5,937 trees planted
OUR VISION IS A THRIVING WORKFORCE LIVING ON A HEALTHY PLANET
305 young people served
TRANSFORMING LIVES AND LANDSCAPES
833 volunteers
38 community planting events
The demand for workers in the skilled trade and green industries is growing. Tree Trust is committed to promoting a thriving workforce as we steward our environment, and green industries provide opportunities for sustainable work that promotes a healthy planet. From construction to landscaping to forestry, employers are facing a labor shortage even as their industries continue to grow. This creates an exciting opportunity for young people eager to find meaningful employment.
Tree Trust’s Career Pathways programs offer a stepping stone to vocations in the skilled trades and green industry. We were thrilled to partner with hundreds of promising young people in 2022 as they honed employment skills, pursued personal and professional goals, and entered the workforce through Career Pathways. Whether laying foundational skills in their first job or building expertise in advanced tree care techniques, program participants moved toward gainful employment. These skill-building initiatives simultaneously contributed to the wellbeing of the entire Twin Cities community through improving local green spaces.
This year, Tree Trust remained at the forefront of efforts to promote a healthy tree canopy in the Twin Cities community. As the invasive pest emerald ash borer (EAB) continued to infest and kill trees, we were proud to partner with multiple municipalities to mitigate the destruction of EAB and increase tree cover throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Tree Trust staff, Career Pathways participants, and city employees worked together to remove infected ash trees from public boulevards and plant thousands of new trees in their place. Community volunteers joined tree planting events at dozens of parks, schools, and public green spaces.
Planting initiatives also focused on private property, which is one of the areas of greatest need for tree canopy. We collaborated with a record number of cities around the metro to provide discounted trees to homeowners. It was a delight to see community members come together to purchase trees and then team up to help each other plant them at their homes.
As we look forward to 2023, we are excited for what is ahead. We are grateful for your partnership, as we together work to transform lives and landscapes for a greener future in our community.
Sincerely,
Jared Smith, Executive Director | CEO
“Tree Trust is committed to promoting a thriving workforce as we steward our environment, and green industries provide opportunities for sustainable work that promotes a healthy planet.
is to transform lives and landscapes by engaging people to build skills for meaningful careers, inspiring people to plant trees, and making our community a greener, healthier place to live.
Tree Trust’s work is guided by THREE
that shape our work every day as we serve our community.
Our model of work is collaborative — with each other, with our community partners, and with the people we serve.
We are committed to planting trees to grow a vibrant and resilient urban forest.
We equip people to achieve familysupporting, skilled trade, green careers to create economic opportunity and equity.
Our vision of a thriving workforce living on a healthy planet, would not be possible without all our partners. Together, we are planting a greener future for our community as we transform lives and landscapes. Our gratitude extends to all the good people of the Twin Cities who donate their time to help us unload, distribute, and plant thousands of trees. To all the business and referral partners who kindly share their skills with our program participants — job coaching, conducting mock interviews, teaching financial literacy,
offering employment opportunities and resources for career exploration — you are key members of the Tree Trust community. To the park districts, municipalities, Tree Trust staff, and Career Pathways participants who collaborate to make our green spaces more beautiful, we are grateful for your dedication to our mission. Working together, our staff, board members, volunteers, and community partners are transforming our vision into a tangible reality. We are appreciative of your continued support. Thank you!
with each other, with our community partners, and with the people we serve.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rhea Rochon Chair
Michael Huntington Vice Chair Immediate Past Chair
Dana S. Beasley Treasurer
Gennae Falconer Secretary
Larry Crosby Director Kurts Strelnieks Advisory Director
Donald C. Willeke Founder and Director Emeritus
G. Rolf Svendsen
Founder and Director Emeritus
Jared Smith Executive Director | CEO
Anders Hawes Director of Finance
Cindy Booker Director of Career Pathways
Karen Zumach Director of Community Forestry
Bjorn Hawes Landscape Services Business Operations Manager
Jeff Voshell Landscape Services General Manager
to partner with our friends and plant some trees at Cedar Park.
“We’re really excited- Cedar Park Principal Jon Garcia was thrilled to plant his first tree, a Japanese Lilac.
