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This directory includes organizations that have identified themselves as dedicated to improving community well-being and the environment for all in the Greater Rochester area. Basic information about ...

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Set back a few dozen feet in a scrubby clover field at Joseph Avenue and Berlin Street, ringed by bollards and chain-link fencing, stands a tree covered in wishes.

They're written on thin banners of red, yellow, black and white, tied down on both ends to guard against the whipping wind.

"I wish for Black heritage to take the forefront to inspire and inform."

"My wish is to stop all violence and bad people."

"I wish everyone could heal so they can find purpose."

The messages belong to members of Avenue BlackBox Theatre across the street.

"There are many things we draw inspiration from," the theater's founder and director, Reenah Golden, said. "We want to start with nature first and foremost."

This tree, a towering box elder, is at the center of the vision. It is also one of the few significant trees on this stretch of Joseph Avenue, a corridor that is one of the city's poorest and also one of the least tree-covered. The combination of those two factors is not a coincidence.

For this series of stories, the Democrat and Chronicle assembled a comprehensive data set related to trees, air quality and health outcomes in the city of Rochester, including state-of-the-art granular tree cover data from EarthDefine.

It shows disparities in tree cover across Rochester that are rooted in public policy choices going back more than a century.

"You can see when you just walk or drive around this part of town - you just don't see trees," said Luis Burgos, the former director of Recreation and Youth Services in the city of Rochester, who grew up on Joseph Avenue. "In the summer it's just so bright. Then when you go on Park Avenue and those side streets, it's so comfortable."

Historically speaking, the wealthy and politically powerful areas of the city were laid out from the beginning with an eye toward beautification. Northeast Rochester, the traditional landing place of immigrants, was not. The disparity has been compounded by countless everyday choices over the last century.

The city today recognizes the need to add tree cover in certain neighborhoods, particularly in the northeast quadrant. But beyond the stated enthusiasm of Mayor Malik Evans and others in the first months of his administration, there is little evidence of a concrete plan to do so.

The city forestry division removes more trees than it plants each year, and new trees go mostly where residents have requested them - typically skewing toward neighborhoods that are already relatively well covered.

Many cities across the country have come up with more thorough plans to address tree equity. Most of them involve significant public-private partnerships, as well as major outreach to residents who might be unenthusiastic about more trees near their homes.

Reenah Golden and her teen fellows at Avenue BlackBox Theatre hope to be part of the solution. The Berlin Street lot will have not just trees but also totem poles designed with help from muralist and public artist Shawn Dunwoody.

Their goal is to create a sacred space - a way to address climate change, racial inequality and community trauma, one vacant lot at a time.

"When you're walking down Joseph Avenue, it's not a very walkable avenue - and it's because there's no trees, no shade," Golden said. "We need to infuse the arts and nature and beauty into this area that's just desolate in that sense right now."

Sergio Vergara lives across the street from Jones Square Park, one of several small parks in the city designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (of New York's Central Park fame). The broad lawn is studded with dozens of mature trees, with footpaths leading toward a central fountain.

Stout red oaks, soaring silver maples and spreading sugar maples. They're all a part of Vergara's daily routine.

"I just sit out here in the morning, sip my coffee and look at all those leaves," he said. "That's what really makes me feel like: 'Wow.'"

That "wow" is firmly backed by research.

"It's not just, 'Oh, the trees are so pretty,'" said Eugenia South, faculty director of the Urban Health Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. "There are very concrete public health benefits associated with nature."

Scientists have demonstrated that increased access to green space, and trees in particular, brings about a host of health benefits, with better mental health perhaps at the top of the list.

One large-scale study showed that people who lived more than 1 kilometer away from significant green space reported 42% higher stress levels. Studies have also shown participants experience less mental fatigue after even very brief periods in nature.

In Rochester, residents living in the neighborhoods with the fewest trees are also more likely to report poor mental health than those in neighborhoods with the most trees. Scientists have found that the effect is apparent even when other factors, including poverty, are taken into account.

Scientists have also found a relationship between tree canopy and physical health, including overall mortality. One major study observed areas where ash trees had been lost due to the emerald ash borer and found a significant increase in deaths due to cardiovascular problems in places where the beetles had caused the greatest damage.

It is possible to overstate or oversimplify the benefits of trees in cities. The pollen and chemicals that some trees emit, for instance, can worsen rather improve asthma rates, making species selection a critical factor for urban foresters.

"There's still some back-and-forth over the full extent of the benefits in terms of pollution," said Nina Bassuk, director of Cornell University's Urban Horticulture Institute. "(But) there are well documented benefits for stormwater capture, heating and cooling, pollinator habitat, carbon sequestration and air and water quality improvement."

Trees' most vital contribution to urban areas - particularly as climate change leads to rising temperatures - may be their ability to defeat the heat.

The more heavily a city is paved, the more susceptible it is to the urban heat island effect. Streets and sidewalks absorb heat and slowly radiate it back out, making the air much warmer than it would be in a greener section of the same town.

Leafy trees interrupt that process and also help cool the immediate area by exhaling water, a process known as transpiration.

"When it gets hotter there's a tremendous amount of deaths that occur - typically people without air conditioning, maybe not in the greatest health," Bassuk said. "We've seen that around the world. And trees make a huge difference in terms of cooling."

Satellite temperature data gathered by the U.S. Geological Survey shows a spread of more than 12 degrees across Rochester on a typical summer day. Much of that distinction has to do with trees and other green space, or the lack thereof.

The last hot spell of 2021 came in mid-October, when for a few days the overcast October sky lifted and temperatures rose to near 80 degrees.

And so the old folks at Ruff Alley had a cookout.

The OGs, they call themselves: a loose group of 20 or so people, mostly retirees, living within a few blocks of one another on Jefferson Avenue. When the weather is good, they'll wander over to this vacant lot around noon to banter and pass the time.

There's not always food, but there was on this day. Groaning platters of ribs and chicken, all home-cooked and seasoned to perfection.

The OGs sat around placidly waiting for the tuna salad to arrive, scooching their folding chairs under the shade of a single maple tree until it disappeared over a chain link fence.

Maximillian Cherry leaned back in his chair and gave thanks for a cool breeze - not only because of the barbecue scent it carried.

A Navy veteran, he's been passing the time under this tree for years. Like the rest of the OGs, he said he has become accustomed to the lack of green space or other environmental amenities.

"They forgot about us when they were doing the upgrades," he said. "The only upgrade we get is white lines on the street."

This block is actually above the median in the city of Rochester in terms of tree canopy. But Jefferson Avenue itself has only sparse tree cover, and most people in the neighborhood don't have air conditioning, making this maple tree not only a social gathering spot but also a welcome place to cool down.

