California Releaf

CALIFORNIA RELEAF'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER GRASSROOTS EFFORTS AND BUILD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT PRESERVE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE CALIFORNIA'S URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTS.

PROGRAM GRANT MANAGEMENT:IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, CALIFORNIA RELEAF RECEIVED GENEROUS GRANT FUNDING FOR PASS-THROUGH CALIFORNIA ARBOR WEEK GRANTS FROM EDISON INTERNATIONAL. THE PROGRAM CONTINUED EDISONS GOALS OF DEVELOPING NEW COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS INTERESTED IN PLANTING TREES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TO HELP OFFSET THE IMPACT OF EXTREME HEAT EVENTS. RELEAF MANAGED 16 ARBOR WEEK GRANTS TOTALING $55,000 IN PASS-THROUGH FUNDING.CALIFORNIA RELEAF ALSO RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING FROM PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC FOR A NEW GRANT PROGRAM CALLED GROWING GREENER COMMUNITIES WHICH FOCUSED ON COMBATTING EXTREME HEAT IN UNDERSERVED CENTRAL VALLEY COMMUNITIES. RELEAF MANAGED 5 GROWING GREEN COMMUNITIES GRANTS TOTALING $25,000 IN PASS-THROUGH FUNDING.ALSO IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 CALIFORNIA RELEAF MANAGED THREE PASS-THROUGH GRANTS FUNDED THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION. TWO WERE VIA THE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE INVESTMENT PROGRAM (CCIP) INTENDED TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND ONE WAS THROUGH THE PROP 68 PROGRAM FOCUSED ON PLANTING TREES TO OFFSET THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, SUCH AS FLOODING, WILDFIRES, AND EXTREME HEAT. IN ADDITION, CALIFORNIA RELEAF RECEIVED A CAL FIRE GRANT TO START AN URBAN FOREST LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM AND ANOTHER TO OVERSEE A RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE IMPACT OF URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY ON CALIFORNIAS ECONOMY. THIS RESEARCH IS INTENDED AS AN IN-DEPTH UPDATE TO EARLIER URBAN FOREST ECONOMIC IMPACT RESEARCH IN THE STATE.URBAN FOREST CALIFORNIA CLIMATE INVESTMENT GRANTSSTARTED IN 2015, THE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE INVESTMENT PROGRAM GRANTS (CCIP AND FORMERLY KNOWN AS GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND GRANTS) FROM CAL FIRE HAVE A STRONG EMPHASIS ON PLANTING IN LOW INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AS IDENTIFIED BY THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. ALL OF THE CALIFORNIA RELEAFS CCIP GRANTS ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO SMALLER NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AND TO ENCOURAGE NEW ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH TREES AND BUILDING STRONGER, MORE COHESIVE COMMUNITIES. IN THE LISTS BELOW, ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED TWO CCIP GRANTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS ARE INDICATED BY ASTERISKS. NOTE: ANY NONPROFIT OR COMMUNITY GROUP CAN APPLY FOR CALIFORNIA RELEAF GRANTS. THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE RELEAF NETWORK.LIST OF CALIFORNIA CLIMATE INVESTMENT PROGRAM GRANT PROGRAMS & GRANTEES:2019 SOCIAL EQUITY GRANT: URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM1.AMIGOS DE LOS RIOS*2.CITYTREES*3.CLEAN & GREEN POMONA*4.CLIMATE ACTION NOW! 5.COMMON VISION*6.ECO-SLO 7.FRIENDS OF SANTA ANA ZOO8.GREEN TECHNICAL EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT9.MADERA COALITION10.NORTH EAST TREES*11.OUR CITY FOREST12.PARENT PIONEERS13.PEOPLE AND TREES*14.RELEAF PETALUMA*15.SAN JOAQUIN PARKWAY AND CONSERVATION TRUST16.SUSTAINABLE CLAREMONT*17.TREEPEOPLE*18.URBAN CORPS OF SAN DIEGO19.WATSONVILLE WETLANDS WATCH*2020 RELIEF THROUGH RELEAF GRANT PROGRAM (FUNDED BY CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 68 AND THE USDA FOREST SERVICE)1.BUTTE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL*2.CENTER FOR REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE3.CENTER FOR SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP (AKA CIRCUIT RIDERS)4.NORTH COAST