THE LEAFLET

We’ve had an eventful few weeks filled with inspiring gatherings to foster community and protect our environment. Here’s a recap of some of the recent events where you might have seen us: 

Hellbender Hill Invasive Cleanup – Last weekend, we rolled up our sleeves at Hellbender Hill, a cherished green space located near the former Hellbender Brewing Company along New Hampshire Avenue, NE. Casey Trees holds a conservation easement on this space, and we’ve been dedicated to stewardship over time. Over the last four years, we’ve worked with partners to clean up the forest patch, plant trees, and install a nature trail. During our recent cleanup, volunteers came together to remove invasive vines and bush honeysuckle, making significant progress in restoring this forest patch. We are grateful for the hard work and commitment of everyone who participated!

Taking Nature Black – This year’s Taking Nature Black Conference, hosted by Nature Forward, brought together community members under the powerful theme “Reclamation & Resilience.” The conference emphasized the importance of building resilient communities and fostering connections. A highlight was the focus on youth voices, featuring presentations from local high school students and a student climate competition that showcased the talents of HBCU students. We were particularly excited to see the Anacostia High School students who launched their new book, highlighting their collection of essays, poems, and photographs and showcasing their reflections on Black contributions to the environment and their personal experiences with nature in and around DC. Throughout the conference was a message of hope, multigenerational learning, and support, and Casey Trees was honored to be a part of it.

Ward 7 Environmental Justice Townhall – Held at the Dorothy Height Library, the Ward 7 Environmental Justice Townhall served as an important forum for discussing the environmental injustices affecting our community. With over 100 attendees, including three DC councilmembers, the event featured engaging discussions, guest speakers, and interactive sessions. We were proud to represent Casey Trees, emphasizing the vital role trees play in our neighborhoods and promoting our free tree planting programs. This collaborative event brought together numerous organizations, including Casey Trees; the Campaign to Reduce Lead Exposure and Asthma; Empower DC; Young, Gifted, and Green; the DC Environmental Justice Coalition; Green New Deal for DC; NAACP; and the Anacostia Parks and Community Collaborative; among many others.

Rooting DC – Rooting DC is the District’s central meeting ground and gardening forum for individuals, nonprofits, businesses, and government entities looking to grow gardens and healthier food systems in the nation’s capital. Organized by DC’s Department of Energy & Environment, this annual, day-long event started in 2007 as a small gathering of about 150 urban gardeners and has grown into an annual event with hundreds of attendees from across the region. It is a fantastic platform for local growers and food-system stakeholders to share knowledge and foster community ties. Participants enjoyed a day filled with educational workshops, exhibitor booths, and networking. We were excited to introduce gardeners and non-gardeners alike to our free tree programs that could complement their current landscape.

These events reflect the strength and commitment of our community toward building a more sustainable and equitable environment. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed! We look forward to continuing this important work together.