Tyrone Womack arrived too late for a spot under the tree and so had to settle for the shade of a parked SUV, Al Green pouring from its radio.

"Rich people get tall trees; poor people get short trees," he said. "Why is that? They got more fertilizer than we do?"

Erasing the disparities in Rochester's tree canopy is more complicated than simply planting more trees. But it certainly will require planting more trees.

Unfortunately, the city's forestry division hasn't been empowered to plant enough of them. Each year the city removes more trees than it plants, forester Andrew Place said, a problem that ultimately traces back to the budget.

From 2015 to 2021, the city of Rochester planted about 4,400 trees but removed about 5,400, a net decrease of 1.5% in city-maintained trees.

What's more, the trees that do get planted are done so mostly according to resident requests, a policy that skews the growth of the urban forest toward wealthier and better resourced areas that already have many trees.

"We certainly see requested trees in certain areas more than others," said Brian Liberti, the former city forester and current director of parks and buildings. "Anywhere we have a high population of rental properties, a lot of those renters are not requesting trees to be planted."

The city has done some additional planting in the northeast quadrant in recent years, Liberti said, including in a partnership with the nonprofit group Greentopia. It has also begun to distribute flowers to residents with newly planted trees, in the hope that the trees will get watered at the same time the flowers do.

Otherwise, Liberti conceded, there is no plan in place to address tree equity in the city.

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans and City Council Finance Committee Chairman Mitch Gruber both said they hope to rectify that problem, in part through the use of American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) stimulus funding.

The first step, Gruber said, is creating a new urban forest master plan. The current document, last updated in 2012, says little about disparities across the city.

"We need to update it and recognize we have some resources to bear to deliberately address the tree canopy as it relates to equity," he said.

"I don't think the city has invested enough in parks for the last several years. This is a great time, not just to spend the money on planting, but also on staffing up and creating a longer-term maintenance plan."

Junior Rodriguez has not waited for the city to act. When he moved into his house on North Street 28 years ago, nothing was planted except for a single rose bush.

Now both edges of his property are lined with trees he has requested from the city. He cares for them obsessively along with the bulging vegetable garden he and his wife tend in the side yard.

When they're done working, they sit in the backyard under the shade of a single massive tree amid a cacophony of carousel horses.

"The house was empty, but every year I add something," he said. "I breathe the nice air. I'm peaceful."

Sadie Redfield thinks there are too many trees as it is.

She's owned her home on Joseph Avenue near Boston Street since 1978. The mature trees by her backyard cast enough shade to cover her deck, but she wishes the city would cut them down. The same goes for the ones in an adjacent vacant lot, which she said provide habitat for ticks and cover for the criminal-minded.

Redfield rejected the city's offer to plant a pear tree in front of her house because she's allergic to bees. And she has no interest in raking more leaves.

"Nobody's going to come by to pick up all this," she said, pointing warily at fallen leaves skittering along the curb.

Such resistance to tree planting is more than anecdotal. Data and interviews show it is widespread in some neighborhoods of Rochester and other cities and can have a major effect on whether trees thrive.

The city's tree inventory database, obtained via Freedom of Information request by the Democrat and Chronicle, shows scores of cases where property owners refused the trees that the city hoped to plant nearby.

"Some places you plant a tree and they water it and wrap it up in the winter to protect it," Place said. "Other places you come back later that year and it's broken in half."

Researcher Christine Carmichael looked into that phenomenon in Detroit, where a quarter of eligible residents declined street trees near where they lived. She found that opposition to trees was often rooted in mistrust that the city would maintain them properly as well as a sense of frustration at being excluded from the process.

"Residents facing greater challenges to neighborhood upkeep desired more dialogue and information regarding tree maintenance and assistance available after tree planting, in addition to decision-making power in species planted," Carmichael concluded.

One of the most promising urban greening projects in the United States is Green Heart Louisville in Kentucky. There, the University of Louisville is partnering with a dedicated nonprofit agency and the city government to create meaningful resident involvement and to study outcomes, both for the environment and the community.

"A community isn't monolithic, so what are the concerns and how do we address those in the project?" said Natasha DeJarnett, an environmental scientist taking part in the initiative. "Strategic partnerships and really strong community engagement are the heart of what ensures the effectiveness of the project."

That engagement has yet to sprout in Rochester, but some early buds have begun to emerge. BlackBox's MUSE on the Avenue is one of several:

Cornell Cooperative Extension Monroe County recently received funding from the University of Rochester Environmental Health Sciences Center for an educational outreach project in the Marketview Heights neighborhood, together with small-scale tree planting this fall.

The group Inclusive Woods & Us, founded by Lucienne Nicholson, has the mission of increasing access to the outdoors for people of color and those who are economically disadvantaged.

Chris Widmaier, a former Rochester City School District science teacher, runs several programs meant to connect Rochester children with nature through his organization, Rochester Ecology Partners.

The Friends of Washington Grove, a nonprofit group that supports the 26-acre old growth remnant in Cobbs Hill Park, is reorienting its attention to promote access to green space for all city residents.

Flower City NOIRE Collective founders Tonya Noel Stevens and Kristen Walker seek, in their words, to "fill the void of safe, Black-centered spaces in Rochester," including through urban gardening and a connection to the natural world more generally.

Greentopia, the environmental advocacy and community organizing group, has participated in greening projects in northeast Rochester.

Of all the wishes tied to the box elder tree across from BlackBox, Jac Burch's is the most specific: to win an Oscar.

The 17-year-old was doing some filming around the tree recently when they came across a parade of unfamiliar insects.

Burch, who uses the pronouns they/them, stopped to watch. The colors; the movement; the pattern.

It was a moment to slow down.

Trees mean calmness and peace, they said. That is what Burch and the rest of the BlackBox fellows, hope to spread through the neighborhood and the city.

"A lot of people put their hopes and dreams on that tree," they said. "And they really want to see them fulfilled."
Contact staff writer Justin Murphy at jmurphy7@gannett.com. More in this series

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Rochester's trees are celebrated, but not everyone gets to have their time in the shade

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The city today recognizes the need to add tree cover in certain neighborhoods but so far there is little evidence of a concrete plan to do so.

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Climate Justice Alliance is challenging the extractive economy that is harming people and ecosystems

In these new times of political uncertainty, grassroots communities continue to lead the way forward.

About the Alliance

We envision a world in which fairness, equity and ecological rootedness are core values

Climate Justice Alliance members have won significant victories against polluting and extractive industries. We are building local alternatives that center traditional ecological and cultural knowledge and create a pathway for a regenerative future.

Our Power Campaign

As frontline communities, we pilot solutions and organize collectively to shut down the extractive economy

Climate Justice Alliance is amplifying the leadership of the original Our Power Communities while expanding to 70 communities in seven regions that are home to key grassroots groups. These groups organize to end the era of extreme energy and implement a Just Transition that promotes local control of resources (including energy, land, water, and food systems).

