Outreach Services
Strategies for all Communities
| Urban and Community Forestry Outreach Services Strategies for all Communities |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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| INTRODUCTION | ||
| Background, Committee Focus, Committee Tasks |  |
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| STEP ONE | ||
| Learn About the Diversity of the Population in Your Area | ||
| STEP TWO | ||
| Identify Groups and Opportunities | ||
| STEP THREE |  |
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| Cultivate Relationships and Build Trust | ||
| STEP FOUR | ||
| Develop a Communications Strategy | ||
| STEP FIVE | ||
| Encourage an Outreach Work Environment | ||
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| STEP SIX | ||
| Implement Community Outreach Programs | ||
| STEP SEVEN | ||
| Monitor Your Plan and Follow Up | ||
| RESOURCES | ||
| Resources and Websites |  |
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| SUCCESS STORIES: | ||
| Alabama, Hawaii, Alaska, Maryland | ||
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND REFERENCES | ||
| Special Thanks, References, Committee Members | ||
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE The steps, resources, and success stories in this publication are intended to help you provide service to all communities. Each page provides space for you to write down information and notes. As you work through and complete the various steps, the result will be an effective outreach plan for your specific needs. Future updates to this guide can be found at www.treelink.org.
INTRODUCTION State and territory urban forestry coordinators addressed this issue during their meeting at the National Urban Forest Conference held in Washington, D.C. on September 4, 2001. A committee was formed to explore how to improve program delivery to population groups generally not engaged in urban forestry activities.
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| THE COMMITTEE INCLUDES STATE AND FEDERAL URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY REPRESENTATIVES FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. |  |
THIS GUIDE IS THE RESULT OF THE COMMITTEE’S COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. |
COMMITTEE FOCUS COMMITTEE TASKS
STEP ONE Learn About the Diversity of the Population in Your Area. Define the composition and diversity of your population by using such tools as the U.S. Census information at: www.census.gov. |
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STEP TWO Identify Groups and Opportunities.
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STEP THREE Cultivate Relationships and Build Trust.
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STEP FOUR Develop a Communications Strategy.
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STEP FIVE Encourage an Outreach Work Environment. Identify processes that will help provide universal services to all groups.
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STEP SIX Implement Community Outreach Programs.
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ACTION STEPS: |
STEP SEVEN Monitor Your Plan and Follow Up. Return to steps one and two periodically and compare the diversity level of current outreach program participants to the potential participants in your area.
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ACTION STEPS: |
OUTREACH RESOURCES AND WEBSITES Additional resources to support your outreach activities can be found by contacting national, state and local organizations or visiting their websites. AGENCIES: Federal USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, www.nrcs.usda.gov US Census Bureau, www.census.gov National Council on Disability, www.ncd.gov Bureau of Indian Affairs, www.doiu.nbc.gov/orientation/bia2.cfm State Universities – Office of Multicultural Affairs Department of Special Needs & Disabilities Department of Social Services
ORGANIZATIONS: The following websites feature specific outreach tools and techniques of interest. This is a sampling of the many resources available on this subject. Community Outreach Partnership Centers (Housing and Urban Development), Disabled American Veterans, www.dav.org Federal Asian Pacific American Council, www.fapac.org/f1 Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, www.hacu.net International Society of Arboriculture – Hispanic website, www.isahispana.com League of United Latin American Citizens, www.lulac.org Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (website under development) National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), www.naacp.org National Congress of American Indians, www.ncai.org National Institute of Environmental Health Science – Health Disparities Research, Tree link, www.treelink.org and www.treelink.org/nucfac
RESOURCE MATERIALS: Definitions of Key Outreach Concepts, Developing a Hispanic Outreach Program that Works, Reaching Our Children: A Compendium of Outreach Models, Strategies for Effective Health Outreach to African American Communities, What is Outreach? – USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (click on “site map” and look for “outreach” section: www.il.nrcs.usda.gov |
SUCCESS STORY: Diversity Outreach Meeting — Alabama Urban Forestry Partnership.
Location: Goodwater, Alabama. Background: During an on-line chat with Lisa Burban and Ed Macie, the US Forest Service announced that it had funded a project to develop a standardized format to help state agencies to “Engage the Non-engaged Urban Audiences” such as minority groups and small communities. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System requested that this model format be tested in the state. The Forest Service agreed and arranged to bring Professor Maureen McDonough, Michigan State University, to oversee the use of this format in the state. Activities: Three targeted communities: Colony, Goodwater, and Pleasant Grove were invited to participate. All three met the criteria of representing communities and groups who had not benefited fully from the state’s urban forestry program or who had large black populations. Alabama’s Urban Forestry Technical Committee provided facilitators and coordination for the meeting, with local arrangements provided by Goodwater. County Extension agents and Forestry Commission personnel provided local support and participated in the meetings. The Forest Service provided transportation and logistical support. The three-hour meeting included small group discussions about the community they lived in, concerns about urban trees, previous encounters with service providers, barriers that keep them from participating in programs, and suggestions to improve agency support. At the conclusion all groups were reconvened and observations were shared. Results: Colony and Goodwater received for the first time U&CF Financial Assistance Awards and also technical assistance from local government service providers. This model format was made a program objective in Alabama’s five-year strategic plan.
