Using Community-Based Urban Forestry to Create New Jobs for Lower-Income Urban Residents: A Greater National Demonstration Project in Washington, DC (00-DG-11244225-171)

This project was to help to improve environmental conditions in two urban neighborhoods.

The health of our communities is dependent on the health of the urban forest for cleaner air and water, beauty, public health, psychological well-being, and economic opportunities. Our vision is to improve the total environment of two targeted urban neighborhoods, Shaw and Anacostia, by addressing the primary concerns observed and raised by community residents, leaders and institutions. During introductory meetings, four major concerns voiced were environmental

quality, economic opportunity, and also the broader community issues of crime, grime, education,and lack of pride. These issues were chosen as the goals we were to work toward changing. Therefore, we sought to improve the neighborhood environments of these communities through community-based urban forestry or greening. Our project tried to help 4-8 local green businesses in the communities to grow - providing more local, green jobs, capturing both green and economic growth. We also provided individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to acquire and advance in the green jobs industry. While simultaneously promoting community-based greening by training leaders and active residents in ecologically sound approaches to urban community greening. We linked the knowledge of urban greening to other community concerns. This we hoped would build a culture of local natural resources and community stewardship in communities where such a culture is often lacking.

Project objectives:

1. Improve the neighborhood environments of the Shaw and Anacostia communities through community-based urban forestry (greening) on public, private, and community spaces;

2. Enhance economic opportunities for residents through green-job training and placement, and through locally-owned green business development; and

3. Strengthen the culture of stewardship and the community's capacity in these neighborhoods through shared learning, participatory project development, and community-based greening.

Attachments

Click here to download this Final Grant Report as a PDF.