What We're Thankful For

Tree Trust has a lot to be thankful for this year and in the spirit of Thanksgiving we would like to reflect on some of the things that make us thankful for being a part of this great organization.

• We had five successful Learning with Trees events this year. Besides the events being fun, it also gives us an opportunity to see budding environmental stewards as children help to improve the landscape at their schools by planting trees!

• With the help of volunteers we recently planted trees in North Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, and Fridley. Volunteer participation allows us to have these events, and also gives people an opportunity to work alongside their neighbors while bettering their community.

• In September we snagged some media attention when we teamed up with Jason Mraz, KS95, and Reverb for a planting event. The publicity was great and only helps to raise awareness of the importance of our work.

• Last but not least on our list of things that we're thankful for this fall, we are thankful for being one of four finalists for the Toro Grant Initiative "Green Spaces Make Better Places," which makes us eligible to win a $7,000 grant. You can help us win that grant by voting here.

Before you go out shopping on Black Friday remember that dedicating a Green Futures tree to someone makes a great Christmas gift! We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

End of Summer at Tree Trust

Though the summer isn't technically over yet, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of the season for most Minnesotans. At Tree Trust, our summer season ends in August with the completion of the Summer Youth Employment Program, the summer cohort of the Young Adult Conservation Corps, and the YouthBuild advanced crew. All of the youth employment training programs work with youth in the summer months, and some work with youth year-round.

Summer is a busy time of year for our youth programs. Youth who are not in school for the summer have more time on their hands and greater need of guidance and positive activities than they do during the school year. Every summer for the past 36 years, Tree Trust has been here to provide youth with work experience, educational enrichment, and a paycheck for their summer work experience. 

So while most Minnesotans have been out enjoying the summer, Tree Trust staff have been here helping our participants find positive direction. Now that summer is closing and many of our youth participants have returned to school, we take a little time to catch our breath before we hit the ground running with fall forestry events, new crews of YouthBuild and Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) youth, and just generally preparing for the upcoming 2013 year.

By October, we’ll have nearly 50 youth participating with YouthBuild and YACC crews and Community Forestry has a busy autumn with Green Futures and Learning with Trees plantings. Thanks to all who have provided funding for Green Futures plantings this year – and especially to our anonymous donor who matches all of these contributions. 

Public plantings will be held in parks in Eden Prairie and Fridley in early October. Learning with Trees projects at schools in Orono and Brooklyn Park are being funded by CenterPoint Energy and Beim Foundation. We will also work with Wells Fargo and their volunteer team and a generous anonymous donor to plant more trees in selected parts of tornado-damaged North Minneapolis.

Tree Trust had a busy summer working with over 600 youth, and the break between seasons is short as we shift gears and move into our fall projects starting... now.

A Summer Well Done

The YouthBuild program is an employment training program for at-risk youth primarily from Hennepin County. Participants rehab and rebuild homes in low-income neighborhoods with our housing partner, Urban Homeworks. During the school year, the program operates in conjunction with alternative schools so that youth attend school and work during alternate weeks. 

This summer, Tree Trust offered an extended program to participants who earned a spot on an advanced crew through their work ethic and attitude during the school year program. Advanced crew participants worked five days per week from June through August with the daily guidance, support and encouragement of their crew leader. The advanced crew finished their summer work on August 24 and the following article is written by their crew leader, Ty Nelson. 

Learn more about the program or apply here. 

It was near program’s end when I was asked for a highlight of the 2012 YouthBuild Advanced Summer Crew. But I couldn’t provide a single example; not for the reason that my group had done nothing memorable in ten weeks, but because their accomplishments were countless. I simply couldn’t narrow their achievements down to one crowning point. Therefore, like a proud poppa, I rattled off a highlight reel instead of a lone capstone. 

From June 18 till August 24 the ambitious contingent worked on various Urban Homeworks properties in North Minneapolis. They set the tone instantly, fleetly finishing the garage they started from the slab up this past April. In fact they shingled, sided, and installed the stall’s soffit and fascia in less than a fortnight. And during the Dog Days to follow, the five-member squad completed many challenging tasks, such as tearing down a four-story chimney, spending three days reroofing another garage, siding two more, and putting in the drain tile around an entire basement in just one day. Due to their efficiency and consistency, the summer crew was appropriately deemed the “A-Team” by Urban Homeworks staff.

Though the A-Team’s construction skills were excellent, what I found more impressive was their character. They took a lot of pride in their work. There were numerous moments, for instance, when I saw a YouthBuilder remove a length of siding or tear off a shingle in order to realign the piece perfectly. They also displayed great teamwork. On a couple of occasions my group collaborated with the Quicksilvers—Urban’s longtime lineup of mostly retired professionals—successfully installing several new windows on two different houses. Last but not least, the crew members proved their tenacity time and time again. Despite the difficulty of the project, the umpteen wasp nests they uncovered, or whether the weather was sweltering, they were rarely fazed. Attendance was normally 90% or better. 