Hawai`i’s TREE Center Youth Exchange Program Project Statement: To launch a Youth Exchange Program Sharing of Cultures, Caring for the Land (Malama Aina).
Background: The Tropical Refor-estation and Ecosystems Education Center (TREE Center) opened Camp Papaloa’s Trees as Habitat Nature Awareness and Education Camp for Hawai`i’s children, ages 9-14 in July 2000. Since then youth from California, Missouri, and Louisiana have participated in the camp experience. With the growing popularity of Camp Papaloa, and a goal to expand children’s learning experiences, the TREE Center created a Youth Exchange Program Sharing Cultures and Caring for the Land (Malama Aina). The US Forest Service awarded ‘seed’ money for the project and the Alaska Association of Conservation Districts committed to supporting the program. Activities: In August 2001, the Alaska team comprised of the US Forest Service State & Private Land-Alaska and The Mid-Yukon Kuskokwim Soil and Water Conservation District traveled to Camp Papaloa to ‘work’ the camp to gain first hand experience. In August 2002, the Hawai`i team traveled to Anchorage and Aniak, Alaska to conduct site visits, to meet Alaska natives, staff of Kuspuk School District, staff of Kuskokwim Native Association, and the director of Civil Rights and Tribal Government Relations-Alaska Region. Results: In March 2003, TREE Center and its partners will launch the Youth Exchange Program with Alaska Yupik Eskimos from Aniak, Alaska, in a week long camping experience with Hawai`i youths. In June 2003, Hawai`i youths will travel to Alaska to continue their learning experience with their Yupik Eskimo friends. Funding: TREE Center received funding for the Youth Exchange Program from Bishop Museum, Change Happens Foundation, Bill Healy Foundation, Kukio Foundation, and the US Forest Service.
Environmental Outreach, Education, and Tree Planting in Annapolis, Maryland.
Location: City of Annapolis, Maryland. Background: The Maryland Forest Service goals are to promote the planting and nurturing of trees and protect the environment and our grand estuary, the Chesapeake Bay. In response to the needs of the growing Spanish-speaking population, the Maryland DNR Forest Service created an environmental pilot project. Activities: After eight months of planning and with the help of many organizations and volunteers, 80 trees were planted and a brochure was printed. The Annapolis Transit provided bus transportation, bandanas and work gloves. The City of Annapolis Parks & Recreation selected the planting site. The United States Naval Academy Latino Club members attended a tree planting workshop, then served as bilingual supervisors on planting day. A bilingual city police department representative communicated the message about the value of trees in the urban environment, and the importance of healthy streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay. Bartlett Tree Experts provided wood chips for mulch and other logistical support. The County Health Department shared their understanding of the Hispanic culture. A local restaurant donated food and drinks, and a local newspaper wrote about the activity. A grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust (MD’s environmental license plates) funded the printing of the Guide to Tree Planting and Care brochure in English and Spanish, and the purchase of 80 trees. Results: Several Hispanic scout groups and church youth groups continue to weed, water, and re-mulch the original planted trees. Additional projects organized by and involving Hispanic communities are occurring in growing numbers throughout the state. The DNR Forest Service continues to support these projects. |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND REFERENCES Special Thanks References Kuo, E.E. & Sullivan,W.C. (2001). University of Illinois, Human-Environment Research Laboratory, Urbana-Champaign. McDonough, M., Russell, K., Burban, L., & Nancarrow, L. 2003. Dialogue on Diversity: Broadening the Voices in Urban and Community Forestry. Committee Members |
Mark Bays Lisa Burban Paul Dolan Chris Donnelly Terry Galloway Liz Gilland |
Neil Letson Ashley Mulis Harold Taft Teresa Trueman-Madriaga Iris Magaly Zayas |
Funds for this publication were provided by the National Association of State Foresters through a grant from the USDA Forest Service. A special thank you to the state and federal agencies for photographic images contained in this document. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity provider and employer.
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September 2003 |
Talk with the proposed group.
Keep communications clear.
Develop a checklist of activities to complete the project that you and the group have chosen.
Celebrate the completion of the project.
Evaluate the success of projects as they are concluded.
Project Statement: Employ a model format to engage diverse community representatives with local government service providers to determine urban forestry delivery.
Location: On the slopes of Mauna Loa in Kealakekua, Hawai`i.
Project Statement: To develop a program for the growing Hispanic population that would create an awareness and appreciation for our watershed, educate them on the role of trees in urban areas, and inspire community involvement in the re-greening of local neighborhoods.