Developing and Nurturing Professional Leadership Networks for Urban Forestry Practitioners (10-DG-114200004-003)

Our project will address the NUCFAC "Best Practices" priority to nurture networks of urban forestry practitioners within existing professional and social organizations and networks. We will develop professional leadership networks in three states (CA, CO, TX) and disseminate these network models to other states. In Phase 1 two people from each state will attend the Natural Resources Leadership Institute (NRLI), which brings together professionals working in green infrastructure, conservation, air and water quality, and other resource issues. Each state team will include an urban forestry practitioner and a network facilitator. In Phase 2, each state will adapt the NRLI model to develop and customize its own networking program. The state team will host a green infrastructure leadership workshop, with the project team serving as a guiding resource and facilitator. Workshop participants will design and benefit from their new network, and will include local government, private business, non-profits, the green industry, and educational institutions. This project should be done now because collaborative networking has become essential for positive outcomes, and because other states are seeking to learn from the successful NRLI model.

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Project Narrative