Meta-Strategies

Together, we are advancing bold, grounded and interlinked strategies across the country

Six meta-strategies undergird the Climate Justice Alliance projected vision through 2020, and will continue to influence the trajectory of alliance work.

WASHINGTON, DC -- This morning, President Biden announced a proposed new climate rule that would require most fossil fuel power plants to slash their greenhouse gas pollution 90 percent between 2035 and 2040 - or shut down. At face value, the rule looks to encourage...

Groups Propose Legislative Path That Rejects Manchin, Republican Ploys WASHINGTON- Climate Justice Alliance, along with more than 290 groups, urged President Biden and Congressional Democratic leaders today to take action and accelerate renewable energy, address...

Says Action Would Not Have Come Without Persistent Advocacy from Frontline Communities, Environmental Justice Movement as They Continue to Push for Coherent Climate Policy & an End to Fossil Fuels WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, President Biden signs the Revitalizing Our...

Groups Propose Legislative Path That Rejects Manchin, Republican Ploys WASHINGTON- Climate Justice Alliance, along with more than 290 groups, urged President Biden and Congressional Democratic leaders today to take action and accelerate renewable energy, address...

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Says Action Would Not Have Come Without Persistent Advocacy from Frontline Communities, Environmental Justice Movement as They Continue to Push for Coherent Climate Policy & an End to Fossil Fuels WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, President Biden signs the Revitalizing Our...

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On March 9, 2023, Dwaign Tyndal, Melissa Miles, Kirtrina Baxter, and Leah Humphrey, the Co-Chairs of Climate Justice Alliance's Black Caucus, released the following statement: "In the wake of the most recent clampdown on freedoms of peaceful assembly, association and...

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"Having an alliance of US frontline communities to strategically confront the existing tyranny of our country and present real solutions is needed right now."

- Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network

Groups Propose Legislative Path That Rejects Manchin, Republican Ploys WASHINGTON- Climate Justice Alliance, along with more than 290 groups, urged President Biden and Congressional Democratic leaders today to take action and accelerate renewable energy, address...

read more

Says Action Would Not Have Come Without Persistent Advocacy from Frontline Communities, Environmental Justice Movement as They Continue to Push for Coherent Climate Policy & an End to Fossil Fuels WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, President Biden signs the Revitalizing Our...

read more

On March 9, 2023, Dwaign Tyndal, Melissa Miles, Kirtrina Baxter, and Leah Humphrey, the Co-Chairs of Climate Justice Alliance's Black Caucus, released the following statement: "In the wake of the most recent clampdown on freedoms of peaceful assembly, association and...

read more

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Climate Justice Alliance is challenging the extractive economy that is harming people and ecosystems In these new times of political uncertainty, grassroots communities continue to lead the way forward. About the Alliance Climate Justice Alliance members have won significant victories against polluting and extractive industries.

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In the bustling urban landscape, the significance of trees often goes unnoticed - overshadowed by busy streets, towering structures, and complex infrastructure. However, trees play a vital role in shaping the well-being and sustainability of communities.

So, what is the impact of these leafy, green guardians? And what can we do to protect them? This article dives into the transformative power of trees in creating aesthetically pleasing, eco-friendly, and healthier communities, along with tips to help them reach full maturity and long-term sustainability. We also explore how trees contribute to climate resiliency, as they can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, moderate temperature extremes, capture carbon, filter air pollutants, and prevent soil degradation.

Whether a new development or improvements to existing infrastructure, this article captures best practices to put you on the right path.

Benefits of Trees in Urban Environments

Trees not only contribute to the beauty of city streets and public spaces, but also offer a host of practical benefits:

Potential energy savings: According to the U.S. Forest Service, trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and save 20-50% in energy used for heating. They also help with cooling. A young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day. By saving energy, trees also reduce the demand for fossil fuels and lower the carbon footprint of urban areas.

Boost to economy: The aesthetic value of trees is impressive. Trees planted in commercial areas attract businesses and tourists, meaning people are more likely to linger and shop longer on tree-lined streets - adding to the economy. Trees also increase the property value of homes and buildings, generating more tax revenue for the city.

Provides shade and heat protection: An urban area with good tree coverage can experience temperature differences of five to 15 degrees. Trees provide much-needed shade, protecting pedestrians from extreme heat and reducing sun exposure. This natural cooling effect also slows down the deterioration of building materials and street pavements, resulting in reduced maintenance costs.

Improves mental health: Research indicates that an increased presence of trees and plants within our communities correlates with a decrease in negative thoughts, reduced symptoms of depression, improved moods, and heightened life satisfaction. A report by The Morton Arboretum shares that residents of tree-filled communities have fewer cardiovascular ailments. Trees also promote social cohesion and civic engagement, creating spaces for people to interact, relax, and enjoy nature. Furthermore, trees can reduce noise pollution by acting as natural sound barriers, creating a more peaceful and pleasant environment. Overall, trees make us happier people!

Improves environment and air quality: According to the EPA, trees and vegetation act as invaluable natural buffers, playing a crucial role in improving air quality, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and enriching the environment while enhancing public health. By increasing tree coverage in congested urban areas, we significantly reduce the impact of harmful pollutants like volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides. Additionally, trees serve as natural air purifiers, filtering out pollutants and storing carbon dioxide, thus making a significant contribution to the fight against climate change.

A single tree can soak up to 48 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year and produce enough oxygen to sustain two people

Elevates stormwater management and water quality: Vegetation, including trees, plays an important role in managing stormwater runoff and improving water quality. By absorbing and filtering stormwater, trees help reduce runoff, mitigating the risk of urban flooding and pollution. Their presence aids in replenishing groundwater and preserving the health of urban water bodies. Trees also provide habitat and food for wildlife, supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Trees significantly reduce runoff by taking up water through their roots. In fact, runoff from an area covered in impervious surface is five times that of a forested watershed of the same size.

5 Best Practices for Planting in Urban Environments

While incorporating trees into the urban landscape is essential, ensuring their protection and longevity is equally as important. Many urban trees only make it to a fraction of their potential life cycle due to issues like pests and disease or, more often, stress caused by improper care and installation. A recent USDA paper analyzing tree life expectancy in urban areas found the typical street tree lived between 19 and 28 years. To compare, the ideal life span of a white oak is potentially 300 years, and the average life span of a red maple can be up to 150 years.

To maximize the benefits of urban trees and extend their life span, it's important to adopt best practices. According to landscape architect Karl Weissenborn, the first step is to make sure you put the right tree in the right location - paying attention to the existing context, conditions, and environment.

