Author: Madison Shaheen

The Cleveland Tree Coalition (CTC) is excited to announce the appointment of Sara Tillie as Director. The Coalition, a partnership of numerous organizations, businesses, and branches of local government, is dedicated to creating a healthy, vibrant, sustainable, and equitable urban forest by collaboratively implementing the Cleveland Tree Plan.

In her new role, Sara Tillie will serve as the outward-facing leader of the CTC. She will work to raise awareness about the critical need for a robust tree canopy in Cleveland and secure funding from both public and private sources to advance the goals of the CTC and the Cleveland Tree Plan. The CTC is a powerful platform capable of influencing public policy and sentiment at the local, state, and federal levels. Sara will be responsible for developing, enhancing, and deploying this platform of relationships and capacity. She will officially begin her role as Director on July 22, 2024.

Sara Tillie brings a wealth of experience to the CTC. Most recently, she served as a policy research analyst for the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health, where she supported operations in the Division of Health Equity and Social Justice and identified and coordinated policies and programs addressing the social determinants of health equity. Prior to that, Sara held several positions with Lorain County Public Health, where she coordinated policy, systems, and environmental changes across numerous areas, including chronic disease, maternal and child health, injury prevention, and health equity.

“We are excited to welcome Sara to the Cleveland Tree Coalition leadership role and to work closely with her on achieving mutual goals connecting community forestry, climate resiliency and health equity.” – Sarah O’Keeffe, Director of Sustainability & Climate Justice (City of Cleveland, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability)

Rich Cochran, President and CEO of Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Chair of the Cleveland Tree Coalition, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Sara Tillie as our new director. With extensive experience in public health, Sara brings a deep understanding of the connection between human health and environmental conditions. Her expertise and passion will be instrumental in furthering our mission to create a cleaner and greener Cleveland for all.”

An active participant in community organizations, Sara has served as Board President and Trustee for OHIO Master’s Swimming, on the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee for NOACA, and on the Citizen’s Advisory Council for the City of Lakewood. Sara holds a master’s degree in urban planning and design from Cleveland State University, a master’s degree in public health from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), and a bachelor’s degree in medical anthropology and Asian studies, also from CWRU.

The Cleveland Tree Coalition is excited to share the 2023 CTC grant cycle application. This grant is open to local non-profit and public organizations for tree planting and establishment within the City of Cleveland. Organizations are eligible to apply for up to $75,000 for planting, maintenance, and community free tree giveaways.

This grant was made possible through funding provided by NOPEC’s Energized Community Grant program, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the CTC’s federal earmark from Senator Sherrod Brown. NOPEC, ODNR, and Senator Brown are proud to support the CTC’s critical mission of reforesting the “Forest City” through ongoing planting and maintenance initiatives.

The application and related materials are attached at the bottom of this post. Once completed, please email the application to Director Samira Malone at smalone@wrlandconservancy.org for consideration. Applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM on August 25th.

Through August, the CTC will offer 30-minute technical assistance sessions to groups interested in applying. These will be held on August 2nd, 8th, 16th, and 23rd between 1p-4p. To schedule a session, please email Thomas Vodrey at tvodrey@wrlandconservancy.org and cc Samira Malone at smalone@wrlandconservancy.org.

We invite you to share this opportunity with your networks.

In celebration of Arbor Day, the Cleveland Tree Coalition – a collaborative group of public, private and community stakeholders that have partnered with the City of Cleveland to rebuild our urban forest – will host events all week long throughout the city. Arbor Week events include:

Cleveland Metroparks
Tree-rific Hike
Friday, April 28
3 – 4:30 PM
Brookside Reservation
Link: https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/calendar/2023/wsc/april/br/tree-rific-hike

Arbor Day Kids Tree ID
Friday, April 28
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Rocky River Reservation
Link: https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/calendar/2023/rrnc/april/arbor-day-kid%E2%80%99s-tree-i-d

