Pilot program teaches students the value of work and the business of trees
By Kenya Vaughn Of the St. Louis American
The students of the Green Tree Academy seemed completely oblivious to the scorching sun and 90-plus temperatures as they were strapped into the trees last Thursday in Forest Park.
“I was like, ‘Arboriculture, outside in the heat? No thank you,’” said Joi Pickett. “But then I actually realized that this is something that I like.”
Pickett is one of 10 local youth who are participating in A Green Tree Academy, a pilot program created by Comptroller Darlene Green along with partners from the City forestry department, St. Louis Community College, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Living Tree Care, Inc.
The eight-week program – which began on July 9 and continues through August 31 – was created to teach inner-city students about the field of arboriculture. Students will receive a “Certificate of Completion” from St. Louis Community College in addition to job, scholarship and educational opportunities through the many partners of A Green Tree Academy.
“I came out here on the field day, and they were able to identify the different types of trees,” said Judy Armstrong of the Comptroller’s office, regarding the students.
“You can see what they are learning in the classroom and how they are applying it in the field.”
Armstrong said the program began with a letter requesting the establishment of a program to teach arboriculture to local at-risk youth sent by Phil Berwick of Living Tree Care, Inc.
“He had a contract with the City and was trimming trees in O’Fallon Park,” Armstrong said. “While he was working, he had people come up to him asking would he hire them or if he needed some help trimming trees.”
Green said another determining factor in setting up the program were the two major storms in July and December of 2006.
“I thought about the two storms that we had and a lot of trees were down, and we had to import quite a few people from other cities to help tree-trim,” Green said.
“And I said that this is the time for us to train our inner-city youth to get it done.”
While the students are learning about the field and the business of trees, Green and other parties agree that the program is an ideal platform for providing inner-city youth training, job readiness, job placement and opportunities for scholarships and entrepreneurial training.
“When we begin to talk about the high crime in the St. Louis area, we have to look at the reason why crime exists,” said state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed of the 60th District.
“And a lot of times it exists because the young folks are without jobs. So to have this partnership in the city of St. Louis in the inner city is most delightful.”
Green praised Nasheed for being one of the catalysts to get the program off of the ground and for bringing Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources into A Green Tree Academy.
“With a skill, they will not have to worry about going out and selling drugs,” Nasheed said. “That’s [arboriculture] a skill that they can bring back to their community and also help seniors with their tree trimming.”
A Green Tree Academy participant Marvin Pickens said that he is now looking for full-time employment in the field of arboriculture. He said that the academy has helped him not only learn about the field, but given him a sense of community.
“Just being skilled and helping others out in the St. Louis area,” Pickens summed up his experience thus far. “Learning a skill and sharing that skills that I have.
“Even though it’s tiresome, I like climbing the tree. The field is definitely more important than I thought it was,” said recent Sumner grad Lawan Harris.
“There are a lot of career opportunities within arboriculture, and it doesn’t have to be outside.”
“I can’t explain how rewarding it’s been to the students and myself,” said Lataunia Wilder, program coordinator for A Green Tree Academy.
Wilder was eager to boast that upon entering the program at least three students who had not planned to go to college now will attend college. According to Green, of the 10 participants, five will be seeking employment and the other five will be going to college in the fall.
Nasheed said, “When you talk about tree-trimming, you talk about young people who can go out and be entrepreneurs themselves, and that’s why I’m excited about the program and why I think it is going to grow.”