"This can be deceptive; you need to evaluate all site and environmental factors along with cost and maintenance. No matter if you are dealing with existing infrastructure or breaking ground on a previously undeveloped area, investing early in the process and putting in the extra effort will pay off in the long run," shares Weissenborn.

With experience working within environmental constraints, engineer Jeremy Tomesh collaborated with Weissenborn to offer five recommended best practices to help incorporate trees into the urban environment.
Choose the right tree for the right location. Carefully select tree species that are well-suited to the urban environment, considering factors such as space, sunlight exposure, and soil conditions. A technical manual published by the U.S. Forest Service provides guidance on which trees are best to plant in specific areas. For example, some trees are more tolerant of salt, deicing chemicals, drought or prolonged water inundation, or pollution than others, and some have root systems that can damage sidewalks, pipes, foundations, or buried utilities.

Related Content: La Crosse's King Street Greenway

Space trees properly for their mature size. Plan ahead for expected tree maturity. As noted in a report by the USDA, "In the cramped environments of U.S. cities, every inch counts, especially if attempting to make space for nature." Knowing the tree's maximum size and genetic characteristics will help avoid future conflicts between roots and sidewalks, nearby vegetation, or power lines. A general rule of thumb is to allow at least 10 ft. of clearance between the tree and any overhead or underground utility lines, and at least 4 ft. of clearance between the tree and any pavement or building.

Incorporate innovative, eco-friendly elements: Elements like structural supports or organic mulch protect trees and enhance their growth, while also improving the aesthetic appeal of the urban landscape. Incorporate features like soil cell tree pits and tree guards to support tree growth and protect them from urban stresses, such as foot traffic, vandalism, and construction activities. Many cities are moving away from cast iron tree grates due to both their initial cost and the long-term requirement of cutting the grates to accommodate the growing trees. As an alternative, soil cells use vertical recycled plastic structure that support a concrete sidewalk above while preventing soil compaction and root damage from vehicles or pedestrians. While limestone mulch can adversely alter soil pH, granite mulch is a viable alternative that not only enhances structural support, but also provides a neutral pH balance for the soil. Additionally, it aids in retaining moisture and suppressing weed growth around the tree base. However, it's important to note that granite mulch can raise soil temperature and reflect heat, which may not be suitable for certain tree species or in specific climate conditions.

River rock mulch can help prevent soil erosion and stormwater runoff.

Ensure proper soil mix, drainage, and air exchange: Plant trees at the right depth, as planting too deep will stress the plants as they struggle for oxygen and cause the tree to push new, weaker roots higher up the trunk. Inspect plant stock upon site arrival and before planting, as nursery digging may have unintentionally placed a root ball too deep within its basket or container. Be sure to implement drainage systems and provide adequate access to air exchange to ensure healthy root growth and soil health. In many cases, it's not the lack of moisture that puts undue stress on trees, it's the lack of available oxygen in the soil. By incorporating a system of aeration pipes and vertical ducts into the planting system, better and long-term tree health can be obtained. With the correct balance of engineered soil mix, tree roots can not only survive, but thrive.

Related Content: La Crosse Downtown Tree Program

Regular monitoring and ongoing care: Implement regular oversight and maintenance programs to identify and address issues promptly. Monitoring can involve measuring tree growth, health, and survival rates, as well as detecting signs of pests, diseases, or environmental stress. Maintenance can involve pruning, watering, fertilizing, mulching, or treating trees as needed. Monitoring and maintenance can be done by professional arborists, city staff, or trained volunteers. Regular monitoring and care can help ensure the longevity and vitality of urban trees and reduce potential risks or liabilities.

Bringing it Together

Urban trees are not just aesthetically pleasing but vital components of sustainable and resilient cities - responsible planning and preservation of trees within urban landscapes should be a top priority. By adhering to best practices, choosing appropriate tree species, and nurturing these natural assets, we can pave the way for greener, healthier, and more beautiful cities, benefiting present and future generations.

Contact us to explore ways to incorporate sustainable tree plantings into your community streetscape.

About the Experts

Karl Weissenborn PLA*, CLARB, ASLA, is an SEH senior landscape architect and project manager who leads complex and sustainable streetscape projects in both public and private sectors. He has extensive experience in leading complex projects from planning to design, with a focus on stakeholder engagement and environmental solutions. He is adept at handling challenging and budget-conscious projects, delivering high-quality outcomes that meet client needs and expectations.

Jeremy Tomesh, PE* Jeremy is an SEH principal, project manager, senior highway design engineer, and business development leader with extensive transportation and civil engineering experience. He is experienced in identifying the specific needs of a project and working with local officials, state agencies, and stakeholders to find project solutions that address environmental and budget constraints.

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The Power of Trees in Shaping Sustainable Urban Places

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In the bustling urban landscape, the significance of trees often goes unnoticed - overshadowed by busy streets, towering structures, and complex infrastructure. However, trees play a vital role in shaping the well-being and sustainability of communities.

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Trees are sometimes called the lungs of the Earth because they absorb pollutants through their leaves, trapping (or "sequestering"), and filtering contaminants in the air. Like all green plants, trees also produce oxygen through photosynthesis.

2. Trees improve water quality, and reduce flooding and erosion.

A tree's leafy canopy catches precipitation before it reaches the ground, allowing some of it to gently drip and the rest to evaporate. Tree roots hold soil in place, reducing erosion. In these ways, trees lessen the force of storms and reduce the amount of runoff into sewers, streams, and rivers, improving water quality. One hundred mature trees can intercept about 100,000 gallons of rainfall per year.

3. Trees temper climate.

Trees lower air temperatures and humidity; they can also influence wind speed. Evaporation of water from trees, or transpiration, has a cooling effect. Cities develop "heat islands" because dark roofs and pavement absorb solar energy and radiate it back. Trees in parking lots have been shown to reduce asphalt temperatures by 36 degrees Fahrenheit and car interiors by up to 47 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Trees conserve energy.

Three or more large trees strategically placed on sunny sides of a house shade it from the hot summer sun, reducing air-conditioning costs by as much as 30 percent. Deciduous trees are best for this use because they lose their leaves in winter, exposing the house to the warming winter sun, which lowers the energy needed to heat the house. Coniferous trees, because they retain their needles year-round, serve to reduce wind when placed on the north and northwest sides of a building, resulting in significantly lower winter heating costs.

5. Trees are good for the economy.

Economic analyses have found that the value of homes near trees is 9 to 15 percent higher than homes without. Research shows that shoppers linger longer along a shaded avenue than one barren of trees and are even willing to pay more for goods and services.

6. Trees create habitat for plants and animals.

Wherever trees are established, wildlife and other plants are sure to follow, ensuring a healthier ecosystem. Trees provide shelter and food for a variety of birds and small animals.

