Southeast Asian Initiative for Urban and Community Forestry (03-DG-11244225-421)

This project includes introducing urban and community forestry to the underserved populations in Minnesota.

Primary purpose of this project is to develop and implement initiatives designed to introduce the concept of community forestry to an important underserved population group in Minnesota, the Southeast Asian immigrant community, and to increase their understanding and participation in urban forestry activities. Working with community leaders, the project used innovative and culturally appropriate approaches that focused on community outreach, and cultural and language barriers removal. In outreach, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources relied on its Southeast Asian Program unit with its 10-years track record of working with the state's Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian and Vietnamese communities, and its 100 percent ethnic staff to connect and communicate with the target population. The program partnered with Tree Trust to recruit and work with leaders of each of the four ethnic groups to create new avenues that permit and facilitate the immigrants' learning, contribution of ideas and active participation in educational and tree maintenance and planting projects in their own neighborhoods in order to improve their lives and their communities.

1.Outreach to Asian organizations and needs assessment

2.Develop education and activity plans

3.Implement education and activity plans

4.Document and dissemination of information

Attachments

Click here to download this final grant report as a PDF.