Christopher Kao (seen on the right in a black hat) speaks with Canopy Staff and volunteers at the 9/26 East Palo Alto Montage Neighborhood Planting.

Christopher Kao has a vision for the East Palo Alto (EPA) Montage neighborhood: a more liveable community shaded by a forest of thriving trees. As a resident of the Montage neighborhood for the past four years, Christopher has personal experience feeling the heat due to a lack of robust tree canopy. As a volunteer with the EPA Public Works and Transportation Commission, Christopher has seen presentations of Canopy’s work at Commission meetings. Knowing that the Montage community used to have more trees, Christopher saw an opportunity to work with Canopy to bring back trees to Montage.

After receiving a tree from Canopy in April, Christopher worked with our Community Forestry Coordinator Arlene Nunez Garcia and the local EPA Homeowners Association (HOA) to lead an effort to plant more trees in the neighborhood. On Thursday, September 26, Christopher, residents of the Montage neighborhood, and Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District students worked with Canopy to plant seven additional trees. This planting, Chris expects to just be phase 1, and he continues to work with Canopy and the HOA to insert more trees into the community and inspire other Montage residents to steward their own trees. Christopher exemplifies the power of people to steward trees and inspire action for healthier, more liveable communities.

You can read more about the Montage planting in the Community Recap section below.

Canopy is happy to announce our new TreEnews series “Canopy Champions.” This series aims to highlight and celebrate our community members who are championing our local urban forests and helping to grow healthy trees and healthy communities for all.

Thank you for joining us at the Tree Awards!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Power of People: 2024 Tree Awards and Volunteer Party! We loved being in community with you all last Saturday. As Indira Selvakumaraswamy, Canopy’s Volunteer Engagement Manager, said that day: “Our treasured volunteers are the backbone of what we do. We are grateful for your presence, time, contributions, connections, commitment, and constant support for all that you have done and continue to do for Canopy. You are the stewards, advocates, and voices for all our urban trees. Both Canopy and the trees count on you and thank you for your unwavering support!”  

Thank you to Angel Fernandez and Ashok Srinivasan for capturing the day and to Bloomhouse for hosting us. Check out their beautiful photos in the Flickr album linked below.

For those of you who couldn’t make it, please know you were missed but your support and efforts remain TREEmendously appreciated. Let’s continue to dig in together to foster healthy trees and healthy communities.

This fall, Canopy has been invited to send two Teen Urban Foresters (TUFs) and three staff members to represent us at the Partners in Community Forestry Conference in Chicago! Urban forestry leaders from across the country will hear directly from TUFs and Canopy staff about our powerful model for equity-centered, community-based youth leadership development. The team will also have the opportunity to connect with and learn from other leaders in community forestry, bringing the best ideas and solutions for sustainable urban greening back to their community. 

Canopy has launched a United Miles on a Mission campaign to help our TUFs and staff travel to Chicago. Through this campaign, you can donate your airline miles and make it possible for these five environmental justice leaders to attend the conference! If you’re able to support, please donate and share the campaign by October 11, 2024.

With the launch of our new planting season, we have many opportunities for you to steward and learn about your local urban forest. Please use our new volunteer sign-up form to register for specific volunteer events or express interest in general volunteer opportunities!

Sat. 10/5: All Five + Belle Haven Community Planting

Thurs. 10/10: Mountain View Tree Care Day #1

Sat. 10/26: Tree Walk /Caminata de árboles: East Palo Alto (Bilingual)

Sat. 10/26: Climate Justice and Green Gap Presentation

Sat. 11/2: Tree Walk: Mountain VIewSat.

11/16: South Palo Alto Neighborhood Planting #1

Canopy is delighted to announce Aubrey Knier as Canopy's Tree Programs Manager. As Interim Tree Programs Manager, Aubrey spearheaded a number of Canopy's most ambitious projects this past summer with professionalism, passion and patience. We are excited to watch Aubrey continue her thoughtful, powerful work with our Trees Team and Canopeople. Congratulations, Aubrey!

JoJo Flores

Miguel Baez

As announced in May, Canopy’s Teen Urban Forester (TUF) Program has expanded in the past few years, and with that expansion comes opportunities for our TUFs to take on leadership roles as TUF Leads. Canopy wishes to congratulate JoJo Flores for stepping into the role of TUF Lead and Miguel Baez for continuing his role as TUF Lead for the 2024-2025 TUF sessions. As TUF Leads, JoJo and Miguel will collaborate with our Youth Programs Manager Juanita Ibarra to lead and support the TUF Program. Congratulations, JoJo and Miguel! 

Are you interested in reconnecting youth with trees and nature through education? 

Apply to be Canopy’s K-12 Environmental Education Intern! We're looking for a highly motivated and organized individual to support Canopy’s Environmental Educator in leading in-school, tree-focused, hands-on lessons at elementary schools in Ravenswood City School District and Mountain View Whisman Elementary School District. The intern will also support the Junior Forester Leader Program and Wellness Walk Program. This internship is a great opportunity to gain experience in classroom management, lesson preparation and design, and program implementation!

September 14, 2024 | East Palo Alto - Thank you to the 32 volunteers, 15 Teen Urban Foresters, and Canopy staff who helped plant 20 trees at our East Palo Alto Neighborhood Planting. It filled our hearts to see so many people come together on a Saturday morning to take action for our local urban forest. What a beautiful way to kick off the 2024-2025 planting season and celebrate Latino Conservation Week! Check out the photos from the planting by DJ Stamper, Treasured Visions. DJ captured the essence of the planting wonderfully, snapping photos of smiling faces, teamwork, and community connection.

September 25, 2024 | Palo Alto - Nine SageSure corporate volunteers, along with Canopy staff and Planting Leaders, planted three trees at the Palo Alto Family YMCA. Thank you to these volunteers for supporting the South Palo Alto Tree Initiative!

September 25, 2024 | North Fair Oaks - In partnership with San Mateo County Libraries, Canopy hosted a bilingual tree walk in North Fair Oaks! We were happy to have families join us to explore North Fair Oaks’ urban forest and learn about the power of trees in creating healthy communities. Thank you to arborist Vera Cordova for guiding this wonderful tree walk!

September 26, 2024 | East Palo Alto - Seven trees were planted in the Montage neighborhood of East Palo Alto by 22 students and seven staff from Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District, along with community members, Planting Leaders, and Canopy Staff. Thank you to the volunteers who are helping expand the East Palo Alto urban forest!

Mobilize Gen Z for Change - Voter Registration, Music, and Entertainment

Saturday, October 5, 2024 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

3549 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA

What We Sow in Cultivating Our Places: A Talk with Jennifer Jewell

Saturday, October 19, 2024 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

1313 Newell Rd, Palo Alto, CA

Sibyl and Steve Cramer

in honor of Los Altos High School Green Team

Lauren and Kirk Swezey

in honor of Laura Martinez

Marty and Judy Deggeller

in memory of Urban Cummings

Packard Foundation

Canopy's mission is to grow the urban forest in Midpeninsula communities for the benefit of all.



Our vision is a day when every resident of the Midpeninsula can step outside to walk, play, and thrive under the shade of healthy trees.