OPPORTUNITIES5.OROVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN6.PARADISE RECREATION & PARKS DISTRICT7.REDDING PARKS AND TRAILS FOUNDATION8.THE CLIMATE CENTER9.TREE FRESNO10.WATSONVILLE WETLANDS WATCH*2021 SOCIAL EQUITY GRANT: TREECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM 1.AMIGOS DE LOS RIOS2.BUTTE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL*3.CALIPATRIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE4.CITYTREES*5.CLEAN & GREEN POMONA*6.CLIMATE ACTION NOW!7.COMMON VISION*8.GROWING HEALTHY KIDS9.LOS AMIGOS DE GUADALUPE10.LUMBERCYCLE11.NORTH EAST TREES*12.RELEAF PETALUMA*13.SAN BERNARDINO FATHERHOOD14.SOUTHEAST FRESNO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (SEFCEDA)15.SUSTAINABLE CLAREMONT16.TREEPEOPLE*17.WOODLAND TREE FOUNDATION*GRANTEES WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED MORE THAN ONE CCIP GRANTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.2022 ARBOR WEEK GRANTSTHE CALIFORNIA ARBOR WEEK 2022 GRANTS WERE FOCUSED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH FUNDING FOR 16 GRANTS FROM EDISON INTERNATIONAL AND FOR 3 GRANTS FROM SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC. RELEAF AWARDED $70,000 IN PASS-THROUGH GRANTS TO 19 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS FOR PROJECTS TO CELEBRATE CALIFORNIA ARBOR WEEK 2022 WITH TREE PLANTINGS, TREE EDUCATION AND CARE ACROSS THE STATE. THE GRANT AWARDS RANGED FROM $2,000 TO $5,000. 2022 CALIFORNIA ARBOR WEEK GRANTEES:1.ELDER LOVE USA, INC.2.FOOD EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY3.GROW MONROVIA4.HUNTINGTON BEACH TREE SOCIETY, INC.5.LOS ANGELES CONSERVATIONS CORPS6.LUMBERCYCLE7.MUSIC CHANGING LIVES8.NEHYAM NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION9.ONE EARTH LONG BEACH10.PASADENA ROSEBUD ACADEMY11.S.C.R.A.P. GALLERY12.SAN BERNARDINO FATHERHOOD13.SISTERSWE14.STANBRIDGE UNIVERSITY15.THE GARCIA CENTER OF THE ARTS16.TREE SAN DIEGO17.URBAN CORPS OF SAN DIEGO18.YULE RIVER PARKWAY ASSOCIATION19.YOUR CHILDREN'S TREES

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:THIS PROGRAM STRENGTHENS GRASSROOTS EFFORTS BY ENGAGING THE GENERAL PUBLIC, COMMUNITY LEADERS, INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS, AND URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROFESSIONALS. CALIFORNIA RELEAFS PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EDUCATE CALIFORNIANS ABOUT THE VALUE AND BENEFITS OF TREES AS WELL AS SOUND TREE CARE PRACTICES. FY2022 EDUCATION & OUTREACH ACCOMPLISHMENTS:URBAN FOREST LEADERSHIP TRAINING WITH A CAL FIRE GRANT IN THE FALL OF 2021 AND USDA FOREST SERVICE SUPPORT, CALIFORNIA RELEAF LAUNCHED ITS FIRST URBAN FOREST LEADERSHIP PROGRAM TO DEVELOP TALENT, COLLEGIAL SUPPORT, AND PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF URBAN FOREST LEADERS. THE CLASS STARTED IN EARLY 2022, WITH SESSIONS ON LEADERSHIP STYLES, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, ALIGNING MISSION AND VISION, GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES, AND MUCH MORE. FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE VISIT: HTTPS://CALIFORNIARELEAF.ORG/RESOURCES/UF-LEADERSHIP-PROGRAM/IN ADDITION, CALIFORNIA RELEAF IS OVERSEEING THE THIRD URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOREST ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY WITH FUNDING FROM CAL FIRE, TO SHOW THE IMPACT OF LOCAL URBAN FORESTRY-RELATED JOBS ON CALIFORNIAS ECONOMY. THE RESEARCH TEAM INCLUDES CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND VIRGINIA TECH. FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE VISIT: HTTPS://CALIFORNIARELEAF.ORG/ABOUT-RELEAF/RESEARCH-PROJECT/CALIFORNIA RELEAF DOES THE MAJORITY OF ITS OUTREACH COMMUNICATIONS VIA ONLINE PLATFORMS: EMAIL LISTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBINARS, AND THE WEBSITE. E-COMMUNICATIONS CIRCULATION: 1,000+ RECIPIENTS. REGULAR EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT COVERING A VARIETY OF TOPICS SUCH AS: URBAN FOREST GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, ARBOR WEEK ART CONTESTS, CALIFORNIA ARBOR WEEK GRANTS, WEBINARS ON DROUGHT AND TREES, URBAN FOREST TREE CANOPY TOOLS, TREE CARE JOBS, LEARN OVER LUNCH ZOOM EVENTS.WEBSITE THE WEBSITE WAS STREAMLINED AND ACCESSIBILITY WAS IMPROVED WITH THE ADDITION OF THE ACCESSIBE SERVICE WHICH USES AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE) TO IMPROVE WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO LANGUAGES AND ADA COMPLIANCE. