North East Trees Executive Director Mark Kenyon Speaks on EcoJustice Radio

In this blog post, we throwback to a conversation between our very own Mark Kenyon (NET Executive Director) and host Jessica Aldridge on EcoJustice Radio.

Cities need trees. Our lives depend on them. Urban forests are essential for public health, yet access to tree canopy varies wildly depending on where you live. Our very own Mark Kenyon, Executive Director, addressed this critical issue when he was invited to speak on EcoJustice Radio.

Right off the bat, Mark described how North East Trees recognizes that urban forestry is not just about protecting the tree population but also about social justice. To truly promote equitable urban forestry, when carrying out long-lasting planting projects in communities lacking accessible green resources, we hire young people who live in those communities. This ensures that young people from these underserved areas can gain job skills while providing the neighborhood as a whole with tremendous social and environmental benefits.

Mark and Jessica explored a crucial point: working within communities is the key to genuine systemic change. When community members get to control what happens in their communities, the potential for significant problems like green gentrification is reduced. Green gentrification is the process where environmental greening leads to higher property values and drives out existing residents. North East Trees recognizes this, which is why we provide communities with the knowledge and agency to expand their urban forests. This supports people to strengthen their communities without relying on outside help.

The episode highlighted how important it is for everyone to get into the fight to protect our urban forests. We are at a potential tipping point for catastrophic loss of urban forests.

Mark reminded listeners that if you are a customer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, it is easy for you to increase the urban canopy. You can contact City Plants to deliver free trees to your home for planting or attend a tree giveaway event hosted by North East Trees or other City Plants partner organizations! The city will deliver up to 7 trees to your house for free. This program is on pause during the Summer, waiting for cooler weather which is ideal for planting.

Thank you to EcoJustice Radio for allowing us to speak on critical urban forestry issues. Listen to the full conversation between Mark and Jessica online.

EcoJustice Radio is produced by SoCal350.org since 2017 and can be heard on KPFK Radio in California and KPFT Houston, online, or whenever you listen to podcasts.

Dive deeper into other recent North East Trees media mentions.

Text by Gina Yum. Photo by Wil Prada.