By now I have met many of TreePeople’s wonderful supporters over e-mail or in-person. But in case I haven’t met you yet, I will take this opportunity to introduce myself. Before beginning this position I was eager to see what this organization and its 10,000 annual volunteers had in store for me. After a very mulchy first month full of forestry events, countless trees pruned, and one incredibly successful Harvest Moon Gala, I know that I planted my roots in the right place.
Coming from the world of volunteer management within breast cancer research, I was excited to be involved with an organization that has very tangible volunteer opportunities, such as planting trees, restoring mountains and transforming schools. But during my short month here I have come to realize that the ways to get involved with TreePeople are truly endless. If you want to get your hands dirty, we have regular tree planting, tree care and restoration events all over Los Angeles that are listed on our calendar. If conversation is more your thing, you can be an outreach volunteer and encourage others to get involved. Interested in taking photos? We have a volunteer photographer opportunity for you! There really is something for everyone.
One of my favorite areas within the volunteer program is our leadership opportunities. Keeping in mind TreePeople’s mission of inspiring, engaging and supporting people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, our supervisor positions allow people to learn about the processes that we teach and implement at our events and share them with their communities. This not only helps us make Los Angeles a healthier, more sustainable place, but also allows you to utilize our best practices in a way that makes sense in your neighborhood.
TreePeople’s diverse opportunities and emphasis on education truly make this a unique organization and vital resource for all of Los Angeles. My short month here has been an inspiring look at all of the hard work and positive change our volunteers have achieved and will continue to implement in the future. I am so happy to be a part of the TreePeople family!
To contact Nicole, e-mail volunteer@treepeople.org.