THE LEAFLET

It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees. -Wangari Maathai

The little thing, in our case, is planting trees. Trees make a tangible difference. From improving air and water quality to mitigating the effects of climate change – as well as adding color, beauty, and shade – their presence enhances the communities and people that surround them. And that is their promise: if the right tree is planted in the right place it will flourish into something that will span generations.

But what if our little thing wasn’t just planting trees?

Over the past year of the pandemic, our team has remained vigilant, finding new ways to educate and build lasting relationships in communities and schools safely online – all while continuing to plant trees without skipping a beat. I am tremendously proud of the unwavering dedication shown by our team and supporters during these challenging times.

As we reengaged our volunteer community events this year, we prioritized the safety of the communities we serve. This meant extra calls, emails, site visits, and working with the larger community for final plans and details. We heard from people at ANC meetings, in markets, or where we tabled at events in parks to get feedback on how, where, and why we would plant trees.

It was getting to know the priorities and concerns of a community that created trust, not just in Casey Trees, but that the trees themselves would be beneficial to the community. And that made those early morning plantings even more valuable because we were no longer planting just with citizens, but with friends.

Approaching our work this way, by remembering the little things, better serves the communities and the trees; but this approach is costly. It requires more time, patience, and support to not only create green spaces but to work together with the communities that will ultimately take care of and enjoy them for generations to come.

It’s precisely this reason why we need your help to continue engaging neighborhoods and greening the city, in a way that works for and by the people who will use it.

With your donation, we can continue to focus on the little things. The extra steps do take time but act as an investment into the trees and greenspace where we work throughout the District. Those extra details make the difference to our process and the communities we work with, not just in.