The Brown Bag Lunch Series is a monthly webcast held at the lunch hour. The goal is to provide informal training opportunities for local urban and community forestry practitioners. The trainings highlight successful programs and practices that you may want to adopt in your community.
]]> Register for the Brown Bag Lunch Webcast Series
About the Brown Bag Lunch Series
The series is geared for volunteer organizers, community groups, and others who work with the public. Webcasts are open to all. Sessions are planned to last no more than one hour, with two presenters speaking on the same topic from slightly different perspectives, each for 10-15 minutes, followed by 10-15 minutes of questions and answers. The Brown Bag Lunch Series is made possible through support from The Home Depot Foundation and partnership with the USDA Forest Service.
Read more about and register for an individual session by clicking on that title below:
Date: June 28, 2007
Session: Raising Money Through Commemorative Tree Plantings
Trainer: Joan Lionetti, Trees for Tucson (Tucson, AZ)
Trainer: Scott Fogarty, Friends of Trees (Portland, OR)
Date: July 19, 2007
Session: Natural Capitalism: Green Partnerships with Businesses
Trainer: Greg Levine, Trees Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
Trainer: Prescott Gaylord, Baltimore Landmarks Homes (Baltimore, MD)
Date: August 16, 2007
Session: Operating a Nursery, Community Garden, or Arboretum
Trainer: Mike Bradshaw, Texas Trees Foundation (Dallas, TX)
Trainer: Glenda Daniel, Openlands (Chicago, IL)
Date: September 20, 2007
Session: Getting into Greenroofs
Trainer: Katrin Scholz-Barth, Scholz-Barth Consulting (Washington, DC)
Trainer: Ed Snodgrass, Green Roof Plants (Street, MD)
Date: October 18, 2007
Session: Organizing Work Programs for High School Students
Trainer: Amanda Benner, UC Green (Philadelphia, PA)
Trainer: Kemba Shakur, Urban ReLeaf (Oakland, CA)
Date: November 8, 2007
Session: Smart Growth and Urban Forestry
Trainer: Dannielle Glaros, Office of Councilman Eric Olson (Upper Marlboro, MD)
Trainer: Peter Harnick, Trust for Public Land- Center for Parks Excellence (Washington, DC)
Date: December 20, 2007
Session: Starting a Tree Group & Operating Sustainably
Trainer: Marcia Bansley, Trees Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
Trainer: Anna Dooley, Greenscape of Jacksonville (Jacksonville, FL)
Date: January 17, 2008
Session: Partnering with Utility Companies to Plant Trees
Trainer: Joan Lionetti, Trees for Tucson (Tucson, AZ)
Trainer: Patty Peterson, Trees Forever (Marion, IA)
Date: February 21, 2008
Session: Affordable Housing and Trees
Trainer: Fred Wacker, The Home Depot Foundation (Atlanta, GA)
Trainer: John Linner, National Development Council (Toledo, OH)
Date: March 20, 2008
Session: Adult Workforce Training
Trainer: Renee Toll-Dubois, Eagle Eye Institute (Somerville, MA)
Trainer: Karen Brook, Trees Forever (Marion, IA)
Date: April 17, 2008
Session: Heading Towards Sustainability- Part I: Agroforestry
Trainer: Brad Riphagen, Field Coordinator, Trees Forever (Marion, IA)
Trainer: Richard Straight, Lead Agroforester, USDA National Agroforestry Center (Lincoln, NE)
Date: May 15, 2008
Session: Tree Sales and Giveaways
Trainer: Greg Levine, Program Director, Trees Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
Trainer: Patrick Hayes, Executive Director, The Park People (Denver, CO)
Date: June 19, 2008
Session: Technology in the Urban Forest
Trainer: Holli Howard, Director of GIS & IT, Casey Trees (Washington, DC)
Trainer: Scott Maco, Research and Development Analyst, Davey Tree (Seattle, WA)
Date: July 17, 2008
Session: Trees and Transportation
Trainer: Pam Helfer, Field Director, Trees Forever (Marion, IA)
Trainer: Dorothy McDaniel, Executive Director, Trees Columbus (Columbus, GA)
Date: August 21, 2008
Session: Special Event Fundraising
Trainer: Ryan Teller, Development Manager, Friends of the Urban Forest (San Francisco)
Trainer: Kelley Skumautz, Annual Fund Director, TreePeople (Beverly Hills, CA)
Date: August 28, 2008
Session: NeighborWoods Month 101 (special webcast)
Trainer: Kari Smith, Community Greening Program Manager, Parks & People (Baltimore, MD)
Trainer: Adrienn Mendonca, Communications Director, Savannah Tree Foundation (Savannah, GA)
Date: September 11, 2008
Session: NeighborWoods Month 101 (special webcast)
Trainer: Patrice Sheehan, Tree Program Manager, Delaware Center for Horticulture (Wilmington, DE)
Trainer: Claudia Schenck, Office Director, Tennessee Environmental Council (Nashville, TN)
Date: September 18, 2008
Session: Urban Forestry Partnerships in Education
Trainer: Nancy Wolf, Magnolia Tree Earth Center (New York, NY)
Trainer: Peggy Davis, Executive Director, LSU Hilltop Arboretum (Baton Rouge, LA)
Date: October 16, 2008
Session: Marketing & Communications- Part I: Marketing 101
Trainer: Laurie Kaufman, Director of Communications, TreePeople (Los Angeles, CA)
Trainer: Shannon Forsell, Public Relations, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (Indianapolis, IN)
Date: November 20, 2008
Session: Marketing & Communications- Part II: Strategy & Public Relations
