what works in community tree events: lessons from ten years of neighborwoods
DESCRIPTION
What can you do to take your community tree events to the next level? Through 10 years of National NeighborWoods Month celebrations, urban forestry professionals have held more than 4,800 tree events and planted more than 300,000 urban trees. This presentation will discuss lessons of success from standout tree events that have made a significant impact in communities nationwide, including tools and approaches that attendees can take home and implement to boost urban forest support in their cities.TRANSCRIPT
What Works in Community Tree Events: Lessons from Ten Years of NeighborWoods
Partners in Community ForestryNovember 5, 2014
Anthony Le
2
• Founded in 1993
• National network of non profits and municipalities
• 15 million trees engaging over 5 million volunteers
Alliance for Community Trees
04/13/2023 3
Alliance for Community Trees builds the capacity of its
members to plant, sustain and advocate for trees in
America’s communities.
Mission
04/13/2023 4
What We Do
PROGRAMS• Plant Our FutureSM
• Community GrovesSM
• Monthly Webcast Series• ACTrees Day• Policy Summit• National NeighborWoods®
Month
5
National NeighborWoods® Month
04/13/2023 6
TreeUtahThe Bend In The RiverSalt Lake City, UT
Baton Rouge GreenMelrose EastBaton Rouge, LA
In The Beginning
2005 2014
2005 2014
7
Banner Year in 2013
04/13/2023 8
Local to National Impact
04/13/2023 9
• Trees have positive connotation• Over 90% of population urban• People need trees• Trees need people
Green in Green Infrastructure
04/13/2023 10
Building Visibility Online
Increase Your Visuals• 87% of interactions of a Facebook page happen on photo• Posts with links receive only 4%
04/13/2023 11
Guidelines for good photoso Hire a photographer or designate staff photographero Digital camera or cell phone can worko Before and after photoso People as important as treeso Candid photos show emotiono Posed photos that show smiling faceso Burst photoso Use #Hashtag to collect volunteer photoso Use on website, social media, annual review, and marketing materials
Picture is worth a thousand words
04/13/2023 12
Building Visibility Online
Videos Are Popular• Every day, Facebook users watch 500+ years of videos• Average of at least 15 minutes on YouTube
PSA• Engage elected officials or celebrities
04/13/2023 13
PSA Videos
Tom VilsackUSDA Secretary of Agriculture
04/13/2023 14
Building Visibility Online
Videos are popular• Every day, Facebook users watch 500+ years of videos• Average of at least 15 minutes on YouTube
PSA• Engage elected officials
Make your own Video• Cell phone quality is fine• Short, sweet, and informative
04/13/2023 15
Inviting Elected Officials
Aim High
Senator Chuck Grassley & Mayor Frank Cownie at NeighborWoods planting• Good press for both• Builds your relationship
04/13/2023 16
Engaging Elected Officials
• Proclamation• Tree of Year
04/13/2023 17
Building Credibility
Saturday, October 5, 2014
Lewis Reed, President St. Louis Board of Aldermen
Forest ReLeaf of Missouri gave away 500 Trees to be planted across the city
Trusted by community
04/13/2023 18
• Find your voiceo Determine who will speak on behalf of organizationo Set up a Communications or Public Relations committee
• Master your toolso Pitch letter, media advisory, press release, op-ed, fact
sheet, or PSAo neighborwoodsmonth.org/resources
Working with Media
04/13/2023 19
Funding to boost NeighborWoods eventso $25,000 in mini-grants this year
Mediao Purchase ads in print or radio to promoteo Pay service to distribute press release to news outletso Hire Photographer or Videographer
NeighborWoods Mini-Grants
04/13/2023 20
Give back to those giving back
Thank volunteers by respecting their contributiono Volunteers are giving up their time and effort, so keep
their experience in mind
04/13/2023 21
Starts in planningo Easy registration processo Electronic sign up that they can share with friendso Logistical info is clear: parking, what to wear, what to expecto Keep to the schedule to prevent drop off and respect time given
Food is the key to a volunteer’s hearto Breakfast and hot coffee or boxed lunch or both if possibleo Water and refreshments
Volunteer Experience
04/13/2023 22
Symbol of Serviceo T-shirt or hat exclusive to evento Tote or grocery bago Refillable water bottleso Gator bagso Commemorative Pint Glasseso Pins, stickers, decalso Where to find photos
Family-friendly Evento Babysitter during evento Games or entertainer
Swag and Service
04/13/2023 23
Swag and Service
04/13/2023 24
Volunteer Recognition
Mayor of Opa-locka, FL and Opa-locka CDC present local resident Diane Smith at 2014 Boise Project UP event
Citizens for a Better South Florida present awards to 4 outstanding Citizens Foresters at October 22, 2011 NeighborWoods Event
04/13/2023 25
ACTrees Volunteer of the Year
Peter Diep with TreePeople
Dotti Clune with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
04/13/2023 26
10th Year of NeighborWoods
04/13/2023 27
www.surveymonkey.com/s/NNWM2014
Anthony LeProgram Manager, ACTrees
202-291-8733
ACTrees.org
Questions