FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information:
Stephanie Adams, Executive Director
stephanie@friendsofgrparks.org
Friends of Grand Rapids Parks launches Green Team summer youth employment program
Grand Rapids, Mich. – This summer, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks’ (Friends) capacity to increase the city’s urban tree canopy is growing in a new way. In collaboration with the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Urban League and the AT&T Foundation, Friends has launched its first-ever Green Team to steward and maintain newly planted trees.
As tree planting activities in Grand Rapids have ramped up in recent years, so has the need for on-going watering and maintenance to keep the trees healthy and growing strong. “We recognize that Friends is positioned to help fill this need,” said Executive Director Stephanie Adams, “and want to do so in a way that empowers our community to join in cultivating vibrant green spaces.”
In response, Friends collaborated with the City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Urban League to develop a paid summer youth employment program, funded in part by the AT&T Foundation, and launching in 2020.
The Green Team is made up of four youth ages 15-20 from the Roosevelt Park area, working part-time alongside Friends’ staff to help water nearly 300 trees planted by the organization during the 2019 Mayor’s Greening Initiative. Each of these trees will receive 10-15 gallons of water every other week throughout the summer in order to thrive. The Green Team plays a critical role in contributing to the city’s 40 percent tree canopy goal.
As part of the Green Team, youth are not only actively improving their environment, but also building job skills, having enriching environmental experiences, and becoming change agents. “Friends is excited about the potential of the program to promote a place-based mentality and foster civic pride among the youth and community,” said Adams.
“The AT&T Foundation is proud to be a part of this collaboration that will create jobs for young people while supporting the work of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks,” said David Lewis, President of AT&T Michigan. “Making a difference in the communities where we live, work and play is very important to us at AT&T and we look forward to seeing the impact of this effort in Grand Rapids.”
The Grand Rapids community has been key in helping to make the Green Team youth employment program a reality. Friends hopes to expand this program to include more youth in future summers. Youth interested in applying should visit friendsofgrparks.org/employment-opportunities
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Friends of Grand Rapids Parks is an independent, citizen-led nonprofit enterprise founded in 2008 with the mission to empower people to cultivate vibrant parks, green spaces and trees in our community. For more information visit friendsofgrparks.org.
