BRANCH Coalition

In 2023, Verde joined the BRANCH Coalition, a group of community organizations, local governments, and environmental partners working together to bring more trees and green space to neighborhoods across the Portland metro area.

Led by Friends of Trees, the coalition received a $12 million Urban and Community Forestry Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Inflation Reduction Act. Over five years, this funding will support tree planting, community education, and other efforts in neighborhoods with lower tree canopy and communities most impacted by climate change, pollution, and other environmental hazards.

As a coalition partner, Verde helps center community knowledge and leadership in this work. Together, we're working to make sure that the benefits of trees — including cleaner air, cooler neighborhoods, healthier communities, and more connected green spaces — reach the people and places that need them most.

What the BRANCH Coalition is working toward

  • Growing tree canopy by planting trees alongside neighbors and community organizations.

  • Connecting people with the benefits of trees through outreach, education, and community events.

  • Building lasting relationships with community members and organizations to better understand local priorities and invest in solutions that reflect community needs.

  • Advancing environmental justice by directing resources toward communities that have historically had less access to trees and green space and have experienced greater environmental burdens.

Verde BRANCH Projects

Equipo de Árboles

El Equipo de Árboles brought Spanish-speaking community members together to learn about the trees in their neighborhoods and the important role trees play in creating healthier and more resilient communities. Through tree walks and educational activities offered in Spanish, the team helped make information about trees and urban forestry more accessible and created space for community members to connect, learn, and share their knowledge.

Office Tree Mural

Verde is partnering with artist Daniel Santollo TEKPATL to create an educational mural about trees on the exterior wall of our office. The mural will celebrate the importance of trees in our communities while helping neighbors learn more about Portland’s urban forest and the many ways trees support healthier, more resilient neighborhoods. This project will bring art, education, and community together in a space that everyone can enjoy.

Lideres Verdes Tree Walks

Líderes Verdes hosted an educational tree walk in both English and Spanish, bringing community members together to learn about the trees growing in their neighborhoods and the important role they play in our environment. By offering the walk in both languages, Líderes Verdes helped make information about Portland’s urban forest more accessible and created an opportunity for neighbors to connect, learn, and share knowledge together.