East Oakland neighborhoods don’t have enough trees. This program helps young people fix that

Trees not only make neighborhoods more beautiful, but they also provide measurable health benefits, including better air quality, lower temperatures, and increased community engagement. The City of Oakland is using state grant funding to help young people find jobs and pursue careers in climate resilience and public safety. This includes the Youth Employment Partnership’s Oakland Forward Program now planting street trees in East Oakland which has less tree canopy cover (7-12%) than the city average (19%). The Oakland Forward Program is designed to provide work opportunities for 18- to 24-year-olds, facing barriers to employment. Participants not only plant and maintain trees, they also clean up illegal dumping and take classes in general career development skills. Learn more in this article https://oaklandside.org/2024/02/12/east-oakland-neighborhoods-tree-planting-yep/ by Callie Rhodes of The Oaklandside.