THE GREENING OF DETROIT

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - DETROIT CONSERVATION CORPS WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMTHE DETROIT CONSERVATION CORPS (DCC) INTEGRATES CERTIFIED PRE-APPRENTICESHIP URBAN FORESTRY TRAINING WITH COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, WORK-READINESS SUPPORT, AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE TO PREPARE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE FACED BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR POSITIONS IN THE TREE CARE INDUSTRY. UPON GRADUATION, PARTICIPANTS ARE PLACED IN GOOD-PAYING, FAMILY-SUPPORTING JOBS TO PLANT AND CARE FOR TREES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A PIPELINE OF SKILLED WORKERS FOR EMPLOYERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND HELPS TO CULTIVATE AN INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE COMPRISED OF DIVERSE, QUALIFIED PEOPLE WHO CAN BUILD AND SUSTAIN THEIR OWN ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND STABILITY. IN 2023, THE GREENING OF DETROIT'S DETROIT CONSERVATION CORPS CONTINUES TO MOVE ITS MISSION ALONG WITH TRAINING 2,400 DETROIT RESIDENTS, WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. THE DETROIT CONSERVATION CORPS (DCC) WAS FORMED WITH A FIVE-YEAR A GOAL TO TRAIN AT LEAST 2,400 UNEMPLOYED DETROITERS THROUGH THE GREENING OF DETROIT'S ENTRY LEVEL LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY PROGRAM; AND PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT WITHIN A LOCAL CONSERVATION CORPS. THE CORPS OPERATES AS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, AVAILABLE TO IMPLEMENT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDSCAPE RENOVATION PROJECTS. IN 2023, 120 DETROIT RESIDENTS GRADUATED FROM THE DCC PROGRAMMING AND 92% WERE PLACED INTO JOBS. JOB PLACEMENT INCLUDED DAVEY TREE, CITY OF DETROIT GENERAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT, PAYNES LANDSCAPING, TEDDY'S LANDSCAPING AND ON THE GREENING OF DETROIT'S PLANTING CREWS. THE GREENING OF DETROIT HAS PLANTED MORE THAN 150,000 TREES THROUGHOUT THE CITY SINCE 1989. AS OUR SCOPE OF WORK GREW, THE ORGANIZATION CREATED A SUMMER YOUTH WORKFORCE PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN THE WATERING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE TREES. THE GREEN CORPS PROGRAM HAS COLLECTIVELY EMPLOYED MORE THAN 1708 DETROIT YOUTH SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1998. BY MAINTAINING THOUSANDS OF TREES IN OVER 185 PLANTING SITES ACROSS THE CITY, CORPS MEMBERS ARE INVESTING THEIR ENERGY AND TIME IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE YOUTH ALSO BEAUTIFY PARKS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PARTICIPATE IN CONSERVATION PROJECTS THAT HAVE MEANINGFUL AND BENEFICIAL IMPACTS FOR DETROIT RESIDENTS. THE GOAL OF THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORK, AND TO NURTURE A SENSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.GREEN CORPS YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMTHE GREEN CORPS PROGRAM SUPPLIES MUCH-NEEDED SUMMER JOB EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERSERVED DETROIT YOUTH, EMPLOYING THEM TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE FOR NEWLY PLANTED TREES AND TO CARE FOR GREEN SPACES IN THE CITY AND ACROSS THE STATE. THE GREENING INTEGRATES MEANINGFUL WORK EXPERIENCE WITH SERVICE LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE PARTICIPANTS TO CONSERVATION, NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREERS. IN 2023, THE GREENING EMPLOYED 60 YOUTH (AGES 14-18) WORKING FOR SIX WEEKS FROM JULY THROUGH AUGUST, AND AN ADDITIONAL 12 YOUNG ADULTS EMPLOYED AS CREW LEADERS. FOLLOWING THE SUMMER, THE GREENING EXTENDED THE GREEN CORPS PROGRAM FOR ONE CREW, EMPLOYING TEN YOUTH AND FOUR LEADERS DURING THE FALL TREE PLANTING SEASON.

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE - TREE PLANTING IS ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING A THRIVING, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE URBAN COMMUNITY. OVER THE PAST 35 YEARS, THE GREENING WORKED WITH ITS CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PLANT MORE THAN 150,000 NEW TREES CITYWIDE. IN 2023 THE GREENING HOSTED 62 TREE PLANTING EVENTS THROUGHOUT DETROIT, HIGHLAND PARK, AND HAMTRAMCK, RESULTING IN THE INSTALLATION OF OVER 4,000 TREES, INCLUDING 1,000 TREES DISTRIBUTED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY. THIS WORK WAS SUPPORTED BY 3,187 VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING 52 NEW AND RETURNED CITIZEN FORESTERS WHO LED VOLUNTEER GROUPS DURING COMMUNITY PLANTING EVENTS, AS WELL AS SUPPORT MAINTENANCE AT THE MEYERS TREE NURSERY AND LAFAYETTE GREENS.THE GREENING HARVESTED 400 TREES AT MEYERS TREE NURSERY. OVER 3500 TREES ARE UNDER PRODUCTION, IRRIGATED WITH RECYCLED WATER FROM OUR CONSTRUCTED STORMWATER RESERVOIR, USING TRADITIONAL, POT IN POT, AND GRAVEL BED METHODS.ADDITIONALLY, OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE/FEE FOR SERVICE PROGRAM (FFS) THAT PROVIDED BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPING. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT FOR 8 GRADUATES OF THE GREENING'S ADULT WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM, THE DETROIT CONSERVATION CORPS (DCC). THE FFS PROGRAM EARNED OVER $1,000,000 OF REVENUE, SUPPORTING BOTH THE TRAINING PROGRAM AND GREEN JOBS FOR DETROITERS.COMMUNITY OUTREACH HAS BEEN A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR WORK OVER THE LAST THIRTY-THREE YEARS. WE REGULARLY CONNECT WITH OVER 150 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS EACH YEAR, INCLUDING BLOCK CLUBS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND NON-PROFITS TO IDENTIFY TREE NEEDS, IN ADDITION TO RESIDENTS THEMSELVES. THE GREENING CONTINUES TO SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE CREATING AND ADVOCATING FOR HEALTHY GREEN SPACE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.