Outdoor Equity Alliance

We are honored to announce that we’ve been selected as a recipient of a transformative Sunset Grant in the first round of funding from the Princeton Area Community Foundation Bunbury Fund! This incredible support will enable us to expand our programs and strengthen our capacity to make nature more accessible to all communities. From creating inclusive outdoor experiences to inspiring a diverse new generation of environmental leaders, this grant propels our mission to new heights! We extend our deepest gratitude to the Princeton Area Community Foundation Bunbury Fund Advisors for believing in our vision and for their enduring commitment to fostering meaningful change in our communities. A heartfelt thank you to ALL of our partners, supporters, and community members whose collaboration makes our work possible! Together, with this transformative contribution, we will significantly expand our impact in Trenton and beyond, making Nature for All a Reality! Special thanks to all of our incredible supporters: Upward Bound at Mecer County Community College, The Watershed Institute, Isles, Inc., New Jersey Conservation Foundation, NJ Tree Foundation, Inc., Mercer County Community College, New Jersey Audubon, Tyrell Smith, Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS), Northeast Organic Farming Association of NJ, KENTFIELDS FOUNDATION INC, REI Cooperative Action Fund, Princeton Hydro, Pinelands Preservation Alliance. Foundation Academies, National Wildlife Federation, The College of New Jersey https://lnkd.in/dJQ9m2MU

THANK YOU! to all the incredible volunteers who joined us this weekend for our Community Tree Planting! Together, we planted 45 trees along West State Street as part of the "Trees for Trenton" initiative, which aims to plant 1,000 trees citywide over the next three years. These trees will not only beautify our streets but also help combat the urban heat island effect, creating a healthier, greener Trenton! Special thanks to the NJ Tree Foundation, Inc., New Jersey Conservation Foundation, The Watershed Institute, Isles, Inc. and BRS, Inc. for their unwavering commitment to expanding Trenton’s tree canopy. We’re also deeply grateful for the support of Mercer County Executive, Dan Benson for NJ and West Ward Councilwoman, Teska Firsby whose leadership fuels this vital work. Finally, a heartfelt shoutout to OEA founding members Aaron Watson & Jay Watson; our dedicated board members Dr. Rosetta Treece and Jim Waltman; Foundation Academies; Upward Bound at Mecer County Community College; Smith Family Foundation; Trenton Police Department; Stacy Russell-Denton M.S.; Tyrell Smith; Amy Ricco; Mercer County Community College & and all of our inspiring OEA Tree Ambassadors and Tree Leaders! Together, we’re making a lasting impact on Trenton’s future. Here’s to many more tree-planting days to come!

?? Join Us for a Tree Planting & Street Cleanup Event in Trenton! ?? This Saturday, October 26th, from 9 AM to 12 PM, we’ll be planting 45 trees along West State Street AND leading a street cleanup! ?? Be part of creating more green spaces and help keep our streets clean at the same time. Whether you're planting or picking up, your efforts will have a lasting impact on our community. ?? Location: 363 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08618 (Meet in front of Foundation Academy Charter School) We’ll provide all the tools, water, and snacks. Just bring yourself, wear closed-toe shoes, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty! ?? To sign up and help plant trees, please contact: [email protected] or call 856-287-4488. To help with the street cleaning or for any other questions, please contact: [email protected] or call 609-225-4942. Let’s work together to make Trenton greener, cleaner, and healthier! ???? #TreesforTrenton #LivingTrenton New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Isles, Inc., NJ Tree Foundation, Inc.,

?? Tree Ambassador Program: Week 2 Recap ?? Yesterday’s session was another exciting step in building both our tree knowledge and our team spirit. Our Ambassadors dove into hands-on learning and team-building activities that will set the foundation for their future success in the program. ?? Tree Identification in Action – We spent time outside, honing our skills in identifying trees by examining their bark, leaves, and fruit. Our Ambassadors learned key traits that differentiate tree species and how these characteristics play a critical role in urban tree selection. From understanding root systems to recognizing branching patterns, it was a valuable lesson on how trees contribute to resilient urban landscapes. ?? Building Strong Teams – The strength of our cohort lies in how well we work together. Through focused team-building exercises, our Ambassadors deepened their connections, built trust, and developed a shared sense of purpose. These connections are essential for successful community advocacy and engagement, laying the groundwork for powerful collaborations as we move forward. ?? A Special Shoutout to Our Tree Leaders ?? – Huge thanks to our Tree Leaders, who are graduates of Year One of our program! Their expertise and leadership were invaluable during the hands-on tree identification activities, guiding our new Ambassadors and reinforcing the importance of mentorship and community. We're so proud of the continued dedication of our Year One graduates and the impact they’re making. By the end of the session, our team walked away with stronger skills and stronger bonds, ready to continue their journey as advocates for greener communities! New Jersey Conservation Foundation, NJ Tree Foundation, Inc., Isles, Inc., Mercer County Community College, Upward Bound at Mecer County Community College

?? Exciting News! ?? We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our NEW website: www.treesfortrenton.org! This site will keep you updated on the upcoming tree plantings happening across Trenton later this month! ?? A huge thank you to our incredible partners: New Jersey Conservation Foundation, NJ Tree Foundation, Inc., Mercer County Community College, Foundation Academies, The Watershed Institute, and Isles, Inc.. Together, we’re working to expand Trenton’s tree canopy and bring greener, healthier spaces to our capital city! ?? Stay tuned for more updates and ways to get involved!

We had the honor of presenting to a full house at today's Upward Bound Orientation, and we couldn't be more excited about the bright future ahead for these amazing students! ??? A huge THANK YOU to Upward Bound, Mercer County Community College, and of course, the incredible students—especially the high school seniors who are preparing to embark on an exciting new chapter! We can’t wait to work with you all this fall in second year of the RGGI Tree Ambassador Program and make a lasting impact in our communities together! ???? #OEA #UpwardBound #MercerCountyCommunityCollege #TreeAmbassador #UrbanForestry #EnvironmentalCareers #CommunityImpact #ThankYou #BrightFuture

Congratulations once again to our friends at TCNJ for its high ranking both nationally and locally! Outdoor Equity Alliance is currently partnering to provide several students strong exposure to conservation experts and best practices under the TCNJ Student Empowered Conservation Internship that kicked off this month! Thank you for educating the conservation leaders of the future!

This is excellent legislation. In all of our internships, we teach about the negative impacts of redlining in American history. We're so glad Verlina Reynolds-Jackson took action to help correct this injustice.

Congrats! This is fantastic!