THE LEAFLET

introducing our 2023 honorees

March 13, 2023 /
Vince Drader

Our 2023 Canopy Awards Honorees

This year marks the 9th annual Canopy Awards, our unique way of celebrating Arbor Day and honoring the people and partners working to restore, enhance, and protect DC’s tree canopy. We come together each year to toast the accomplishments of our distinguished honorees and celebrate DC’s trees.

This year’s Canopy Awards theme is “A Greater Washington”, in recognition of what makes our city great – our volunteers, donors, our DC and regional partners, and of course, our trees. We work with so many great people and organizations to achieve goals in planting, educating, protecting, and caring for trees – it’s our honor to highlight their efforts and achievements.

We are proud to introduce our 2023 Canopy Awards honorees.

Award for Leadership: Bryant Smith, Executive Director of Baltimore Tree Trust

Bryant Smith is the Executive Director of Baltimore Tree Trust, a nonprofit organization guided by the singular vision that all Baltimore neighbors deserve access to the clean air and cool green spaces that trees can provide. Baltimore Tree Trust plants trees in parks, on private property, and lining streets throughout neighborhoods all over Baltimore, with over 17,000 trees planted to date. Born and raised in East Baltimore, Bryant joined Baltimore Tree Trust in 2019 after more than three decades in urban forestry with the U.S. Forest Service, Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, and other regional environmental nonprofits. Bryant leads staff, stakeholders, and the organization’s board of directors to effectively execute the organization’s strategic priorities. Bryant says his favorite part of leading at Baltimore Tree Trust is working with dedicated staff, mentoring a new generation of urban foresters, and working with Baltimore residents to transform once tree-less streets, parks, and schools into green spaces for all to enjoy.

Award for Volunteer Service: Phil Downey, Volunteer with Laudato Trees

Phil Downey is the lead volunteer with the Laudato Trees Team, an offshoot of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Care for Creation Committee. Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, The Laudato Trees Team reaches out to faith communities and encourages them to plant trees on their property. They connect interested congregations with Casey Trees’ urban foresters, promote dialog about an ideal plan, and then expedite necessary actions to get trees in the ground. Phil’s efforts and persistence have led to the planting of over 600 trees at churches and schools in the last two years. He is the first to say that this achievement reflects the collective effort of many volunteers, pastors, church workers, and Casey Trees’ urban foresters; but without Phil’s hard work, dedication, and love for trees, most of these trees would not have been planted.

Award for Education: Elana Mintz, Founder and Executive Director of Urban Adventure Squad

Elana Mintz is the Founder and Executive Director of Urban Adventure Squad/Urban Learning and Teaching Center, a Washington DC nonprofit organization that supports schools and school communities with equitable, community-based, outdoor learning programs. Founded in 2014, Urban Adventure Squad (UAS) offers full-day programs when schools are closed, and partners with schools and communities to connect students to their neighborhoods with curriculum-aligned lessons in science, history, math, art, engineering, and writing, and trains teachers in outdoor learning. Prior to founding UAS, Elana spent over 20 years in communications. Elana serves on the DC Coalition for Equitable Outdoor Education, and is a published author for opinions printed in the Washington Post and DC Line. Elana cares deeply about providing outdoor learning experiences for all.

Award for Sustainability: Cheryl Tyiska, Cemetery Manager at Mount Olivet Cemetery

Cheryl Tyiska is the Cemetery Manager at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, DC, a cemetery of the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Washington. Mount Olivet Cemetery is located in Northeast DC on a historic hill overlooking the monuments of the nation’s capital, and is the largest Catholic cemetery in the city. Under Cheryl’s leadership the cemetery has focused on sustainable solutions that are not only ecologically friendly, but make the cemetery a more beautiful place to visit. The cemetery has planted more than 850 trees, installed rain gardens to mitigate stormwater runoff, and invested in native plant species to beautify existing areas. In 2020, Mount Olivet Cemetery received the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Mid-Atlantic Chapter’s Gold Leaf Award for outstanding landscape beautification activities, and the cemetery is on track to become a nationally registered arboretum. Cheryl is responsible for all aspects of operations, from inside administrative staff to outside ground crews. Cheryl works hard to ensure that members of the community know they are welcome to visit the cemetery to reflect and look for peace and solace in nature.

Award for Partnership: Brian Keightley, Director of Fairfax County’s Urban Forest Management Division

Brian Keightley is the Director of Fairfax County’s Urban Forest Management Division. The division is not only responsible for the planting of the county’s trees, but monitors pests that threaten the urban forest and health of trees, as well as ensures that county development plans comply with the tree conservation ordinances. Fairfax County is proud to hold a Tree City USA award, a distinction given by the Arbor Day Foundation to recognize excellence in tree planting, tree protection, and funding for green infrastructure – an award the county has received 39 consecutive years, culminating in its 40th anniversary in 2023. During Brian’s tenure the division has furthered outreach activities by promoting the benefits of conservation and enhancement of the urban forest through building strong partnerships with the public, industry professionals, other county agencies, local schools, and nonprofit organizations – including Casey Trees.

Award for Partnership: Brett Linkletter, Chief of Tree Maintenance Section at MCDOT

Brett Linkletter is the Chief of the Tree Maintenance Section for the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. The MCDOT Tree Maintenance Section is responsible for maintaining all of the county’s 300,000+ trees, most of which are located along the streets in the right-of-way. As such, the county plants more than 1,800 trees per year, and cares for even more, pruning more than 10,000 trees each year. Additionally, the Tree Maintenance Section creates tree protection plans for all Montgomery County Department of Transportation projects, preserving trees and preventing damage to the county’s green infrastructure. Brett has a lifelong career in forestry and has worked for the county for over 15 years. Brett has led many efforts to further the county’s green infrastructure work and increase the capacity of the tree maintenance section, including partnering with Casey Trees to plant new trees in the county’s right-of-way.

 

Visit our Canopy Awards 2023 Page to learn more about this years’ event. For those looking to deepen their engagement, consider becoming a sponsor!