The Greening of Detroit: Working to Create Healthy Urban Communities Through Trees, Education, and Jobs

Kim Kisner
May 21, 2024
Community

Established in 1989, The Greening of Detroit is a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire sustainable growth of a healthy urban community through trees, green spaces, healthy living, education, and job opportunities.

To date, it has planted 147,000 trees and trained more than 1,000 people through its five-year-old workforce development program.

Putting trees in the ground is job one for the organization, but it also is involved in stormwater management and providing landscaping services to residents and businesses in the communities they serve.

President Lionel Bradford has been with the nonprofit since 2010 and is proud of its 35-year history. SBN Detroit interviewed Bradford about the organization’s programs, impact, and future.

Q: What was the impetus to begin The Greening of Detroit?

A: For years Detroit was known as the Paris of the Midwest, partly because of the tree canopy cover the city used to have. Between 1950 and 1980 Detroit lost over a half million trees due to Dutch Elm Disease, urbanization, and neglect due to financial struggles. In 1989, The Greening of Detroit was founded to reforest the city of Detroit.

Since its inception, 147,000 trees have been planted throughout the city. We also started a youth employment program as a way to educate and take care of these trees. Our Green Corps Summer Youth program at its height employed 200 high school students. That number decreased due to COVID-19, but it’s coming back up.

In a nutshell, our organization has two main pillars: workforce development and green infrastructure.

Q: What are you currently working on in terms of tree planting?

A: We are in the third year of a five-year strategic plan where we are looking to plant 20,000 trees throughout Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park, and train 300 individuals who have barriers to employment.

This plan fits into a larger initiative we are involved in called the Detroit Tree Equity Partnership. This is a collaboration with American Forest, DTE Energy, and the City of Detroit in which we are planning to plant 75,000 trees over the next five years.

There is a buzz in the city right now in terms of trees. We’ve done a lot of engagement and outreach. Recently we conducted a 500-tree giveaway, and there were still cars lined up after we gave away the last tree. It’s great to see this.

Q: What is your involvement with the Walter Meyers Nursery?

A: Walter Meyers is a tree nursery on 72 acres in Rouge Park that for years went untouched. In 2004, The Greening of Detroit – with the city’s permission – took over managing that property to serve as a training ground for our adult workforce development. We have used it as an outdoor classroom setting.

In 2017, we put together a master plan to turn it back into a working nursery operation. As an organization, we are looking for ways to generate revenue for our training programs and to plant our trees. We want to control our destiny and cut down the carbon footprint involved in having trees shipped in.

We have planted over 4,000 trees in the nursery and harvested our first 200 trees last year.

The goal is to get to a point where we are selling 5,000 trees annually to municipalities, the City of Detroit, and the community.

Q: What sustainable impact do you think this brings?

A: In addition to creating green infrastructure in the city, community engagement is at the heart of what we do. Our job is to get trees in the ground, but we do not want to impose our will. We want to be invited into communities. Not only do we want residents to have a say, but we also want them to be a part of the work. This is a model that speaks volumes in terms of sustainability, and it’s held up across the state and the country.

Q: How does The Greening of Detroit impact businesses?

A: We engage and work with business owners in the communities we are involved in. Many of them bring us in to green their properties.

The more green space we can add for businesses, the more it helps aesthetics and foot traffic. Green space and economic development go hand in hand.

Also, from an economic standpoint, our education program puts people into jobs doing work around the city, which enhances the economic viability of Detroit as well.

GC Citizens Bank 3 — TRAINING VOLUNTEERS

Q: In what other ways does the organization create green infrastructure in the city?

A: Stormwater management. We have installed three major bioretention ponds around the city that hold up to a million gallons of water. These are in Rouge Park, Chandler Park, and Eliza Howell Parks. We also work with residents and businesses to replace impervious surfaces with green infrastructure through our Land + Water WORKS Coalition.

Q: You have an adult workforce program from which over 1,000 Detroiters have graduated in the past five years. How does this work?

A: This is a six-week program called the Detroit Conservation Corps. Sixty percent of those who have graduated were previously incarcerated. We are passionate about helping that population get credentials and secure jobs that pay decent wages.

We work with a network of businesses looking to employ, most from the tree care and landscaping industries. These companies work in tandem with our advisory committee to help us build our curriculum and help with job placement. We have hired a small percentage of our trainees ourselves.

Q: What is the future of The Greening of Detroit?

A: Community engagement will always be a focus. We also are rebuilding our environmental education. These programs fell by the wayside before and during COVID-19, but we are working to get into schools, facilitate field trips, and educate our youth.

We truly believe that getting the Meyers Nursery operations up and running is key for us moving forward. It will be important for us to generate our revenue.

I’m proud we’ve been able to sustain the organization for 35 years. I feel good about the climate of the city in terms of how people feel about trees and think things will continue to get better from here.

Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on sustainable business practices in and around Detroit.

