UR outreach brochure,draft 1020605 233,00.html! • NBC!Nightly!News!with!Brian!Williams,2012! –“Making!aDifference:!From!Concrete! Jungle!to!Urban!Oasis”!

835 57th Street, Oakland, CA 94608 | 510-‐601-‐9062 | [email protected] | www.urbanreleaf.org

Mission

Urban Releaf is an urban forestry non-‐profit 501(c)3 organization established in Oakland, California to address the needs of communities that have little to no greenery or tree canopy. We focus our efforts in underserved neighborhoods that suffer from a disproportionate environmental quality of life and economic depravity. Urban Releaf is committed to the revitalization of our communities through tree planting and maintenance; environmental education and stewardship; and empowering residents to beautify their neighborhoods. Furthermore, Urban Releaf actively employs and trains at-‐risk and formerly incarcerated youth as well as hard-‐to-‐hire adults.

History

During our 12 years of existence, Urban Releaf has been successful in planting and distributing over 15,000 trees throughout Oakland and Richmond. In the process, we have engaged thousands of community members each year. Our projects have provided free trees to local residents, organized weekly community tree planting events, conducted tree care/maintenance workshops, created volunteer and internship opportunities, and coordinated environmental and experiential educational activities for local youth. Urban Releaf is supported by community volunteers and groups and collaborates with local, state and federal agencies.

Urban Releaf ReLeaf

“Building Healthy Communities One Tree At A Time”


Programmatic Areas

Tree Planting & Maintenance Urban Releaf understands that tree planting is an important public service and an invaluable factor vital for the environmental health enhancement of neighborhoods. Performing tree planting and maintenance to revitalize core urban areas and residential neighborhoods forms the foundation of Urban Releaf’s activities. In particular, we have aimed to increase green spaces on and around school campuses as well as public areas throughout Oakland.

Block of Trees Planted at Longfellow Elementary

In addition to the positive environmental effects of trees, which include resource conservation and improved air quality, communities benefit socio-‐economically from tree planting through the creation of green jobs and increased community ownership and pride. Youth and volunteers living in the tree planting project areas have played an integral part in our greening activities.

Tree Planting Event at New Highland Elementary School

Our tree planting objectives target areas of low to moderate income whose residents suffer from a lower environmental quality of life. We view our greening activities as producing environmental “goods” work in communities with historic environmental justice issues. Citizens inhabiting these areas are disproportionally burdened by environmental “bads” of air and water pollution.

From the Founder and Director:

Over the last 12 years, I have come to find that issues of environmental justice and equity should be at the forefront of the environmental

movement. Communities of color and poor communities are often times underrepresented, ignored or pushed from decision-‐making policies

that directly affect their quality of life. It is important to understand that groups of color that deal with an exorbitant amount of social and environmental pressures can play an extraordinary

role in providing positive examples of community based solutions and has the potential to advance the environmental movement. -‐Kemba Shakur


Education & Stewardship Training The Urban Forest Education & Stewardship Training Program (UFEST) focuses on civic-‐oriented character development and environmental stewardship training of local youth through project-‐based experiential education. UFEST is designed to cultivate leadership, skills and talents of students and staff as general specialists in urban forestry and arboriculture for the Oakland community. Youth are involved in planning and coordinating forest stewardship projects (i.e. tree planting, long term care, maintenance, and monitoring) in public spaces throughout the city. UFEST works closely with schools to incorporate 12 modules consisting of lectures and hands-‐on activities related to urban forestry into the curriculum.

Aviation High School students watering newly planted tree.

In additional to training staff members, UFEST aims to increase general awareness and knowledge of ecological, environmental and human benefits of trees in our urban community. Interns with the UFEST program provide seminars and workshops to primary and secondary schools, community based organizations, environmental justice groups, public health organizations and an array of other civic groups. We aim to engage residents to actively

participate in environmental stewardship and take pride in the care and wellbeing of their community.

Urban Releaf employees receive on-‐the-‐job training

Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Urban Forest Ecosystem Research is the scientific exploration into the services trees provide to ecosystems, the urban environment, and humans. In 2004, Urban Releaf expanded its activities from to encompass scientific research. The following sections summarize some of the highlights of our research projects: 31st Green Street Demonstration Project (2009-‐Current) This highly innovative, nationally significant project demonstrates an integrated approach to scientific research, tree planting, and community outreach to meet neighborhood revitalization objectives. Through our partnership with UC Davis Scientist Qingfu Xiao and contract with Hyphae Design Laboratory, the project aims to design and install 20-‐40 trees with storm water swales as well as monitor storm water retention from at least 1 pilot site. Urban Releaf aims to educate local residents about the benefit of trees utilizing workshops and a variety of developed educational materials. The project aims to bring much-‐needed greenery and attention to a residential street currently devoid of any shade trees. Furthermore, the project area experiences


various criminal and social problems, and is representative of many such neighborhoods across the nation.

