The Greening of Detroit

The Greening of Detroit is a non-profit organization focused on guiding and inspiring others to create a “greener” Detroit through planting trees, educational programs, environmental stewardship, and building community.  

We involve Detroiters in the process through job training programs, community engagement, and education. We are proud to have planted over 166,000 trees over the last thirty-five years and to have educated thousands of children and adults about their roles in creating a cleaner and greener environment.

But most of all, we inspire visitors and residents to imagine a new paradigm for the City of Detroit.

Our Impact

166,000+ Trees Planted 

Since 1989 we have planted over 166,000 trees throughout the cities of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. We continue to plant along city and residential streets and within parks and playgrounds. We are collaborators and depend on the extraordinary support of our many volunteers, donors, and community and corporate partners throughout the year. We thank you and are forever grateful for your assistance. Our work is providing tangible results to the community, and we are excited to play an active role in the continued transformation of this great city.

 

14+ Years Providing Adult Workforce Development Training

We recruit Detroit residents to participate in our workforce training program, which provides them with practical and marketable skills for work in the green job sector. Since 2010 we have provided landscape and tree artisan certification classes to Detroiters with barriers to employment. Trainees receive hands on training in the field along  with job readiness skills,  financial literacy, CPR, and MiOSHA.

26+ Years administering youth Green Corps leadership 

 Green Corps is in its 27th year! Green Corps members invest time and energy in their communities, learn to become environmental stewards by watering and planting trees, cleaning up green spaces, weeding as well as harvesting crops at school and farm gardens.  Throughout this program, Green Corps members have the opportunity to learn about environmental based careers and a variety of life skills  along the way.   

Between 1950 and 1980, around 500,000 trees were lost in Detroit to Dutch elm disease, urban expansion and attrition. During that same time, economic constraints prohibited the city from replacing those trees. 

 Detroit is an urban area - that makes trees a vital part of city living. Trees are key to our quality of life, public health and provide enumerable environmental benefits. 

The Greening of Detroit was founded with a single focus in mind – restore the city's tree infrastructure.