7. Trees improve health.

Research demonstrates that exposure to trees has a relaxing effect on humans, reducing stress and imparting a sense of well-being. Hospital patients with a window view of trees recover faster than those without. Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are better able to concentrate after time spent in outdoor green settings.

8. Trees reduce crime.

Data show that apartment buildings with high levels of greenery had significantly fewer crimes than those without any trees.

9. Trees reduce noise pollution and can serve as screens.

A belt of trees 100 feet wide and 50 feet tall can reduce highway noise by up to 10 decibels, reducing the sound volume by half. Densely planted trees can also block unsightly views.

10. Trees promote community.

Trees can enhance a community's sense of pride, and ownership. Active involvement in tree planting programs leads to a stronger sense of community and the promotion of environmental responsibility and ethics. Planting programs also project a visible sign of change and provide the impetus for other community renewal and action programs.

How Trees Help our Climate

One tree can sequester (or take in) more than one ton of carbon dioxide in its lifetime. Planting trees and avoiding deforestation are key measures in reducing the human impact on global climate change.

Learn more about how the National Wildlife Federation is helping wildlife survive a changing climate and protect our forests:

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How Trees Make a Difference - Trees for Wildlife | National Wildlife Federation

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Trees are sometimes called the lungs of the Earth because they absorb pollutants through their leaves, trapping (or "sequestering"), and filtering contaminants in the air. Like all green plants, trees also produce oxygen through photosynthesis. 2. Trees improve water quality, and reduce flooding and erosion.

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REP Sustainable Systems Exploration Momentum II  Agenda 2024

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by Rebecca DeSantis, content and engagement coordinator, ICMA

Libraries have always served as a resource and gathering place for communities, but their role is evolving as community needs change. Jessica Cadiente, ICMA member and library director of the Santa Barbara Library in California for just over three years, is actively helping her library fit the needs of the residents in Santa Barbara. "Local libraries are flexible and nimble," she states. "We joke that we are always in draft form because as our communities change so do we."

When the Thomas fire hit the area in December 2017, the library sprang into action to help provide services for the community. Cadiente explains: "While everyone was trying to leave town and many other organizations, businesses, and community centers across town closed, our library team stayed. We knew it was an all hands on deck moment and everyone stepped up to extend services. We immediately added more programming, more classes, more events."

The Santa Barbara Public Library became a "breathe easy" location for residents, distributing N95 masks and providing a safe space with clean air. Not only could residents come to the library to learn about fire safety and recovery efforts, it also served as a place where the community could gather after the trauma and heal together. According to Cadiente, the library also provided 78 different youth programs during a 22-day span to engage children in activities while the schools were closed. Cadiente explains that this is just one way in which the library evolved to meet a community need.

In both immediate actions and long-term initiatives, libraries across the country are working with the community to provide resources and services that meet the needs of each generation of library users. In 2016, ICMA partnered with the Aspen Institute and the Public Libraries Association to conduct the nationwide survey " Local Libraries Advancing Community Goals," which focused on the evolving role of public libraries in advancing community goals. In this month's "facts and stats" blog, we pull out some of the highlights from this survey and what this means for libraries today.

53% of jurisdictions cited foundations and nonprofit organizations as part of their strategy to ensure financial sustainability of the library system.

For libraries and other local service delivery mechanisms, ensuring financial stability means finding ways to fund the programming and services even when local funding changes. "As with any public library, funding and financial stability are often elusive," says Cadiente. She offers three recommendations for local library leaders:

Earn the buy-in of elected officials and chief administrative officer by bringing them and other decisionmakers with you on the journey to advance the library's role and mission in the community.

Teach your team how to tell the library's story and advocate for the library's needs.

Cultivate relationships with key community stakeholders and support groups to advocate on your behalf if cuts are made.

73% of responding jurisdictions ranked "access to high-speed internet service" as an important or highly important role of their local library.

As internet use has become essential in many everyday tasks, the library serves as an access point to internet services for residents who need it. Many libraries also offer computer literacy programming to help people become more fluent in using the internet to search for jobs, request an absentee ballot, or navigate the community in other ways. "The 21st-century public library reflects a shift away from building collections to building connections and knowledge networks in the community," explains Cadiente. "Our community is at the center of our mission. We act as a facilitator of human connection and understanding."

60.1% of respondents rate the level of public interest in library services in the community as "high" or "very high."

Whether visiting the library or library website for children's programming, internet access or searching for the next book to read, chief administrative officers report that residents continue to have a high level of interest in library services; however, there are challenges to keeping the community engaged while also helping libraries fulfill local government needs. Cadiente recommends that local governments try "looking to their public libraries as the public face of the social framework of their city and/or county. The public library is positioned to help any locality expand community engagement."

In thinking about the future of local libraries and local governments working together to achieve community goals, Cadiente believes it is an "open-ended opportunity." She offers a few ideas for ways the library can help local governments achieve their goals:

Partner with the library to introduce young children to police officers during early literacy classes if your goal is to help officers be more approachable.

Host a class at the library on a new technology if your goal is to introduce it in the community.

Invite the library to discuss policy and procedures around homelessness if your goal is finding new solutions to assist this community. Libraries often house people experiencing homelessness during the day.

Invest in your downtown library if your goal is to revitalize your downtown area. This is a natural people magnet, and if the library brings families who then spill out into restaurants and shops, this is a win for everyone.

Thanks for taking our poll. Check out what our readers think about public libraries:

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Advancing Community Goals: The Evolving Role of the Public Library

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Check out this month's "facts and stats" on the role of public libraries in our communities, featuring ICMA member Jessica Cadiente.

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Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool

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Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool

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This screening tool identifies disadvantaged communities that are underserved &overburdened by pollution. It provides socioeconomic, environmental, health and climate info to inform decisions.

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A neighborhood bike ride in Pleasant Hill during Open Streets Macon hosted by Bike Walk Macon. Image credit: Mike Young.

In 2019, the median wealth of white households in the United States was $187,300 - 13 times that of Black households and six times that of Hispanic households. Along with these concerning wealth disparities, a mounting body of research points to the increasing segregation of neighborhoods by income. A Stanford study showed that since 1970, the number of people living in neighborhoods of either concentrated poverty or concentrated wealth has more than doubled.

Economic segregation has powerful implications for economic mobility. In neighborhoods of concentrated poverty, research shows lower economic mobility for children than in neighborhoods with more economic diversity. In contrast, children from communities with more connections across social class experience higher rates of economic mobility.

By providing a space where people from diverse economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds can join together, public spaces can be a part of the solution. Today, we highlight examples from five cities intentionally working to foster shared experiences and new relationships among residents from different neighborhoods.

For more strategies to support socioeconomic mixing through public space, download our guide Investing with Intention: Socioeconomic Mixing.