Tree Trust’s planting events bring people together to actively participate in growing a greener future with a resilient urban forest. In 2022, more than 800 community members volunteered to plant trees in local parks and schools, as well as on public boulevards and private property across the Twin Cities metro area. Tree Trust’s volunteers are simply amazing. Expert gardeners, local business employees, children planting their first tree, people walking by who were inspired to help, and many others found joy in giving back to the community by planting trees together. We know that a diversity of tree species is key to growing a resilient tree canopy, and together we planted more than 50 different kinds of trees to strengthen our urban forest. A perfect example of this successful community collaboration took place during this year’s spring planting season. To celebrate Arbor Day, Tree Trust Community Forestry led volunteers to plant 200 trees that would provide shade at a local park in need of tree cover. Willing hands helped dig holes, plant trees, spread mulch, and water the new trees. Working together, we are growing a healthy, vibrant tree canopy for the good of our whole community.
5,937 Community tree plantings
Trees planted
10
38 Tree distributions
Tree planting is a fun way to make a difference.
- Planting Volunteer
TO CAREERS
Tree Trust’s Career Pathways programming welcomed 305 promising young people in 2022. New Career Pathways Director Cindy Booker joined our staff to guide our team forward as we work to train the future generation of green collar and skilled trades workers. Tree Trust’s pre-apprenticeship program, Branches, offers our most advanced level of training. Participants explored green industry and skilled trade careers with hands-on training in the field and one day each week dedicated to working on employment readiness skills in the office. In one collaboration in 2022, with partner American Forests and corporate sponsor Travelers Insurance, Branches led the planting of 51 trees at a park in Richfield, Minnesota. Our Summer Youth Employment Program welcomed many young people, offering entrylevel workforce training through the completion of environmental projects in the Twin Cities metro area. Tree Trust’s YouthBuild program partnered with young adults to explore careers while completing their high school education; participants successfully rehabilitated 12 homes, learning important construction skills. Our Career Pathways programs set the standard in preparing participants for a strong future with rewarding careers.
305
75% Achieved post-program job or educational placement
72% Earned Tree Trust or industry-recognized credentials
“
I decided to take the chance and work outside during the coldest months of Minnesota, and I never looked back.”
- Minh, Branches Participant
“I like working at Tree Trust because it’s a great opportunity. You get to be outside in this excellent scenery. It’s a good workout. It gets you out of the house. And it’s just all around a very good experience.”
- Calvin, Summer Youth Employment Program Participant
“I’ve always known that I wanted to be a part of the green industry and being a part of Tree Trust has really opened my eyes to the possibilities and really has made it seem attainable for me. Getting to see all these connections and resources, and get the hands-on skills, to be able to really get a head start has been a huge confidence booster for me. I don’t know how else I would have been able to do it.”
- Susie, Branches Participant94% Youth and young adults, ages 14-28
60% Black, Indigenous, or People of Color
81% At-risk for not completing high school
59% Have a diagnosed disability
25% Female
79% Identify as low income
Tree Trust Landscape Services provides professional tree care and landscape services for commercial and residential clients. In addition to providing outstanding customer service and unmatched quality, Landscape Services’ team of industry professionals offers a wealth of experience and knowledge that extends the impact of our nonprofit programs. Landscape Services, Career Pathways, and Community Forestry are a united team planting trees in public and private spaces throughout the Twin Cities — knowing that the fight against emerald ash borer requires everyone to plant
more trees. Our certified arborists coached youth to safely reach soaring heights, leading quarterly career exploration experiences for Career Pathways participants. With an eye towards a high-demand career as skilled professional arborists, two staff members are currently enrolled in our Registered Arborist Apprenticeship program through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Tree Trust Landscape Services fulfills our mission to transform lives and landscapes by providing our customers and programs with expert knowledge and well-honed skills.
is a social enterprise that supports our programming.
Excellent work — will definitely not be shy about sharing our experience and recommending Sean and Tree Trust when anybody asks about the patio!
- Sam, Landscape Services Customer
- Becky, Landscape Services Customer
The crew that removed my tree last week did a fantastic job. So efficient and professional!
As we reflect on 2022, Tree Trust is grateful for the many donors that believe in our mission to transform lives and landscapes. We could not do the important work of creating a thriving workforce living on a healthy planet without supporters like you. In 2022, we made great strides together to mitigate the impact of emerald ash borer and come alongside promising young people to build skills for meaningful careers. Your generous support helped add 5,937 well-established trees to our urban canopy and provide hands-on environmental education to hundreds of elementary students. You made it possible to offer career building workforce training to 305 youth and young adults. Thank you to all our supporters for your commitment to stewarding our environment and investing in young people. Your gifts will transform lives and landscapes both now and for generations to come.
