About Us
Our Mission
Creating a greener Los Angeles by making futures brighter.
North East Trees is a grassroots, community-based environmental non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. We transform lives and landscapes throughout Los Angeles by:
Designing and building parks and other green space
Hiring and training young adults from under-served areas to beautify their city, increase the urban canopy and launch vital careers in the growing environmental sector
Connecting the community to nature through volunteering opportunities, education and tree giveaways
Here’s a snapshot of some of our impacts, since we got started in 1989:
Planted over 100,000 trees
Trained and employed over 500 frontline environmental workers from the communities we serve
Grown over 8,000 California native plants at our Nursery
Designed & built almost 50 parks and projects, half of them along the Los Angeles River
Created natural green schoolyards for over 20 school communities
Workforce Development
We employ and train local community members in entry and mid-level restoration, construction, and urban forestry careers. Our crew members build their skills and knowledge in environmental leadership and stewardship, while at the same time transforming their own neighborhoods with tree planting, habitat restoration, and community engagement.
Urban Forestry
We plant trees in neighborhoods with as little as zero percent tree canopy to increase climate resiliency through creating shade justice, managing stormwater, decreasing energy costs, reducing urban heat, and providing the mental health benefits of urban green space. We provide free shade and fruit trees to residents, along with education and community outreach to help those trees thrive.
Nature-Based Design-Build
We are LA’s longest-established design-build nonprofit. We foster input from local communities to design and build parks and green spaces that restore native habitat, revitalize neighborhoods, improve water quality, and create much-needed public open space in underinvested communities.
Growing habitat
We steward and restore crucial urban habitat to improve climate resiliency, manage stormwater, reduce wildfire risks, and protect open space in the urban landscape. Our Nursery collects and grows local plant materials from Northeast Los Angeles habitats, creating resilient local plants.
Community
We operate a thriving native plant nursery and connect with communities through our projects and programming. We are adept at navigating complex project and funding requirements, and our expertise creates transformative opportunities for historically-marginalized neighborhoods.
Schoolyard Greening
We transform schoolyards in under-served neighborhoods by removing asphalt and adding trees, outdoor learning areas, bioswales, and nature planting. These verdant schoolyards support student wellbeing, improve academic achievement, and expand urban habitat.
“I give it the respect as I want someone to give me respect.”
William Guerrero talks to the GUESS Advocacy team in late 2021 about his work at North East Trees, leading his crew to green Los Angeles, planting hundreds of trees, creating green pathways, mitigating climate change, and transforming lives and landscapes at Ramona Gardens in Boyle Heights.