Macon: Open Streets, connected neighborhoods

Open Streets Macon, the signature initiative of non-profit Bike Walk Macon, found its stride during the pandemic as organizers shifted from a focus on mobility to a focus on building relationships and connections among neighborhoods. The initiative temporarily closes public streets to car traffic, allowing neighbors to bike, walk, work on art projects, paint crosswalks and enjoy one another's company, while also helping to break down barriers between neighborhoods and nurture a sense of unity.

Open Streets Macon used to take place along several miles of road in one neighborhood, but in 2022, organizers chose to create a temporary pedestrian paradise on a one-mile-long stretch of road linking the historically Black Pleasant Hill community to the predominantly white Intown and Vineville neighborhoods on either side. Due to redlining and racial covenants that did not allow Black people to purchase homes in these two neighborhoods, the separations between these communities remained long after redlining was banned.

In the future, these neighborhoods will be connected to each other and downtown by the Pleasant Hill Pathway, a spur of the Ocmuglee Heritage Trail network. Resident leaders from each neighborhood indicated that the connections they made during Open Streets Macon helped them build new understandings and relationships with people in different neighborhoods - and will contribute to more positive changes to come.

Miami: Bridging divides through stakeholder engagement

In Miami, the Underdeck will be a 33-acre public space beneath a new bridge for highway I-395. The world-class space will connect two diverse neighborhoods that have been separated by the highway for decades: Overtown and Downtown.

The original highway construction in the 1960s displaced two-thirds of Overtown, a historically African American and Caribbean American community, and disconnected Overtown from Downtown. Despite this historic marginalization, Overtown remains steadfast in its cultural and social resilience, home to cultural landmarks such as the historic Lyric Theater and St. John's Baptist Church, the second-oldest Black congregation in Miami. On the other side of the highway, Downtown Miami is a focal point of commerce and diverse culture, manifested in glass-constructed skyscrapers, cosmopolitan eateries and cultural textures that blend Cuban cafecitos with Bahamian conch salads.

To ensure the Underdeck represents the diverse communities it connects, the City of Miami sanctioned the Underdeck Committee through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to engage stakeholders from the adjacent communities in the earliest stages of planning. The committee brings together community advocates and activists to share diverse perspectives while uncovering areas of congruent needs, expectations and priorities. Through a process of community engagement that included working groups, community meetings and partnerships, Miami has curated a socially responsible roster of recommendations that reflect the diversity of the city.

The report of recommendations developed through the work of the Underdeck Committee was submitted to the Miami city manager in December 2022. The full report can be downloaded here, and a summary year in review is available here.

Chicago: Sharing and celebrating Black narratives and histories

Each week, artist Theaster Gates' Rebuild Foundation welcomes an engaged group of visitors from across the country to participate in the Mellon Archives Innovation Program. This program, which takes place in the four permanent archives at the Stony Island Arts Bank, makes accessible the range of complicated and celebratory narratives about Black life - past and present - embedded in the archives' objects and artifacts.

For residents of the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, the presence of these archives and their public activation continues to affirm that Black spaces and objects hold rich, important and nuanced stories of cultural legacy and heritage. For too long, Black communities and their homes, spaces of convening and items were written off through a singular lens informed by decades of discrimination and racism. At the Stony Island Arts Bank, Rebuild Foundation is preserving, digitizing and activating these archives to demonstrate the contributions of Chicago's Black community within the larger story of the African diaspora in the United States.

Led by Rebuild Foundation with the generous support of the Mellon Foundation, the program attracts visitors from far and wide, including residents, students, artists, faculty at local universities and executives at major cultural institutions. Attendees explore seminal texts and documents with people they may not otherwise meet. For example, at a recent event, visiting artists from London, design practitioners from Los Angeles and Copenhagen, and Chicago-based thinkers and makers participated in an interactive exploration of Black women image makers at the height of the Johnson Publishing Company's publishing empire.

Philadelphia: Connecting communities through program design

This year, Bartram's Garden expanded its longtime partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) to co-design programming that appeals to families in West and Southwest Philadelphia who will be impacted by upcoming construction-related closures of local rec centers and playgrounds. Though the Garden welcomes visitors from around the world, the organization emphasizes partnerships, programming and outreach with nearby neighbors in Southwest Philadelphia, one of the most industrialized, poorest areas of the city owing to generations of racist disinvestment.

The new collaboration builds on the Garden's work to advance equity and increase access to nature for nearby residents, especially during a time of considerable new investment and redevelopment in Southwest Philadelphia. It also draws inspiration from PPR's innovative community service area staffing model, which assigns staff to neighborhoods rather than facilities to better respond to community-identified needs.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Bartram's Garden, PPR and Philadelphia communities. We hope this intentional programming breaks down barriers and builds bridges for Southwest families to access all the resources and refuge offered at the garden. We look forward to connecting families as lifelong members of the Bartram's community." - Tess Donie, community engagement director for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

San Jose: Creating public art together

For National Day of Service, the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) brought together people from communities in San Jose and Silicon Valley to transform a construction barrier into a temporary public art installation. Guided by local artist and San Jose State University student Anthony Combs, the volunteers engaged with one another and the public space in a fun way.

SJDA staff coordinated the volunteers from architecture firm HGA and managed the relationship with the property owner. Local Color SJ coordinated the artist selection process. The volunteers' efforts helped reduce the cost of installing the mural, allowing for a higher payment for the artist. The mural was a huge success and brought folks together from different communities to work and create together.

"The whole team was happy to partake in this project, and I'm sure they can't wait for the next one. I recently ran into one of our participants as she was walking over to show her family the mural. Give Anthony and Local Color a big thank you from all of us." - Lorena Grajeda, HGA

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In 2019, the median wealth of white households in the United States was $187,300 - 13 times that of Black households and six times that of Hispanic households. Along with these concerning wealth...

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South Wedge Neighborhood - EJ Screen Map

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South Wedge Neighborhood - EJ Screen Map

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization is a book by Peter Senge (a senior lecturer at MIT) focusing on group problem solving using the systems thinking method in order to convert companies into learning organizations. The five disciplines represent approaches (theories and methods) for developing three core learning capabilities: fostering aspiration, developing reflective conversation, and understanding complexity.

The Five Disciplines

The five disciplines of what the book refers to as a "learning organization" discussed in the book are:

1. "Personal mastery is a discipline of continually clarifying and deepening our personal vision, of focusing our energies, of developing patience, and of seeing reality objectively."

2. "Mental models are deeply ingrained assumptions, generalizations, or even pictures of images that influence how we understand the world and how we take action."

3. "Building shared vision - a practice of unearthing shared pictures of the future that foster genuine commitment and enrollment rather than compliance."

