Urban Tree Connection

1 This conservation aims to preserve various kinds ofplants. Because many types of plants are rare,therefore it is necessary to do conservation so thatthese plants do not become extinct. We also urgeeveryone not to damage the environment so thatthe sustainability of plants is build a neighborhood rooted foodand land system through communityleadership development and land-basedstrategies in West MISSION Urban TreeConnection Annual Report 2021 Our Address:EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSTATEMENTThis past November, I celebrated my fifth year as theExecutive Director of Urban Tree Connection . I came toUTC as the Programs Director, wanting more thananything to be on the ground, doing real work with acommunity. I did not imagine that so soon after myarrival to UTC, I would step into a leadership role thatwould not only change the trajectory of the organization- it would also profoundly change me. Urban TREECONNECTION 1 "Politics is the art of making possible theimpossible" - Marta HarneckerWhile building on a rich history that came before us, UTC is no longer the sameorganization.

2 We have become BIPOC-led from board to staff, that togethercrafted a new mission statement, vision and values embedded with racial andeconomic justice. We are a place-based project , that is responsive to ourcommunity and seeks to be accountable to our growing membership and cadreof leaders. Most importantly, we are becoming a coordinated group guided by ashared purpose: to develop and uplift progressive Black working-class leaders. It is this conviction and clarity of purpose that sustains me, and us when thingsinevitably, get hard. The work that we do is not led by one, it is the foresight,the will and the heart of a collective group of people. Weare guided by evidence from our ancestors' struggles andwholeheartedly believe in the revolutionary potential ofBlack and Brown working-class and gender-oppressedpeople to transform society. LOVE THE PEOPLELOVE THE PEOPLEFEED THE PEOPLE!FEED THE PEOPLE!

3 Noelle WarfordTHE TEAMURBAN TREECONNECTION 1 Jen RuizOffice ManagerDevin EschFood Distribution CoordinatorSaruh AlmendarezCommunity OrganizerMike JonesLand Stewardship CoordinatorRebecca FruehwaldVISTA & Outreach CoordinatorNat AgoosLead Farmer Our Address:Board of DirectorsLisette Enumah, ChairTara Rose Brown, Co-ChairDustin Klein, TreasurerAyanna MooreDeb BentzelKhari Graves OUTGOING:India Blunt, Board Chair2 ABOUT USOur Address: Urban Tree Connection (UTC) is a place-based project inHaddington, West Philadelphia that creates space for Blackworking-class community members across ages toparticipate and take up leadership in building a community -governed food and land system. We ground this work in ourorganizational values of community self-determination,solidarity, mutuality, transformational, and collective wisdom. Alongside organizers, activists, and political workers acrossthe and Global South, we hold a vision of a JustTransition.

4 In a just society, the political economy s purposeis NOT for the accumulation of wealth and power for a few, butFOR the social and ecological wellbeing of all people, livingthings, and the planet. Regenerates resources rather than harmfully extracting them Organizes labor cooperatively rather than exploiting workers Fosters democratic participation in all aspects of social life ratherthan using military force and violence against its people Cultivates collective care and sacredness of life rather thanindividualism and alienation We are committed to building alternative institutions and systems that: Urban TREECONNECTION through the vehicles of food and land sovereignty, UrbanTree Connection s primary purpose is to develop theprogressive Black working-class leadership that oursociety desperately needs in this period of compoundingcrises. through our collective work together, we arebuilding our will, skills, capacities to usher in and lead amore just world.

5 3 LOVE THE PEOPLELOVE THE PEOPLEFEED THE PEOPLE!FEED THE PEOPLE!PRODUCTION DISTRIBUTIONDIRECT Urban TREECONNECTIONBUILDING A community -LEDFOOD & LAND SYSTEMFOODSOVEREIGNTY IN HADDINGTON We, the people of Haddington, recognize, honor and celebrate our right to real,locally grown food. We claim health, wellness and a regenerative (life-giving)relationship with the earth as part of our heritage. We nourish our minds andbodies through community care, cultural traditions and the sharing ofknowledge across generations. We choose joy and self-empowerment as wework together to care for each other and our neighborhood. Growing life-sustaining, culturalfoods at our farm +gardens in rightrelationship withland Supplyingneighbors withfood grown by thecommunity, for thecommunityEngaging in andgrowing skills tosustain a food/landsystem that meetscritical needsPARTICIPATION4 PRODUCTION NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD(NF) FARMThis year NF Farm grew 4,430 pounds of achieved this through :Ancestral Practices: methods rooted in Africanand Indigenous farming traditionsStarting plants in biodegradable peat pots Trellising plants in a way that is easy to use Planting thyme for pest management Rotating crops Growing plants together to act ascompanions Building up soil health through naturalamendments Using natural pest management methodsthat encourage pollinatorsHigh Tunnel and Tool Shed Murals An improved hand-washing station A new front-entry sign Accessible Practices.