Trainer: Laurie Kaufman, Director of Communications, TreePeople (Los Angeles, CA)
Trainer: Mandy Hunsicker, Senior Account Executive, Manning, Selvage, and Lee (Atlanta, GA)
Date: December 18, 2008
Session: Marketing & Communications- Part III: Building & Positioning Your Brand
Trainer: Laurie Kaufman, Director of Communications, TreePeople (Los Angeles, CA)
Trainer: Constance Crawford, Outreach Services Director, Sacramento Tree Foundation (Sacramento, CA)
Date: January 15, 2009
Session: Marketing & Communications- Part IV: Advertising & Promoting Tree Events
Trainer: Laurie Kaufman, Director of Communications, TreePeople (Los Angeles, CA)
Trainer: Jean DuBose, Director of Development & Promotions, Parks & People (Baltimore, MD)
Date: February 19, 2009
Session: Incorporating AmeriCorps and Recent Grads Into Local Programs
Trainer: Yvonne Lee, Assistant Director, Shreveport Green (Shreveport, LA)
Trainer: Ashley Atkinson, Program Director, The Greening of Detroit (Detroit, MI)
Skills Required: Strong writing and research, attention to detail, organization, ability to work independently or with a team, self-starter, and sense of humor.
General Interests: Urban policy, neighborhood redevelopment, public relations/marketing, nonprofit management, and development.
Minimum/Maximum Award: Stipend commensurate with experience.
Application Procedure: Submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to the email or mailing address listed below.
Application Deadline: Rolling.
Internship Period: Students are suggested to apply for spring (February-May), summer (June-August), or fall (September-November) fellowships.
Mailing Address: Mail or email resumes to:
Alliance for Community Trees
Attn: Internship Program
4603 Calvert Road
College Park, MD 20740
Inquiries: Please direct questions regarding the internship program to ACT's Director of Programs, Jared Liu at 301-277-0041.
]]>ACT member organizations engage thousands of volunteers nationwide to transform cities for the better. Together, members of Alliance for Community Trees have planted 7.8 million trees in cities, with help from 450,000 volunteers. We're proud of our collective achievements, but there is much more work to be done to make our cities healthy, sustainable, and successful.
]]> At ACT, we're on a growth mission to bring trees to the forefront of the urban agenda. Timing is great and science is on our side, but we need your help. Please make a personal donation to Alliance for Community Trees today.Individual donors are an important source of support for ACT. Your donation will support ACT's advocacy, education, and planting initiatives nationwide. Alliance for Community Trees is unique among national conservation organizations in our urban focus and grassroots approach - we truly think globally, and act locally.
Your contribution helps support:
* Advocacy for a National Agenda for Trees
* NeighborWoods
* NeighborWoods Month
* Community Tree Leadership Training
* Brown Bag Webcasts
* and other valuable programs that support urban greening nationwide
The Alliance for Community Trees is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization (EIN # 68-0319301)
ACT participates in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC # 12402) and is eligible for employer gift matching programs.
To discuss planned giving opportunities, call us at 301-277-0040.
]]>ACT's Annual Meeting & NeighborWoods Academy will be held November 17 in conjunction with the Partners in Community Forestry conference November 18-20, sponsored by Arbor Day Foundation and The Home Depot Foundation in cooperation with ACT and many other national partners.
]]> Event Schedule:All sessions will take place at the Sheraton Atlanta. Atlanta is a vital city with ambitious goals for sustaining its urban tree canopy through public and private cooperation.
The ACT meeting agenda on November 17 features research about trees as a tool for community revitalization, nonprofit executive networking, grassroots program models, and NeighborWoods tools for community organizing. The 2008 NeighborWoods Luncheon sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation will recognize NeighborWoods award winners and exemplary nonprofit partnerships.
Geared toward nonprofit executives, volunteer organizers, and community advocates, the ACT Annual Meeting & NeighborWoods Academy is a great way to energize and connect with others working to restore tree canopy and make communities better places to live.
We are grateful for the assistance of The Home Depot Foundation in making this event possible.
Registration
Full day registration includes breakfast, breaks, and lunch, followed by an evening reception at Trees Atlanta. $99 ACT Member Rate / $129 General Admission for registrations received by November 4. After November 4, registration rates are $120 ACT Members / $150 General Admission. ACT has reserved a limited number of travel assistance scholarships for nonprofit organizations to enable broad participation. Click below to register or call 301-277-0041 with questions.