4. "Team learning starts with 'dialogue', the capacity of members of a team to suspend assumptions and enter into genuine 'thinking together'."

5. "Systems thinking - The Fifth Discipline that integrates the other four."

Senge describes extensively the role of what he refers to as "mental models," which he says are integral in order to "focus on the openness needed to unearth shortcomings" in perceptions. The book also focuses on "team learning" with the goal of developing "the skills of groups of people to look for the larger picture beyond individual perspectives." In addition to these principles, the author stresses the importance of "personal mastery" to foster "the personal motivation to continually learn how [...] actions affect [the] world."

The Learning Disabilities

In addition to "disciplines," which Senge suggests are beneficial to what he describes as a "learning organization," Senge also posits several perceived deleterious habits or mindsets, which he refers to as "learning disabilities."

1. "I am my position."

2. "The enemy is out there."

3. The Illusion of Taking Charge

4. The Fixation on Events

5. The Parable of the Boiling frog

6. The Delusion of Learning from Experience

7. The Myth of the Management Team

The 11 Laws of the Fifth Discipline

1. Today's problems come from yesterday's "solutions."

2. The harder you push, the harder the system pushes back.

3. Behavior grows better before it grows worse.

4. The easy way out usually leads back in.

5. The cure can be worse than the disease.

6. Faster is slower.

7. Cause and effect are not closely related in time and space.

8. Small changes can produce big results...but the areas of highest leverage are often the least obvious.

9. You can have your cake and eat it too ---but not all at once.

10. Dividing an elephant in half does not produce two small elephants.

11. There is no blame.

In 1997, Harvard Business Review identified The Fifth Discipline as one of the seminal management books of the previous 75 years.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization is a book by Peter Senge (a senior lecturer at MIT) focusing on group problem solving using the systems thinking method in order to convert companies into learning organizations.

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Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool

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Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool

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Why City Parks Matter - Powerful Tools for Cities | City Parks Alliance

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City parks provide access to recreational opportunities, increase property values, spur local economies, combat crime, and help protect the environment.

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Park History Frederick Law Olmsted Points of Interest Videos Botanical Collections Directions

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Highland Park is a beautiful 150 acre park that is host to many fun activities, events and interesting attractions. Highland Park offers the Lilac Festival in May, where there are games, crafts, food and fun! The Lamberton Conservatory, which is a beautiful collection of plants from many different p…

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Located at the corner of Broadway & Meigs St. across from the Baber AME Church (550 Meigs St., Rochester NY, 14607), we are the first community garden on state owned land in New York, and the second largest in the city of Rochester.

50+ garden plots for rent! Raised beds of varying sizes used for food or therapy gardening. All garden plots are currently filled, if you would like to be added to the waitlist for a plot, please complete this .

Free Food Forest! A perennial forest garden where volunteers can help themselves. We have a wide assortment of fruit trees, berry bushes, herbs, and perennial vegetables. Additional produce is used to stock our Free Food Stand.

Children's Garden! Our sectioned pinwheel design provides an opportunity for children to play in the different soil types and a sand box, walk along a yellow brick road, learn and help grow some kid-friendly plants (flowers, vegetables, & native pollinators). Any child with adult supervision is welcome to harvest from the Children's Garden.

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Located at the corner of Broadway & Meigs St. across from the Baber AME Church (550 Meigs St., Rochester NY, 14607), we are the first community garden on state owned land in New York, and the second largest in the city of Rochester. 50+ garden plots for rent!

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The Economic and Social Benefits of Urban Agriculture

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The Economic and Social Benefits of Urban Agriculture

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Urban agriculture has never been more popular. In developing countries, it's a way to fight food insecurity and generate extra income for families. In the US, small rooftop gardens provide homegrown produce for residents of areas with inner-city food deserts.

However, urban agriculture does much more than provide food resources for the hungry. Around the world, this practice is an easy way to encourage positive economic and social change in local communities.

The main economic benefit of urban agriculture is as a local resource for consumers. Urban gardens don't require a complex network for distribution, which means farmers can stay connected to their market and faster adapt to the demands of the consumer [FN1]. This high level of responsiveness helps them maximize profit and stimulate the local economy.

Urban gardens are also a great way to re-purpose unused land for profitable, local projects. One such organization, called "Food from the Hood", turned an abandoned football field in Los Angeles into a farm where 25% of the proceeds went to a youth scholarship fund [FN2].

In many areas, urban agriculture has become a catalyst for economic development and tourism by attracting businesses and residents. Research shows that expanding urban agriculture increases both desirability and value of local property, which in turn stimulates the economy through increased commercial and residential interest in these areas [FN3].

One of the biggest and most prolific social benefits of urban farming is its ability to change the nature of a space, and thus positively alter the dynamic of a neighborhood.

In many large cities, such as Detroit and New York City, vacant lots and unused urban areas become hotbeds for crime and drug abuse. Transforming these areas into urban farms and gardens can help change the dynamic of the neighborhood for the better.

For example, one study found that the agricultural re-purposing of vacant urban spaces directly increased property values in less desirable, higher crime neighborhoods [FN4]. The addition of farms and gardens provides a productive, community-building activity for residents, and people who spend their time cultivating urban gardens and farms are more reluctant to commit crime [FN5]. Gardens are also more aesthetically pleasing than vacant lots, foster an increased sense of community and connection, and provide educational opportunities for local children - all of which further contribute to the increase in property value [FN6].

How Urban Gardens Have Helped Detroit

Detroit is a prime example of the positive impact that urban agriculture can have on communities. As compared to other large cities in the US, it has one of the most successful and established urban agriculture presences. Their Keep Growing Detroit program has positively impacted many local communities.

Keep Growing Detroit promotes urban agriculture as both a solution to local food insecurity and a way to improve quality of life for lower-income Detroit residents. In 2019, the program helped 25,491 residents in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park start gardens to feed themselves and their communities. They also hosted 80 educational events to support new and innovative growers [FN7].

Economic and social benefits are often intertwined and, interestingly, the social and economic benefits of urban farms in developed areas often overshadow their ability to combat food insecurity [FN8]. As urban farms and gardens increase the values of properties and neighborhoods, the local economy often improves [FN9]. Meanwhile, replacing vacant lots with productive green space improves neighborhood aesthetics, decreases crime and reduces drug abuse. Expanding urban agriculture not only helps counteract the negative effects of urban sprawl and farmland destruction, but also provides myriad economic and social benefits to cities and their residents.