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ARE SHARED VIA THE WEBSITE. SOCIAL MEDIA CIRCULATION: 3,000. RELEAF IS VERY ACTIVE IN USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE URBAN FORESTRY ISSUES OF INTEREST TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AND GREEN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN HELPING RELEAF REACH NEW COMMUNITY AUDIENCES. WEBINARS TO ACCESS THE EVER-EXPANDING LIBRARY ON YOUTUBE OF ON-DEMAND EDUCATION AND INFO ON GRANTS, TREE CARE, TREES AND DROUGHT, AND MORE PLEASE VISIT : HTTP://CALIFORNIARELEAF.ORG/RESOURCES/WEBINARS/ CALIFORNIA ARBOR WEEK IN MARCH 2022 CALIFORNIA RELEAF WORKED WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION TO ORGANIZE A WEEK OF VIRTUAL EVENTS AROUND URBAN FORESTS IN LIEU OF AN IN PERSON ARBOR WEEK PRESS CONFERENCE. THE SERIES OF VIDEOS POSTED VIA YOUTUBE AND SOCIAL MEDIA INCLUDED MORE INFORMATION OF URBAN FORESTRY WORK IN CALIFORNIA, THE VALUE OF URBAN FORESTS, AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2022 ARBOR WEEK POSTER CONTEST WINNERS. THESE VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS INCLUDED SPEAKERS AND INFORMATION FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION, THE USDA FOREST SERVICE, CALIFORNIA RELEAF, ARBOR WEEK GRANTEES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON, AND GREEN TECH EDUCATION AS CALIFORNIA RELEAF. PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE TO SEE UPDATES ON ARBOR WEEK ACTIVITIES: HTTPS://CALIFORNIARELEAF.ORG/CATEGORY/ARBOR-WEEK/

CALIFORNIA RELEAF NETWORK:THE CALIFORNIA RELEAF NETWORK IS A STATEWIDE FORUM FOR THE INFORMATIONAL EXCHANGE, EDUCATION, AND MUTUAL SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THE MEMBERS HAVE COMMON GOALS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BY PLANTING AND PROTECTING TREES, PROMOTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT, AND FOSTERING AN ETHIC OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.THE RELEAF NETWORK ENABLES INDIVIDUAL GROUPS TO USE THEIR COLLECTIVE POWER TO IMPROVE THE URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTS IN THEIR HOME TOWNS FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS. THROUGH MEMBERSHIP IN THE NETWORK, GROUPS BUILD THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS, SHARE THEIR ENTHUSIASM, EXPERIENCES AND IDEAS, ADDRESS ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN, AND WORK TOGETHER TO PLANT TREES, PROMOTE TREE CARE AND COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP, AND GROW STRONGER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. 2021/22 ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE: THE NETWORK INCLUDES NEARLY 100 MEMBERS THAT VARY FROM SMALL GROUPS OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS TO LARGER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH PAID STAFF. NETWORK MEMBERS REPRESENT DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHICS AND A BROAD GEOGRAPHIC REACH THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. NETWORK MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS: PLANTED 25,000+ TREES CARED FOR 49,000+ TREES ENGAGED 18,000+ VOLUNTEERS GIVING 131,000+ HOURS OF THEIR TIME HOSTED 400 OUTREACH EVENTS OUR EDUCATION & COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM MANAGER SENT REGULAR NETWORK UPDATES TO NETWORK MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE EMAILS REACHED OVER 200 RECIPIENTS AND COVERED A VARIETY OF TOPICS, INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS, RESEARCH REPORTS, JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MORE. ONLINE SURVEYS WERE USED TO SEEK INPUT FROM RELEAF NETWORK MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS ON THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONCERNS AS WELL AS THEIR PLANTING AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES.