- NEW STAFF -

Grimoire Nelson began working with the Urban Tree Connection in the spring of this year as an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America).  She moved to Philadelphia from Arizona, where she earned her Bachelor of Art degree from Prescott College in Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in Agroecology.  She is passionate about community revitalization through urban greening and is excited about her role with the Urban Tree Connection, where she gets to interact with kids from Haddington in West Philadelphia, teaching them about gardening and about the plants and animals that occupy their city.  She is also assisting in research, strategic planning and grant writing for the Growing Healthy initiative.  Grimoire plans to stay in Philadelphia after her term with AmeriCorps and hopes to continue doing community centered social and environmental justice work.

- NEW OFFICE MANAGER -

Misako Scott graduated from Philadelphia College of Art, (now UArts) with a BFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design.  She was a cabinetmaker for 12 years before becoming a mom.  Since then, she’s had the privilege of working as an Administrative Assistant at the Barnes Foundation, a Project Manager at a textbook illustration studio, and Office Manager for an M.D. who included alternative therapies in his practice.  Misako is married with two sons, a dog, a cat, a cockatiel and a big tank full of fish.

- Earth Day -
In April we hosted our annual Earth Day event with Starbucks and the Trinity Youth Group.  Over 120 community residents and volunteers worked together at the Conestoga Children’s Garden.
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- Whole Foods Market 5% Day -

In the spring six Whole Foods Market stores in the Philadelphia region held community support days for us. Each store generously donated 5% of the day’s total sales to the Urban Tree Connection to support our Growing Healthy initiative.

- Starbucks “Front Porch Makeover” -
Starbucks, Urban Tree Connection and community residents teamed up to transform three city blocks in West Philadelphia as part of the first “Front Porch Makeover” project on June 8th and 9th.  During the two day block beautification event volunteers installed and planted window boxes and planters on the 5300 block of Wyalusing Avenue, the 500 block of North 54th Street and the 5400 block of Westminster Avenue.
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- Haddington Youth Program -
This summer we started a new youth program as part of our ongoing efforts with the Haddington Residents’ Association to increase community participation in our urban greening and neighborhood revitalization work.  Fifteen youth from Haddington, in the 13-18 age group are paid a stipend to participate in this landscaping apprenticeship program.
click on picture to see photos