1. https://www.theecologycenter.org/10-ways-urban-farms-benefit-the-community/

2. https://archive.thinkprogress.org/how-urban-farming-can-transform-our-cities-and-our-agricultural-system-aae39a8e7270/

3. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438142/Ecological-Social-and-Economic-Benefits-of-Urban-Agriculture

4. https://www.vox.com/2016/5/15/11660304/urban-farming-benefits

5. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438142/Ecological-Social-and-Economic-Benefits-of-Urban-Agriculture

6. https://www.pps.org/article/beyond-food-community-gardens-as-places-of-connection-and-empowerment

7. http://detroitagriculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2019_KGD_Annual-Report_Final_Small.pdf

8. https://www.minnpost.com/earth-journal/2016/05/urban-farming-produces-little-food-lots-social-benefits/

9. http://detroitagriculture.net/about/our-impact/

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The Economic and Social Benefits of Urban Agriculture - A Conversation For Six

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Urban agriculture has never been more popular. In developing countries, it's a way to fight food insecurity and generate extra income for families. In the US, small rooftop gardens provide homegrown produce for residents of areas with inner-city food deserts . However, urban agriculture does mu

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490 Farmers: For the community, by the community

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490 Farmers: For the community, by the community

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By: Portia Wojton

Once a vacant lot beside I-490, 490 Farmers has now transformed the area into a community garden. Since its start up, the site has grown to 78 garden plots, along with a free food stand, a community composting area, a children's garden, and beehives.

490 Farmers was founded in 2017 by Chloe Smith who had a passion for beautifying the community.

"She walked by that vacant lot all the time," said Executive Director Courtney Klee. "She reached out to somebody and asked how she could make it into a community garden. She got connected to the right people and got a permit."

During growing season, 490 Farmers hosts volunteer days and workshops every Wednesday.

"We offer free informational workshops to kick off the season so people can learn what we're all about" said Klee. "We're really community driven."

490 Farmers is not solely a space for community members to garden. It also provides assistance to people in need within the community.

"We weren't producing enough food to feed as many people as we wanted," said Klee. "We supplemented it by partnering with a farm in Niagara County and we take care of the families who are at high risk. They usually come to our Wednesday volunteer days, and we treat them as volunteers and give them the food when they leave. We don't want them to feel like they're high need, it's more of a relationship than a handout," Klee said.

They also have a free food stand facing Meigs street where houseless individuals can take what they need.

"The food stand gets used probably 12 to 15 times a day. We probably feed 100 families through that," said Klee. "A lot of people come and refill it on a regular basis and we maintain it to make sure it looks presentable. Anything that's left over and not being utilized is given to the free food pantry."

One of the most important things to 490 Farmers is maintaining the land for the homeless encampment.

"The homeless encampment was on the state land before we were there," said Klee. "When we decided to take on this garden, we wanted to make sure we didn't impose. They were there before us. They may be there after us. It's part of our principles of mutual aid."

Many of the houseless individuals on the land are part of the 490 Farmers community.

"They are the decision makers. They are basically our family and friends," said Klee.

"Tex,"one of the houseless individuals, has been living in Rochester since 2011. According to the 490 Farmers' website, he helps build and design the space.

"I own two plots over there. It's where I get my fresh vegetables from," said Tex. "I just made my last batch of pickles for the season."

"Tex" provides a voice for houseless individuals around the city. He is also an advocate for Peace Village, a homeless encampment in Rochester.

490 Farmers brings the community together by providing assistance to those in need, as well as providing a space for community members to grow fresh food.

"The farm doesn't belong to one person, it belongs to the community," said Klee.

Categories: Health and Wellness, Monroe County, News, rochester

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490 Farmers: For the community, by the community

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By: Portia Wojton 490 Farmers sign and Free Food Stand Once a vacant lot beside I-490, 490 Farmers has now transformed the area into a community garden. Since its start up, the site has grown to 78 garden plots, along with a free food stand, a community composting area, a children's garden, and beehives.

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Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County | Rochester Public Library

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Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County | Rochester Public Library

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Foodlink Community Cafe Comes to the Central Library

Got lunch plans??? Leave the lunch or office, and head to the Central Library to check out the new Foodlink Community Cafe, open Monday - Friday 11 am - 3 pm! This unique, "pay-what-you-can / pay-it-forward" concept is staffed by current Foodlink career fellowship apprentices and offers a delicious variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, snacks, and more.

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Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County | Rochester Public Library

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Foodlink Community Cafe Comes to the Central Library Got lunch plans??? Leave the lunch or office, and head to the Central Library to check out the new Foodlink Community Cafe, open Monday - Friday 11 am - 3 pm!

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Rochester Public Library: Health & Human Services

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Rochester Public Library: Health & Human Services

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Landlord Statement

When you rent to a recipient of Temporary Assistance a Landlord Statement must be completed and signed by both the landlord and the tenant. The completed form must be turned into the Department of Human Services (DHS) for review and to be processed. If anyone other than the property owner is completing the Landlord Statement they MUST supply a copy of the Management Agreement, LLC, Trust or other authorizing paperwork outlining who is authorized to sign the Landlord Statement and receive rents. The Landlord Statement will not be processed without this information. Click here for a copy of the Landlord Statement form.

NY Crime Victims Help

Crime victims often have legal needs as a result of becoming a victim of crime. Get information about your legal needs and what your rights are. You can also search their directory to find a trusted nonprofit legal aid program that may be able to help and find legal forms for matters that you can handle yourself.
https://crimevictimshelpny.org/

Health Insurance Navigators

The Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County has partnered with LawNY to offer free and confidential Health Insurance Navigator Services.

Library Resources Outreach Center

LROC is a collaboration between the Rochester Public Library and local human services agencies to offer services to the homeless, those in danger of becoming homeless, and those in need of access to the various resources listed below, without barriers.

There are no eligibility standards for services

No appointments necessary

We work to eliminate, or lessen, barriers to other services

LROC is staffed by employees of Person Centered Housing Options, MC Collaborative and Volunteer Legal Services, as well as interns and volunteers.

LROC can connect patrons to services and resources including:

Our three fold approach:

Meet people where they are at

Build relationships through immediate or expedited access to services

Approach patrons in the library to engage then in services

LROC Hours and Contact

Central Library
115 South Ave. Rochester, NY 14604
(585) 428-8015
homelessoutreach@pcho.org

Tuesdays 1 - 3 pm - Person-Centered Housing Options (PCHO)

Wednesdays 10 am - 12 pm - MCCollaborative (various services)

Thursdays 1 - 3 pm - MCCollaborative (various services)

Fridays 1 - 3 pm - Legal Assistance of Western New York

Located on the 3 rd floor of the Bausch and Lomb Public Library building of the Central Library.

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Health & Human Services - Rochester Public Library

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When you rent to a recipient of Temporary Assistance a Landlord Statement must be completed and signed by both the landlord and the tenant. The completed form must be turned into the Department of Human Services (DHS) for review and to be processed.

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Reading room, social service center, innovation lab. How far can we stretch the public library?