31st Green Street Demonstration Project site

Ettie Street Social Evaluation Project (2008-‐2010) The goal of this project was to examine the social benefits of forest greening applicable to communities of the East San Francisco Bay Area, in particular, West Oakland residents. These social benefits include increased community involvement, raised levels of environmental awareness, creation of youth jobs, advocacy of environmental justice issues, and the larger watershed benefits of tree planting. Of the many things we gleaned from this research, we found that the youth involved in our program feel more engaged in long-‐term environmental stewardship and are more likely to pursue careers in this field. Therefore, it is crucial that Urban Releaf engage urban youth in every greening project to support and encourage their personal, academic, and professional growth. Ettie Street Watershed Restoration and Evaluation Project (2004-‐2007) Our urban watershed restora-‐tion and protection project was conducted in one of California’s oldest urban watersheds – the Ettie Street Watershed in West Oakland. During this three-‐year study, 1,394 trees were planted on either private property or school campuses

throughout the project area. The water samples that were collected from the throughfall and stem flow of each tree, rainwater from open space, and runoff from the two city blocks were laboratory analyzed for nutrient and heavy metals contents. Through our partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and U.C. Davis, we designed several experiential/environmental educational training opportunities for 10 local youth employees. Subject areas covered in these educational trainings included tree care/maintenance; tree health/condition assessment; tree identification and selection; storm water runoff pollution; Global Positioning Systems (GPS); and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

Urban Releaf Staff collecting storm water runoff samples

Trees: A Multitude of Services

Biological scientists have developed models to assess ecosystem and environmental benefits of

trees that have included: improved air quality higher property values reduced home energy and water costs lower levels of GHG emissions and CO2 mitigation of criteria pollutants cooler ambient temperatures

storm water management abatement shelter for urban wildlife


GIS database documenting various tree species, available

planting space, and environmental conditions for project area

The overall results of this research project indicated that increasing regional canopy coverage is a solution to reducing pollutant loading into the San Francisco Bay. The existing street trees, once mature, had the potential to reduce a total of 946 lbs of pollutants that travel to the San Francisco Bay each year.

The Social Benefits of

Ettie Street Urban Forest Inventory with GPS

Climate Protection in West Oakland (2008-‐2010) This two-‐year study, funded by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Cal Fire, focused on the capacity of trees planted in West Oakland to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs), air pollution (i.e. particulate matter), and building energy consumption. During the study, approximately 1,000 trees were planted nearby buildings so that shade and climate effects could be evaluated. Using the Center for Urban Forestry Research Tree Carbon Calculator, Urban ReLeaf quantified annual energy reductions, emission reductions, carbon dioxide sequestration and above ground biomass for 10 regularly planted tree species.

The Social Benefits of Trees Studies have shown that tree planting and tree

canopy growth may result in: increased outdoor socialization

increased community ownership and pride advanced cognitive development of children socio-‐psychological development of youth shortened hospital stays

lessened needs for medication reduced levels of mental fatigue and stress

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-‐W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-‐9410 or call (202) 720-‐5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Sponsors Urban Releaf has received support from numerous public and private organizations as well as numerous charitable donors. We greatly appreciate all the support we have received to continue our greening and community development efforts. The following names are a few of our many contributors:


Awards & Recognitions National

• PEOPLE Magazine, March 5, 2012 – “She Planted 15,000 Trees”

• PEOPLE Magazine – “Heroes Among Us: Kemba Shakur Greens Her Oakland Neighborhood” http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20605233,00.html

• NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, 2012 – “Making a Difference: From Concrete Jungle to Urban Oasis” http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-‐news/47181533#47181533

• NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, 2012 – “Trees Give Immediate Impact” http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-‐news/47181533#47177905

• HGTV Curb Appeal Local

• UC Davis Magazine, Volume 29, Winter 2012 -‐ “A Tree Grows in Oakland”

• 4th Annual Juneteenth Honoree, 2012 • KQED and Wells Fargo Women's History

Month Award, 2012 • SHEROSE of Our Time, A Tribute to the First

Lady, Michelle Obama, Exhibition Honoree, 2012

• KTVU Channel 2, 2012 “MLK DAY: Holiday volunteer community project in Oakland has important, scientific aspect” http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/mlk-‐day-‐holiday-‐volunteer-‐community-‐project-‐in/vFnPb/

• California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition, 2012

• State of California Senate Certificate of Recognition, 2012

• CBS Eyewitness News, 2011 -‐ “Lesson’s in Growing Shade” http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/category/watch-‐listen/video-‐on demand/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5938490

31st Green Street Demonstration Project Manager Kemba Shakur at advocates for trees at Groundbreaking Event

• Modern Day John Muir Honoree Oakland

Museum of California, 2011 • Aviation High School Tree Planting

Certificate of Recognition, 2011 • Community Leadership Award, Black Elected

Officials & Faith Based Leaders of the East Bay, 2010

• Urban Releaf Arbor Day Award, City of Oakland, April 10, 2010

• Black Women Organized for Political Action, 2010

• UC Berkeley CRS Magazine, 2009 -‐ “Renewal Takes Root”

• Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame, 2009

• Oakland Green Hero Award, PG&E Co., 2009 • Outstanding Urban Forestry Project of the

Year, Californian Urban Forestry Council, 2008

• Business Roundtable Spotlight Award, 2007 • Bay Area Jefferson Award, 2005 • EPA Environmental Award for Outstanding

Achievement, 2005 • National Parks Chrissy Field Award, 2004 • Peralta Street Project, Trees for the

Millennium, July 20, 2000 • Certificate of Appreciation, 6th Annual

Environmental Expo, 2000 • Certificate of Appreciation, 5th Annual

Environmental Expo, 1999

Please view our website for more information and ways to support our efforts.


Documents

UR outreach brochure,draft 1020605 233,00.html! • NBC!Nightly!News!with!Brian!Williams,2012! –“Making!aDifference:!From!Concrete! Jungle!to!Urban!Oasis”!