Thanks for your interest in California Greenworks’s Urban Forestry Internship. With your help,
we will be able to correct environmental injustices and help mitigate climate change to the
most vulnerable communities in Los Angeles.

Here’s a list of responsibilities that are associated with managing and maintaining urban forest
areas:

Tree Planting:

• Select appropriate tree species for planting considering climate, soil conditions, and urban
  environment.
• Determine suitable locations for planting trees based on factors such as available space,
  sunlight exposure, and proximity to infrastructure.

Tree Maintenance

• Help manage the tree maintenance with CGW partners
• Help monitor trees for signs of pests, diseases, or damage and taking appropriate action to
  address issues.

Tree Inventory and Mapping

• Conducting inventories of existing trees in CGW tree planting sites and update as needed
• Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to map tree locations and track
  changes over time.
• Help monitor various metrics for CGW trees to measure environmental and social impacts

Community Engagement and Education

• Organizing tree planting events and volunteer opportunities to involve community members
  in urban forestry initiatives.
• Providing educational workshops and materials to raise awareness about the benefits of
  trees and proper tree care practices.

Urban Heat Island Mitigation

• Strategically planting trees to provide shade and reduce surface temperatures in urban
  areas.
• Collaborating with city planners and developers to incorporate green infrastructure into
  urban design projects.

Environmental Monitoring

• Monitoring air quality, soil health, and biodiversity in urban forest areas to assess the
  ecosystem services provided by trees.
• Collecting data on carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions to quantify the
  environmental benefits of urban forestry.

Policy Development and Advocacy

• Developing and advocating for policies and regulations that support urban forestry
  initiatives, such as tree protection ordinances and urban greening strategies.
• Collaborating with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders to
  promote urban forestry as a priority in urban planning and development.

Research and Innovation

• Conducting research on urban forestry best practices, including tree species selection,
  planting techniques, and management strategies.
• Collaborating with academic institutions and research organizations to advance scientific
  knowledge and innovation in the field of urban forestry.

Long-term Planning and Sustainability

l

• Developing long-term management plans for urban forest areas to ensure their
  sustainability and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
• Securing funding and resources to support ongoing maintenance and expansion of urban
  forestry programs and initiatives.
  These responsibilities may vary depending on the specific goals and priorities of urban forestry
  programs, as well as the resources available to implement them.

Interested in applying? Complete our application form.

It is no simple mission we set out on 20 years ago, when California Greenworks moved from idea to reality. Yet, it is the simple things over time that have left an impression.

As a founder, I, alongside my good friend Nancy, was baffled at the urban blight that plagued the inner city. Yet, motivated by an inner passion for green spaces and equal rights for disadvantaged communities – we testified against the litter in our oceans and streets, the environmental inequities that faced the world, a community filled with systems of injustice … we started California Greenworks. 

We took on our mission as protecting the planet from these systems of injustice: not solely for the sake of the planet, but, importantly, for the sake of our fellow citizens. 

This first step was two decades ago. 

One of the most important lessons we have learned is scalability. We do not – and in fact, cannot – solve every issue wholly and miraculously. One tree can make a difference. One community clean up can create positive outcomes. One student’s life impacted can make a difference.

For example, I remember a student participating in our youth education program, and he told me this program gave him his first opportunity to see the ocean. It really struck me how simple things like a visit to the beach may not be simple to others. This scenario is one among the long list of burdens of climate injustice.

While every one act makes a difference, the fact of scalability is one we must address our current climate with now. The world is on a path towards calamity. Since an ecosystem is, by definition, about connections and systems, an often overlooked connection within environmentalism is the social justice aspect. 

Today, in America, there are systems in place that pave the way towards calamity. Institutions designed to protect us, instead commit murder. When the simple utterance of Black Lives Matter creates anger and fear, this is a symptom of the calamitous path. 

Throughout the history of the United States, people of color have been targeted and attacked for being people of color. This system has plagued these populations in marginalized communities, disproportionately impacted by issues of climate change – among other challenges. Since these atrocities are systemic, the solutions must also be systemic. 

We cannot solve everything at once, but we can create means of redemption. If you are concerned with the foreboding environment, we remind you that the environment can only be saved when our systems of injustice are footnotes in history. As a scalable remedy, we invite everyone to say the names of the most recent victims of this system: Alonzo Bagley, Tyre Nichols, Keenan Anderson, Eric Holmes, Ki’Azia Miller, Eric Allen … the list is tremendous. Through remembrance we can be motivated towards action. Through one single action, we can be motivated to take the next step and create more action.

Now we must march forward together, tackling issues of climate inequity, climate change and planet earth sustainability. We have to take a more proactive position, and get in control of our environment and that means finding ways to reduce fossil fuels and be more responsive to the needs of our climate. 

There are great places in our city that we can enjoy. For example, Kenneth Hahn Park is among my favorite places to visit – it’s close to me, and it’s improved quite considerably over the years. This is proof that, working together, we can create positive change and restore our environment.

I look forward to meeting more community members and working alongside you to create this change, for the next 20 years and beyond. 

Celebrating 20 Years in Service

Our team at California Greenworks is excited to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023. We’d love you to join us this year in our mission to create a more equitable and green community. Check out our upcoming CELA Awards ceremony, where you can meet environment leaders honored for their impact, and be inspired to take environmental action. 

LEARN MORE AND BUY TICKETS HERE

On Saturday, March 26, 2022, the California Greenworks team had the privilege of participating in the Cesar Chavez Day of Remembrance hosted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.  

The event was a powerful reminder that anyone can create a positive change in our world, even under the direst of circumstances.  

Cesar Chavez, a civil rights, Latino and farm labor leader, is often recognized as one of the first environmental justice leaders. One major example is his leadership in the Grape Boycott, protesting the use of harmful pesticides on the fruit. 

The Keynote speaker, Teresa Romero, President of the United Farm Workers, offered an empowering perspective on the history of social activism in environmental justice, as well as calls to action.  

My takeaway? We must follow suit in THIS CALL TO ACTION, and make sure we become responsible stewards of the environment, and always with social justice at the forefront.

Two honorees were presented with awards to thank them for their contributions to empowering underserved communities in climate equity: US Representative Tony Cárdenas (29^th District), and Larry Itlong, Filipino American Labor Organizer, whose daughter Patty Itlong Serda accepted on his behalf.  

And of course, the musical talents of Las Colibri, an all-female string ensemble specializing in modern takes on Mariachi, had the audience singing along.