Lodging
A special conference rate of $155 single/double has been arranged with the Sheraton Atlanta. Book your lodging ASAP. After the room block expires, prevailing rates apply. Call 800-833-8624 and mention the "Partners in Community Forestry" conference.
We hope to see you this November in Atlanta! Mention priority code 7003.
Register for the ACT Annual Member Rally and Partners in Community Forestry Conference.
]]>National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) invites you to participate in the 9th National Conference on Science, Policy, and the Environment: Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing World, to address the challenge the changing world poses to biodiversity. The conference will provide an opportunity to look at what is happening to biodiversity in the context of radical climate disruption, human population rise, land use changes, globalization and other economic forces.
]]> For more information, visit NCSE Conference: Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing World.]]>The Weather Channel's Forecast Earth invites high school students to be part of the 2nd Annual Forecast Earth Summit. To be eligible, students should submit an essay outlining what they are doing to combat climate change. Entry forms can be submitted online through October 19.
]]> To learn more, visit Forecast Earth Summit.]]>The Trust for Public Land and the National Association of Counties have issued a call for applications for a national award recognizing leadership in countywide land conservation. The County Leadership in Conservation Awards recognizes leadership, innovation, and excellence in local land conservation and park creation by county leaders across America.
]]> To support and recognize the initiatives of counties promoting public investments in land conservation, three awards will be presented each year to NACo-member counties based on small, medium, and large county populations.Applications will be judged based on a broad range of criteria including leadership, innovation, benefits to underserved populations, and benefits to quality of life and environmental quality. The awards will be presented as part of NACo's Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in March 2009.
For more information, visit County Land Conservation Programs Award.
]]>Middle school students across the United States are invited to submit their solutions to environmental problems in their communities for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, a national sustainability education initiative. The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, and the National Science Teachers Association have partnered for this initiative to educate, empower, and engage students, teachers, and communities to become "agents of change" in improving their community.
]]> Student teams from sixth through eighth grade, under the mentorship of a teacher or adult supervisor, can register for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. Teams of two to three students will identify an environmental issue in their community, research the issue using scientific investigation, and create a replicable green solution using Web-based curriculum tools. The mentors of the first 100 teams to register and complete a project for challenge will receive a Planet Earth series DVD set.A total of 51 teams representing each state and the District of Columbia will be selected as state finalists and an additional 50 teams will be eligible for honorable mention awards. Three of the state finalist teams will be selected as national finalists, and one of those will be named the grand prize-winner.
All student teams entering the challenge will receive prizes for their participation; top-performing teams will earn cash, teacher education materials, and "Discovery Experience" trips. The grand prize winning team will receive a comprehensive prize package, which includes an appearance on Planet Green, Discovery's eco-lifestyle network, and a Discovery Adventure Trip.
The initiative will expand to elementary schools in 2009 and to high schools in 2010.
For more information, visit See the We Can Change the World Challenge.
]]>After more than a decade of grant-making, the National Urban and Community Advisory Council (NUCFAC) will overhaul their criteria for the U. S. Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry challenge cost share grant program for 2009. The new Urban and Community Forestry challenge cost share grant program will implement new procedures that reduce the paperwork burden on potential grantees. As in the past, a 50 percent match is required from all successful applicants of nonfederal funds, in-kind services, and/or materials.
]]> Grants for 2009 will be solicited in two categories:* Innovation Grants
Pre-proposals will be required for Innovation Grants. We anticipate that all finalists, as a group, will have an opportunity to discuss the grant process with NUCFAC members in a pre-award conference or conference call. NUCFAC will empanel an expert committee to assist in reviewing pre-proposals.
* Best Practices Grants
To relieve what has become a substantial paperwork burden, no pre-proposals will be required for these grants. Instead, applicants will be invited to submit a single proposal. Forest Services regional Urban and Community Forestry coordinators will each review all proposals, and submit comments and priority rankings to NUCFAC. NUCFAC will select finalist grantees and recommend them for approval to the Forest Service.
Timetable
The announcement of the 2009 Challenge Grant Program is planned for late November 2008. At that time, more details about application requirements, criteria for judging proposals, and priorities for Innovation Grants will be available at www.grants.gov.
If interested applicants are not already registered in grants.gov, we encourage them to register now. The process may take up to two weeks to collect the required information.
For more information, visit National Urban and Community Advisory Council (NUCFAC).
]]>At Walnut Street Elementary, kindergarten scientists are studying about trees. During this study, students have taken observation walks to view the various trees in downtown. Also, they have collected leaves and been using them to further explore the features of trees. The students will sort and classify their leaves as one of the many activities they engage in as they improve their skills as both scientists and mathematicians.
Related Resources:
Des Moines Register- Every School Every Thursday
Downtown School students learn importance of planting trees
Related Resources:
Fox 11 News- Make A Difference Day is October 25
Make A Difference Day Part of NeighborWoods Month Celebrations