adults were presented with certificates of achievement in honor of their personal growth and successful completion of Tree Trust’s Young Adult Conservation Corps program.

Open to youth ages 17 to 21, the Young Adult Conservation Corps program offers paid training and jobs to those who would otherwise have trouble finding work in this difficult economy. For many, this program is their first chance at experiencing success and provides a unique opportunity to reshape their lives.

This summer participants braved extreme heat and rainy days while working in teams to improve local parks, recreation areas and neighborhoods. Projects included building a large boardwalk in Westwood Hills Nature Center in St. Louis Park, and performing lawn maintenance on foreclosed properties in Minneapolis, among many others.

In addition to gaining employment and life skills, participants completed OSHA’s 10-hour safety training, a certification they can take with them to their next job.

When asked about important things they are taking away from their participation in the program, one graduate said, “I learned to step up to the plate when I see something that’s not done.” Others listed better communication skills, a more positive attitude, self-confidence and patience among the things they gained from the program.

While most graduates returned to school this week or started longer-term jobs, several will continue for another three months in an advanced level of the program.

To apply for the program or learn more, contact Keith at 612-590-3655 or keithw@treetrust.org.

Tree Trust replaces trees lost in North Minneapolis tornado

Tree Trust replaces trees lost in North Minneapolis tornado

Beginning September 1, we will offer 300 trees to homeowners in North Minneapolis who lost trees on their property during the May 22, 2011 tornado. This project, part of our North Minneapolis Reforest Project, is funded by grants from State Farm Insurance and Xcel Energy Foundation, and an in-kind donation from Bachman’s Nursery. Other project partners include the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Homeowners in the area affected by the tornado will have the opportunity to obtain up to two trees per property. Trees may be purchased for $20 each, or homeowners may attend a free, one-hour workshop on proper tree planting and tree care to have the fees waived. Tree Trust will offer three separate workshops in late September. Those who wish to attend a workshop must indicate this at the time of order.

Four species of trees will be available for order. Varieties available are: Prairiefire crabapple, Autumn Brilliance serviceberry, Northern hackberry and Royal Star Magnolia.

Orders will be accepted online (www.treetrust.org/orderhere) and by mail from September 1 through September 15 at 5:00 p.m. Mailed or hand-delivered orders must be received by 5:00 p.m. on September 15 at Tree Trust (2231 Edgewood Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55426). Starting September 1, paper order forms can be printed from the website or picked up at Farview Park (621 29th Avenue North) and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board headquarters (2117 West River Road) during their normal business hours.

PLEASE NOTE: The ordering website will only be accessible from September 1 through September 15.

Tree pick up will take place on Sunday, October 2 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Monday, October 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board headquarters (2117 West River Road). Trees must be claimed during the pick up or the purchaser will forfeit the tree and money paid. If the purchaser is unable to pick up the tree they are encouraged to make arrangements to have someone else pick up their tree on their behalf. There will be NO REFUNDS for trees that die.

Volunteers will be available at the pick-up location to help load tree(s) and a complimentary bag(s) of mulch. Tree Trust will plant a limited number of trees for those unable to plant their tree. These trees will be planted by Tree Trust staff and trained volunteers during a planting day in early October. Those interested in having their trees planted must indicate this at the time of order.

You can help further our efforts to replace more trees in North Minneapolis by volunteering with us and/or making a tax-deductible donation. (Designate your gift to “Trees for City of Minneapolis”).

For questions about the project, contact Diana Preisen, Community Forest Specialist at Tree Trust, dianap@treetrust.org or 612-590-1421.

In his own words.

Read this compelling letter written last week by a 17 year-old participant of our Youth Conservation Corps program.

Dear Maple Grove Community,

My name is Evan. In these times of economic instability, I would almost certainly not be employed without Tree Trust. After being referred to the program by one of my teachers at Maple Grove Senior High, I decided to apply to the program, and on the second year, I was accepted. Tree Trust is a program designed to employ high-risk youths and teach them about and prepare them for the expectations of the adult work world. When I went to the job site on my first day of work, I was fairly nervous, wondering what kind of people I would be working for and with, whether or not I would fit in or work to the expectations. As it turned out, these worries were unfounded; my co-workers are, more often than not, kind and respectful, and my crew leader, Jeff, is lighthearted, competent, and tolerant of a lack of experience (that doesn’t mean he lets us slack off, though!).

The first project I worked on was a wood-and-paver grill patio at Hennepin Park. This was important because, at the time, the Fourth of July was fast approaching, and the park was soon to see a great amount of use. It was there that I learned the ropes of the job and got to know the people I was to work with. The next major project I worked on was a wood-and paver staircase at the Elm Creek Park Reserve, which was a necessary replacement for a dangerously slippery mud slope. Not only would the stair case make the park a safer place, but will also give it a maintained, polished look. The staircase may also emphasize the path as an accepted route, rather than bare streak left by park goers looking for a shortcut, which may in turn cause more people to make use of more parts of the park.

To me, this job is admittedly one of the few things I do that are not purely selfish. I cannot be truly satisfied with myself if I act solely in my own favor, and these projects provide me with the sense of achievement and contribution that is, in reality, one of my greatest pleasures. I am not necessarily proud of my work, but that I do work. I care little what I built, but instead that I built. I do hope, however, that what I built does see good use. If what I built is useless, what, then, have I contributed? So, please, feel free to make use of the Tree Trust projects, or the projects of any other such organizations, whenever you wish, for the greatest payment of any worker is to know the difference he has made.

Sincerely,
Evan B.

Shutdown ends. Summer program resumes.

Three critical things happened this week: a state budget was approved, the government shutdown ended, and we were notified of funding awards for our summer Youth Conservation Corps program. As a result, we have been able to resume most of the summer programming that had been suspended or delayed during the government budget crisis.

We are pleased to have the majority of our youth participants back to work. However we are disappointed by the negative effects of the state budget impasse on the youth we serve. For the hundreds of young people whose jobs were temporarily suspended or cancelled entirely, they lost wages, the opportunity to have a work and character-building experience, and a chance to engage in something positive in their own communities.

We invite you to stop by the remaining work sites at Twin Cities parks and tell our summer crews what their hard work means to your community. For a list of current locations, please contact Tracie at 952.767.3881 or tracieh@treetrust.org.