The YouthBuilders sought ways to grow off the jobsite too. Not only did they earn their CPR/First Aid certifications, but they volunteered for a morning in the Food Bank at Second Harvest Heartland as well. Interested in furthering their education, they also toured the campuses of Hennepin Tech and Saint Paul College.

Regardless of their aforementioned feats, however, I’d say the best part of my experience with the Advanced Summer Crew (if I had to choose) was witnessing this group accomplish so much in such a short amount of time. Because of their remarkable resolve, I’m naturally excited for what the future has in store for these five go-getters. I’m sure there are many more highlights to come. 

—Tyrel Nelson, YouthBuild Crew Leader

Tornado Anniversary

On May 22, a tree was planted in the yard of Jan Carstens to honor her husband, Rob MacIntyre, who died in the tornado that devastated sections of North Minneapolis one year ago. Rob was a great friend to the environment and to the youth crews from Tree Trust who worked on projects in his neighborhood over the years. Following his death and at the request of Jan, a fund was set up at Tree Trust in Rob's name which will restore trees to the North Minneapolis community. Consider making a donation to the Rob MacIntyre Fund to help our neighbors while they continue the recovery process. 

A lot of great organizations, government agencies, and individuals have been on the ground providing assistance, but there is much more to be done. Estimated costs for recovery efforts have reached over $80 million. Tree Trust will continue to work with many partners to aid in restoring trees to the community during the coming months and years. Partners to date include the City of Minneapolis, State Farm, Wells Fargo, Xcel Energy, Minnesota Helps - North Minneapolis Recovery Fund, Bachmans, Knecht Nurseries and Landscaping and Taylor Truck Line.

Tree Trust has always had a focus on serving the neighborhoods of North Minneapolis and the recovery effort has created an even greater focus on the area. Our YouthBuild program has worked to rehab and rebuild homes and apartment buildings in tornado damaged neighborhoods. Our Community Forestry Department has distributed over 600 trees so far to residents of North Minneapolis who had their tree canopy devastated by the tornado and we will roll out additional tree restoration programs later this year. Many of the youth who participate in Tree Trust programs are residents of North Minneapolis and are proud to be able to help the areas where they live.

Tree Trust is grateful for the support of the metro community toward our work in North Minneapolis and we'll continue doing all we can in the coming months and years. Visit Tree Trust's website to make a donation or for more information.

For an update on recovery efforts by the City of Minneapolis, visit the Minneapolis Recovers: North Side Tornado page of the City of Minneapolis website.

Tree Sales Update

Tree Trust offers municipal tree distributions every year in order to increase the tree canopy in the Twin Cities. Planting a tree is the easiest way to improve property values, reduce energy needs, and improve our air and water quality. 

This is Tree Trust's sixth year offering the Minneapolis City Trees program in partnership with City of Minneapolis, and the third year of a partnership with the City of St Louis Park to provide the tree sale to city residents. It is the second year of a partnership with State Farm Insurance to provide trees to residents affected by the May 22nd, 2011 tornado. Thanks to the Cities of Minneapolis and St Louis Park, and State Farm Insurance for making these programs possible, and thanks to all the people who purchased trees to help green our community.

St Louis Park Tree Sale

The St Louis Park Tree Sale has not sold out yet! We have just under 100 trees still available to residents of St Louis Park. Prairifire Crabapple trees have sold out and some varieties are limited. Order soon to make sure that you can get a tree this year!

If you ordered a tree, you MUST pick it up Sat, May 5 from 8AM-12 noon or on Mon, May 7 from 5-7 PM at Tree Trust's office at 2231 Edgewood Ave S, St Louis Park.

North Minneapolis ReForest Project

Thanks to State Farm Insurance, Tree Trust is providing free trees to North Minneapolis residents who live in the tornado-affected zone. Many trees were lost in the tornado, and this tree distribution is part of Tree Trust's efforts to replace the tree canopy through the North Minneapolis ReForest Project. There were 400 trees available and approximately half of those have sold. Order soon to make sure that you can get a tree!

If you ordered a tree, you MUST pick it up on May 12th, 7AM-3PM; May 13th, 8AM-4PM; or May 14th 3PM-7PM at the Minneapolis Impound Lot at 51 Colfax Ave N. If you are unable to pick up your tree, you may have someone else pick it up for you. The morning of the 12th will be the busiest day with the longest wait times.

Minneapolis City Trees

This program has risen in popularity over the years and this year we sold out of trees faster than any ever! 1,500 trees went on sale at 8 AM on Monday and they were all gone by Thursday. 

If you ordered a tree, you MUST pick it up on May 12th, 7AM-3PM; May 13th, 8AM-4PM; or May 14th 3PM-7PM at the Minneapolis Impound Lot at 51 Colfax Ave N. If you are unable to pick up your tree, you may have someone else pick it up for you. The morning of the 12th will be the busiest day with the longest wait times.

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.