Tree ID Hike
Saturday, April 29
1 – 2 PM
Rocky River Nature Center
Link: https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/calendar/2023/rrnc/april/tree-i-d-hike

Western Reserve Land Conservancy

Arbor Day Ubuntu Street Tree Planting
Friday, April 28
9 AM – 12 PM
E 130th Street & Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44120
Link: https://wrlandconservancy.org/event/arborday23/

Trees4CLE Arbor Day Tree Adoption
Saturday, April 29
9 AM – 1 PM
2921 East 82nd St, Cleveland, OH 44104
Link: https://wrlandconservancy.org/trees4cle/

MidTown

Arbor Day Celebration
Saturday, April 29
11 AM – 3 PM
1945 East 71st Street Cleveland, OH 44103
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrate-arbor-day-tickets-543020748677

Holden Forests & Gardens and the City of Cleveland

Jesse Owens Olympic Oak Planting
Friday, April 28
12 – 1 PM
League Park, 6601 Lexington Ave. Cleveland, OH 44103

Old Brooklyn CDC

Leow Park Tree Planting
Saturday, April 29
10 AM
4741 W.32 Street, Cleveland, OH 44109
Link: www.oldbrooklyn.com/planting

The Cleveland Tree Coalition is excited to release an RFP for our first Strategic Planning Process. The Coalition is currently in a place of catalyst momentum with the hiring of its full-time inaugural Director, Samira Malone, whose role will raise awareness around the critical need for a Robust tree canopy in Cleveland and generate financial and legislative support for the work of the Coalition. In addition to being a full-time Director, there has been a great deal of interest and significant investment in urban forestry over the last several years on the local, state, and federal levels.

The goal of the CTC strategic plan is to work with an experienced and innovative consultant who can help identify and prioritize investment and actions needed to keep our organization on track over the next 3-5years as we work toward achieving the tree canopy goal outlined in the Cleveland Tree Plan. We accept proposals from October 12th 2022-November 11th at 5 pm EDT. Below is the RFP.

Cleveland Tree Coalition member organizations are celebrating trees in Cleveland all week long.

In celebration of the 150^th Anniversary of Arbor Day, the Cleveland Tree Coalition – a collaborative group of public, private and community stakeholders that have partnered with the City of Cleveland to rebuild our urban forest – will host a series of virtual and in-person events to celebrate Arbor Day in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Tree Coalition members will be posting social media content throughout the week using the hashtag: #ArborDayCLE. Additional Arbor Week events include:

• Tuesday. April 26
  • Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District and Friends of Euclid Creek will host an in-person seminar called “Green Yards & Healthy Homes” to demonstrate how to replace chemicals in your home and yard with natural-safe options.
  • Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s Zoom into Nature webinar series will highlight Arbor Week with Foundations of Tree Identification. Attendees will join Lizzie Sords, certified Arborist, to learn the basics of tree ID and common plant terminology that they can use to start to identify the trees in their own neighborhoods. This webinar will set attendees up to continue to learn and practice tree ID on their own as our trees begin to leaf out and bloom.
• Thursday, April 28
  • The Davey Tree Expert Company will host a Facebook Live discussion to “Ask an Arborist” as certified arborists Jim Jenkins will be online to answer any questions about tree care and maintenance.
  • Cleveland Metroparks will host an Arbor Day Drop-by where kids can drop by CanalWay Center to celebrate trees and the 150^th anniversary of Arbor Day, as well as 2 hikes “Saving the Chestnut” and “Meet the Trees”.
• Friday, April 29
  • Cleveland Metroparks will continue celebrating Arbor Week by getting people outside and to the parks to see the trees, Friday’s hikes include “Our Glorious Trees”, “Big Trees”, and “Treerific Trees”.
  • The City of Euclid and City of Richmond Heights are hosting Arbor Day Celebrations for their residents.
  • In observance of Arbor Day on Friday, April 29th, Holden Forests & Gardens will offer free admission to the Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Holden Arboretum. Free tree seedlings will be distributed at Cleveland Botanical Garden between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and at the Holden Arboretum between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., or while supplies last at each campus. Trees that will be distributed are: Red maple, Acer rubrum, Sugar maple, Acer saccharum, Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Serbian spruce, Picea omorika.
• Saturday, April 30
  • Cleveland Metroparks will host “Big Trees in the Valley” hike where attendees will discover the different species of trees that enjoy living in the river valley.
  • Fun for the whole family – Nature Center at Shaker Lakes will be hosting a Family Exploration Day, featuring a wildflower hike, creek exploration, and caterpillar/butterfly monitoring.
  • “Grow not Mow” by Doan Brook Partnership will have volunteers planting 60+ buttonbush and silky dogwood in this marshy area to absorb stormwater, prevent erosion during severe weather events and provide habitat for native wildlife.
  • Tree-t yourself to a free tree this Arbor Day at Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s Arbor Day Tree Adoption. In an effort to raise the tree canopy in Cleveland, 160 trees will be given away to city of Cleveland residents.
  • Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District will host their annual “Big Creek Cleanup” to protect or local streams and Lake Erie.
  • “Flow and Grow” in MidTown will feature a Neighborhood Community Tree Planting and Celebration from 12-4 p.m. at the Dunham Tavern. The event will feature local food as well as a yoga session from instructor Dawn M. Rivers. AJ and The Confirmation Band will also perform! Volunteers are still needed!

