by Alison Mitchell, Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Planting a city tree that will flourish is no easy feat, but the City of Trenton and nonprofit partners are prepared to rise to the occasion, planting 1,000 trees over the course of the next year. A newly launched partnership, “Trees for Trenton,” is bringing that goal – and more trees – to life!
William Wilson, executive director of Outdoor Equity Alliance (OEA) – one of the partner groups – knows that success depends on communities valuing and caring for these green investments. That’s why OEA created a stewardship program and recruited dedicated volunteers and 60 high school students as “Tree Ambassadors.”
“We need people from the community who know the community,” says Wilson. “We are building a workforce…a set of people from Trenton taking care of trees in Trenton, getting paid by Trenton to do the work.”
This is the kind of work that changes nature-deprived neighborhoods into places where people can not only survive, but thrive.
For four centuries, Black and brown communities have helped shape New Jersey’s history, landscape, and culture. Today, nonprofit organizations that focus on engaging and supporting historically marginalized communities are an integral part of our state’s environmental, social, and economic vitality.
Black History Month is a great time to honor and recognize the indelible contributions of organizations that are improving the environmental quality of communities in this state we’re in, and creating safe spaces in nature for everyone.
OEA is a Trenton-based nonprofit that fosters equity and justice in nature. They focus on three big ideas: inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders, promoting intersectional conversation, and transforming cities through urban forestry. On May 3rd, you can join OEA and partners for their next tree planting event on West State Street in Trenton!
To Wilson, today’s unpredictability around federal funding and the direction of the new administration is a call to stand up stronger, not to become complacent. “This is the time where we need to be more convicted in our work,” stresses Wilson. “Regardless of all the uncertainty, OEA will continue to work and find creative ways to advance our mission and grow. We will continue to build bridges, connect, and get everyone together.” Visit outdoorequityalliance.org or email info@outdoorequityalliance.org for more info.
There are a number of other notable organizations in this sector making a difference in New Jersey.
In Color Birding – Jason Hall created In Color Birding to marry BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) nature lovers with bird watching. The organization hosts bird watching events in the New Jersey and Philadelphia regions that are accessible and affordable. Over 400 people showed up to events in 2024 to search for feathered friends, and Hall wants to keep them coming. “In Color Birding does things for the community. We give scholarships and teacher stipends. We pay for lunch on our trips.” In Color Birding was created in response to two incidents on May 25, 2020 – the harassment of Black birder Christian Cooper by a white woman in Central Park who called the police on him, and the murder of George Floyd. “It was not just about going outside and finding birds with one another. It was about how to do that safely,” says Hall. incolorbirding.org/
Outdoor Afro – “Where Black people and nature meet.” Get out and hike on March 1st at Sourland Mountain Preserve with Outdoor Afro, a national nonprofit that reconnects Black and brown people with natural spaces and one another through recreational activities such as camping, hiking, biking, birding, fishing, gardening, skiing, and much more. By using social media and platforms like Meetup, Outdoor Afro is also helping to change perceptions about who plays outdoors with visual representations of the diverse populations that enjoy nature. The Newark group in Outdoor Afro’s Northeast chapter has plenty of exciting activities coming up and all are welcome! They also have groups in New York City and Philadelphia. Find activities near you: outdoorafro.org/places/northeast/
Outsiders – This up-and-coming New Jersey group was launched in 2024 with a vision to diversify the outdoors and build a vital community of Black and brown explorers. The two founders hosted 16 meetups and hiked over 40 miles with community members last year. From trail maintenance and clean-up events to guided group hikes that explore native plants and invasive species, Outsiders is already making a big impact. Check out upcoming opportunities by visiting exploreoutsiders.org/services.
Our need for nature is embedded in our DNA and everybody deserves the opportunity to enjoy the natural world. These groups have a shared goal of engaging and exposing everyone – ALL people – to the great outdoors, as well as providing access to learning opportunities and job paths in the environmental and natural resource protection fields. They are making history every day through their hard work, perseverance, and love of community and nature. Let’s join them!
To learn more about preserving New Jersey’s land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website at njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org.