Kim Kisner

With over 25 years of experience in the development and execution of strategic branding, content planning, and copywriting for brands such as Gatorade, Ford Motor Company, and Under Armour, and published by SEEN Magazine, The Jewish News, and countless health and lifestyle journals and blogs, Kim helps companies, brands, and people tell their stories.

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October 15, 2024 No Comments

The concept of refilling containers to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability is taking hold in many forms. From pop-ups to brick-and-mortar, Refill Shops, known as refilleries, are becoming more prevalent. To find out more about the industry, SBN Detroit interviewed three local business owners: Corey Thompson, founder of Red Oak Refillery with installations in two locations; Jessica Cichowlas, owner of BYOC with brick-and-mortar locations in Ann Arbor and Plymouth, and Ashby Cummings, owner of MI-Fillosophy in Plymouth. Q: Why a refillery? Thompson: The inspiration for Red Oak Refillery came from my time working at Mama Suds, a brand focused on natural household cleaners. By 2021, we were seeing that roughly 30% of Mama Suds’ wholesale sales were directed to refilleries, predominantly on the East and West coasts. This made it clear that there was a need for refill services in other areas as well. I started my business as a pop-up in Oxford in 2021, working part-time with my product set up at a coffee shop in Lake Orion. Setting up my products for a few hours each day gave me the opportunity to fine-tune my model. Instead of going the traditional brick-and-mortar route, I opted for a distributed model with installations in businesses that align with my values. I currently operate in two locations and am preparing to open a third, all while continuing my role at Mama Suds. Cichowlas: I was a customer at BYOC, and the mission of reducing single-use plastic resonated deeply with me. The owner announced she was selling and I took over the two locations – Plymouth and Ann Arbor. My goal remains to uphold that mission, with a focus on sourcing from local family-run businesses that reflect our core values of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Cummings: Mi-Fillosophy launched in February 2023 with a focus on food rather than lifestyle products, which sets us apart from most refill shops. I noticed a significant gap in the market, particularly after many bulk food stores shut down during the pandemic, and I wanted to address that gap by offering consumers a more sustainable way to shop for food. Q: How has the community responded to the concepts of container reuse and the reduction of single-use plastics? Thompson: The community response has been positive. For some, the idea of a refillery is novel and intriguing, though it’s a concept that has been common in places like India for centuries. Others have embraced the concept and seek out refill shops that align with their sustainability goals. Beyond that, the community also has actively sought me out for collaboration. For instance, Orion Oaks Elementary reached out for assistance in achieving certification through the Green Schools Program, and I got invited to speak at various summits and conferences. I think refilleries naturally become hubs for education and sustainable practices within their communities. Cichowlas: The Ann Arbor community has embraced the refill shop a bit faster, I think, because the city has committed to sustainability goals – aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030. So, our store’s mission really resonates there. We’ve seen growing support in Plymouth as well, as more people begin adopting zero-waste practices. Cummings: Customers have responded positively to a refill shop focused on food. Many like the option of purchasing smaller amounts or just what they need, which helps them avoid unnecessary waste. Q: How has your clientele evolved over time? Thompson: Our customer base continues to consist of both repeat visitors and newcomers. Some people actively seek out refill shops as part of their efforts to live more sustainably, while others are discovering the concept for the first time. It’s rewarding to see that growth and interest. Cichowlas: We’ve developed a strong core of repeat customers, most of whom are local. However, we also see people traveling from further distances to stock up on refills, which is a testament I think to more people adopting sustainability practices. Cummings: I’ve drawn customers from all around metro Detroit, but more and more refill shops are opening so people don’t have to drive as far to reach them, which helps from an emissions reduction standpoint and therefore is great. Many people from the local community here have become regulars. Q: What challenges have you faced in operating a refill shop? Thompson: One of the biggest challenges is that this industry is still relatively new, so we’re dealing with the typical obstacles any startup faces. Beyond that, educating the public about the refill concept is a continuous effort. Cichowlas: Our main challenge is keeping our costs competitive with larger chains while maintaining our commitment to sustainability and local sourcing. Cummings: For me, since my focus is food, managing food safety is a challenge. Keeping track of expiration dates and managing recalls. There’s also a need for constant education, particularly around bulk food safety, which some customers are unfamiliar with. Q: What role do refill shops play in educating the community on sustainability? Thompson: Refill shops play a critical role in community education, whether we intended it or not. Customers come to us with questions, and we find ourselves being the ones to provide answers. It’s an organic process — people look to us for guidance. I also think the local refill shops act as an example and a reminder to think more sustainably. Cichowlas: I believe refill shops have an obligation to educate the community. From understanding which ingredients are safe to selecting products that align with sustainable values, we can remove a lot of the guesswork for people and it’s a service that’s important. Zero-waste can seem intimidating, so part of our mission is to make it accessible and achievable for everyone. Cummings: The presence of a refill shop brings sustainability to the forefront of community awareness. Every day, whether it’s answering questions about recycling or helping customers choose eco-friendly products, we’re educating our customers. Q: How do refill shops help reduce the carbon footprint? Thompson: The impact is significant, even with small changes. Just using a container