The 2015 Cleveland Tree Plan set a target to increase Cleveland’s tree canopy cover from 19% to 30% by 2040. Although the region has made progress in the past six years, according to a report compiled by the Cleveland Tree Coalition, tree canopy cover continues to decline. Neighborhood canopy cover varies widely, ranging from 35% to 4% across the city. From heat island effects to stormwater benefits, the effect of urban forest decline affects BIPOC communities disproportionately, systemically. The 2020 update calls for the Cleveland community to rise creatively and collectively to grow an equitable canopy. This includes peeling many layers of systemic injustices to address health and environmental detriments, and creating just accessible and green opportunities in the process.

The Cleveland Tree Coalition is seeking proposals from qualified project teams for a Nonprofit Containerized Tree Nursery to supply locally sourced, mostly native tree stock to groups in the greater Cleveland area who are actively working toward the goals of the Cleveland Tree Plan.

This RFQ is based on the findings of a feasibility study, in which the Cleveland Tree Coalition worked with partners to examine the feasibility of establishing an urban tree nursery in Cleveland to supply cost-effective, climate-appropriate nursery stock to the region. Read more about the study and access the full report here: Business Plan: Urban Tree Nursery in Cleveland.

Successful applicants will consist of a project team that is led by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and includes a Nursery Manager that is experienced in sourcing and propagating local native tree seeds and growing containerized woody stock. The project team must present a plan for accessing sufficient land in Cleveland, operating a Nursery that benefits local communities, contributing to green workforce development, and partnering with the Coalition to advance the Cleveland Tree Plan. The Cleveland Tree Coalition will partner with the selected Nursery team to provide technical expertise, management assistance, partnership facilitation, advocacy, and fundraising support for the Nursery.

Proposals will be accepted in a two-part process, consisting first of a letter of inquiry that outlines the project team’s qualifications and their proposed Nursery plan. Invited finalists will then be invited to submit a full proposal that details the team’s qualifications and their proposed Nursery plan.   

Letters of inquiry are due Friday, April 30, 2021. Please check the RFQ for additional information, including important deadlines.

RFQ Applicant Downloads

• RFQ: Urban Tree Nursery – April 2021
• Proposed Nursery Business Plan Checklist
• Business Plan: Urban Tree Nursery in Cleveland – study report 2020

See Also

• The Cleveland Tree Plan
• Cleveland Tree Plan Appendix A: Tree Selection Guide
• The Cleveland Tree Plan: 2020 Tree Canopy Progress Report