6 Methods of growing foodwith more ease for Staff and community growersPartnersCarversville Food Foundation donated babyplants, of community -identified vegetables, herbs,and flowers for NF farm and community gardensStar Roses and Plants donated 20+ berrybushes that will be fruiting next season! 3 Special Projects 5NF FARM STORIESThis season we welcomed Yarrow (apprentice), and Dan, (communitymember, landscaper) at NF Farm. Here are their thoughts on the season: Urban farming is more than growingvegetables, it s also a process of being indeeper Connection with each other and the growing our own food, we put power back inour hands. I felt myself grow as a leaderproviding insight on how we grew the food onthe farm and why the farm practices that weuse we treat the land with love,we are loving ourselves and each other. -Yarrow, Farm Apprentice I didn t know the farm was there and I ve livedacross the street from it for the past 13 I was invited to the farm this past season, itwas a great surprise.

7 I really enjoyed drinking teamade from farm herbs/flowers and chatting withthe different people on the farm. Seeing UTCprovide fresh veggies every week to our neighborswas eye-opening and made me really want to beinvolved. Over the Winter I will miss the comraderythat I saw on the farm everyone is really lookingout for each other. -Daniel Hunter Jr., NFF Landscaper 6 PRODUCTION PRODUCTION QUEEN'S GARDENQ ueen s community Garden was founded (~2010) as a space forneighbors to grow their own food. This season we successfully completedgarden upgrades to increase accessibility and community in community feedback we worked to makethe garden accessible for people of all ages. It nowfeatures: The Queen's Garden rebuild project was managed byLead Garden Steward Nefertari, an avid gardener,teacher and busniess owner. New and raised garden beds Greenhouse and storage area New seating and gathering spacesRainwater catchment system Sankofa community Farm's youth (built raised beds)Glover Gardens (built elevated garden beds)E Asher Property Management donated theirlabor, built the rainwater catchment systemVolunteers and neighbors (mulching,planting, small projects, etc)This project came together through the labor andsupport of many people and partners, including: 7 Nefertari (middle) shares, that thisexperience allowed her to make thevision in her head a reality; and hasgiven her confidence to take on evengreater endeavors.

8 PRODUCTION PEARL ST. GARDENP earl St. Garden & Orchard is one of UTC's oldest sites. This season itcontinued to be a site of community engagement and received a open garden days at Pearl Garden community members,volunteers, and staff participated in:The Pearl St. Orchard was renewed with thehelp of Philadelphia Orchard project andPower Corps. The restoration has transformedthe look and feel of the space and allowed usto gather an abundant fruit and food distribution Witnessing the growth and life cycleof different vegetables Building community relationships withneighbors Prune trees and test of diseases Lay out new landscaping Plant over 50 trees, herbs and perennials Additional produce grown at Pearl St. Gardenwas distributed weekly to neighbors. Wemade house visits to elders who couldn't physically walk to the garden. This seasonthe produce included: Tomatoes Thai Chili Peppers 8 through these partnerships we were able to: Sweet Peppers Leafy Greens DIRECTPARTICIPATIO\NDISTRIBUTIONFOOD SOVEREIGNTYSHARE of the membership directly participatedin exchange for their food shares.

9 This is asignificant step towards building a participatoryfood system with actively engaged on the success of working with block captains to distribute produce toneighbors at their homes in 2020, UTC developed the Food Sovereignty Shares(FFS) Program. FSS aims to develop the leadership of neighbors, build anengaged membership through a share food distribution model, and raiseconsciousness through food sovereignty practices. Coordinated with 4 block captains or FSSL eaders to recruit 45 families, 'members'across 4 blocksDistributed 958 boxes of produce (grown atNF Farm) over 22 weeks to FSS membersCreated The People s Forum, a weeklynewsletter that connected members to ourprograms and eventsFFS Members were encouraged to practicedirect participation: Volunteering at the farm and community gardens Submitting a recipe through The People s Forum Attending a UTC event or cooking class Assisting the Food Sovereignty Share Leadersand staff with distribution on their block49 HighlightsFOOD SOVEREIGNTY SHARES (FSS) LEADERS Lisa J (right), FSS Leader on Stewart St, the block with the highest% of member participation this season!

10 This is thanks to Lisa sorganizational skills and commitment to following up personallyabout events and participation opportunities with members. We relucky to have had her organize with us for the last two years, andare excited to see what the future holdsLisa Q, FSS Leader for N. Frazier St. New to UTC, Lisastepped up by taking on a leadership role. It s clear howmuch Lisa cares about food sovereignty in herneighborhood and works hard to get others on re grateful for all the times her and her daughter,Mila came to directly participate this seasonEllissa, FSS Leader for Master St. She started off as a Free Food Share member last year, and this year becameinvolved by helping craft the Food Sovereignty Sharesprogram, volunteering weekly on the farm with us, andtaking the lead on Harvest Days. She truly models whatdirect participation is for the members on her block andher passion for the farm is infectiousCriss, FSS Leader and block captain, onHaddington Ln.