Collaborating Through the Seasons
Working together to transform lives and landscapes
Our vision is a thriving workforce living on a healthy planet.
Our mission is to transform lives and landscapes by engaging people to build skills for meaningful careers, inspiring people to plant trees, and making our community a greener, healthier place to live.
Together We Grow
Transforming Lives and Landscapes in Partnership
2024 was a remarkable year of transforming lives and landscapes, made possible by commitment to the Tree Trust mission and collaboration with our many partners. Sometimes, transformation is fully evident in a single moment – like when an elementary student pats dirt around a tree he just planted with his classmates, his face lighting up with the joy of accomplishment. At other times, lasting change is only apparent after weeks, months, or even years. An accessibility ramp takes shape board by board in the skilled hands of Landscape Services staff. A Career Pathways participant begins to master tree care and carpentry skills through consistent practice week after week, motivated by their commitment and the encouragement of their team. Community Forestry staff and volunteers plant young trees along public boulevards, anticipating the day – decades later – when the trees have reached their full height to shade the sidewalk.
In every case, the transformation is only possible because of partnership. One person or organization donates money to fund programming. Another teaches financial literacy skills to youth. A business sends a team of employees to plant and water trees in a park. Local employers offer job site tours and mock interviews to help youth hone professional skills and
explore careers. A high school group puts their abundant energy into unloading trees for a municipal distribution.
Each of these partners – each of you –willingly invests time, energy, and resources in the present to provide shade, beauty, and meaningful work opportunities for upcoming generations. Your collaboration makes Tree Trust’s mission of transforming lives and landscapes a reality.
In all that we do, we are guided by our core values. Treating each other with respect and responsibly managing resources ensures that our work, whether planting trees or equipping youth to launch their careers, creates both immediate impact today and lasting benefits for future generations. We are incredibly grateful to get to do this together, with you – our outstanding partners. Thank you to each one of our stakeholders who helps us create opportunities, build resilience, and plant hope for a greener tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Jared Smith Executive Director | CEO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Huntington Chair
Rhea Rochon Vice Chair
Kurts Strelnieks Treasurer
Larry Crosby Secretary
Dana S. Beasley Director
Gennae Falconer Director
Donald C. Willeke Founder & Director Emeritus
G. Rolf Svendsen Founder & Director Emeritus
KEY STAFF
Jared Smith Executive Director CEO
Anders Hawes Director of Finance
Anne-Marie Hendrickson Director of Development & Communications
Cindy Booker Director of Career Pathways
Karen Zumach Director of Community Forestry
Bjorn Hawes Landscape Services Business Operations Manager
Career Pathways
By equipping young people with paid training and hands-on experience, Tree Trust Career Pathways offers promising young people the opportunity to build sustainable and meaningful careers in high-demand skilled trades and green industries.
Services Landscape
Tree Trust Landscape Services is a social enterprise business providing professional tree care and landscape contracting services to public, residential, and commercial clients throughout the greater Twin Cities metro area. We have really appreciated the care, skill, and knowledge of Tree Trust. We trust the expertise of Tree Trust and value their professionalism and clear communication at all levels from estimating, to scheduling, to the work, to billing. Thank you for the great and trusted service!
Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
Youth aged 14-21 with a barrier to employment earn and learn through practical experience working on outdoor construction and landscape projects in local parks and green spaces.
93%
Learned New Skills 93 91%
Grew in Self-Confidence 91 94%
94
Parents and Guardians Satisfied with Their Young Adult’s Experience
“The community members were very excited to see young folks getting involved in park stewardship, and the crews made a significant contribution to improving the park through invasive species removal.”
SYEP Project Site Partner
“I liked building my own Adirondack chair, learning about different trees, and figuring out how to fix a gasolinepowered and an electricpowered chainsaw.”
YouthBuild Participant
YouthBuild
Tree Trust YouthBuild offers young people aged 16-21 the unique opportunity to gain on the job training and earn a paycheck, all while working towards earning their high school diploma. Students develop valuable career and leadership skills while learning about home construction and tree care.
95%
95 100%
100
Have a More Positive View of Working Outside
Branches
Tree Trust’s pre-apprenticeship program, Branches, provides young people aged18-28 ten weeks of paid training. They develop transferable professional skills and receive training in landscaping and tree care while earning industry credentials and getting connected to green industry employers.
97
Learned to Set & Work towards Employment Goals
92 97%
Felt More Responsible after Branches
92%
Developed Professional, Leadership or Communication Skills
97
97%
Interested in a Green Career
“It’s truly an excellent program to get your foot into the door for exploring the trades! This has opened my eyes to the wonderful opportunities that exist that aren’t solely dependent upon a formal education.”
Branches Participant
Community Forestry
With funding support from our Green Futures™ fund, our Community Forestry programs foster positive change for future generations by planting trees in urban areas where they are most needed. This is done through municipal tree distributions, community volunteer plantings, Learning with Trees™ schoolbased programs, and other forestry initiatives.
“Everything goes so smoothly from start to finish; the staff are experts and great at instructing/leading groups and fun to hang out with.”
Planting Volunteer
9,250 Trees Planted
Unique Volunteers
609
2,356 Hours Volunteered
Municipal Tree Distributions
Community Tree Plantings
15
14 Schools Hosted Learning With Trees™
8
