Dear friends,

As I celebrate my first month at Canopy, I wanted to thank you for the warm welcome you have shown me and take a moment to reflect on what has already been a powerful experience. 

From tabling events, roundtable discussions, and Tree Awards Ceremony to one-on-one walks with staff members along the Baylands Trail, my first month has primarily involved listening – to you, our partners, volunteers, staff, and board members. A few things are immediately clear: you love this community, you love trees, and you love Canopy. 

I’m proud to be part of a movement that is committed to combining the power of people and trees to better the lives of everyone in the Midpeninsula. As I said to our volunteers at our awards ceremony, we cannot achieve the Canopy of our dreams unless we come together in community. And from what I’ve seen so far, our future is not only bright, but also green and shaded. 

As we celebrate the beginning of our planting season and welcome back volunteers to our work, I hope you will continue to support our mission. Canopy needs your help, as a volunteer, advisor, committee member, educator, or supporter. Whether in neighborhoods planting trees, in the classroom inspiring the next generation, lending your voice and expertise on one of our committees or representing us at events, we need your help in growing our community. Keep a close eye on our Volunteer Wire or visit our volunteer page for opportunities to help. 

On a personal note, my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has made me feel so welcome in my new home. I know I still have much to learn from you. Please feel free to reach out with ideas, solutions and advice. It’s only if we work together that we can grow and strengthen our Canopy. 

In community,

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us earlier this month to celebrate our 2023 Tree Awardees and each of our incredible volunteers. As Indira Selvakumaraswamy, Canopy’s Volunteer Engagement Manager, said that day: “Our volunteers are pivotal to the work we do and everything we accomplish. We would not be able to fulfill our mission without you.”

Click below to watch a special tribute to volunteers from the Canopy team:

Missed the event? Check out the links below to get caught up on the fun!

Canopy's Teen Urban Foresters and staff (above) are ready to plant with you!

This Saturday, September 23rd, Canopy is kicking off a new planting season with the community's help! In addition to marking this start, we are celebrating the completion of a transformational four-year CalFire-funded planting project that added 460 shade trees and 300 understory plants to neighborhoods across East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks, and Belle Haven, which suffer from some of the lowest urban tree canopies in the state. 

On Saturday, community volunteers will join Canopy and members of the Rich May Foundation in planting the final five trees as part of a $360,000 effort funded by CalFire and California Climate Investments as well as other Canopy supporters – with the aim of bringing shade equity and bridging the “green gap” in this historically underserved community.

The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Rich May Memorial Field, 1425 Bay Road in East Palo Alto (behind St. Francis of Assisi Church), from 9 a.m. to noon. Although all volunteer slots are full, we invite you to stop by for family-friendly activities and games and to enjoy the trees in your community!

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:

• Thurs. 10/5: Tree care volunteer workday in Mountain View
• Sat. 10/21: Community tree planting in East Palo Alto
• Sat. 11/4: Community tree planting in Palo Alto

Email email Indira Selvakumaraswamy, Canopy’s Volunteer Engagement Manager, at volunteer@canopy.org to sign up or subscribe to the Volunteer Wire newsletter to hear about new dates!

Please join us in welcoming Ally Bell (she/her), Canopy’s newly hired Education Director. After spending a decade as a teacher and education leader in Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia public schools, Ally’s been working as a training manager, facilitator, and curriculum developer in the Bay Area since 2018.

Fall colors in Palo Alto; photo by Raul Diaz, Flickr

Palo Alto neighborhood tree walk

Saturday, October 28

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Join certified arborist Jeff Newborn for a guided tour through the fall colors in the Byron/Seale neighborhood, exploring the most common trees found in the City of Palo Alto's urban forest.

Congratulations to Amy Chen, Canopy partner and Director of the East Palo Alto Community and Economic Development Department, who was honored as a Hidden Hero by the Greenbelt Alliance at their annual benefit for her work promoting climate-SMART housing.

Watch a short film about Amy’s work in our community:

Your tax-deductible gift to Canopy helps grow green, healthy communities where people and nature thrive. Ask your employer today about matching gifts—you might just double your impact!

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.