American Forests and DTE Energy Foundation host Deep Roots Detroit, a sustainability tour & tasting, exploring this resurgent city's innovative greenspace initiatives and advancing tree equity for all.
American Forests and sustainability partner DTE Energy Foundation will host Deep Roots Detroit, a sustainability tour and tasting, on Tuesday, June 4.
Designed to coincide with the Sustainable Brands 2019 gathering in Detroit, the fun and informative three-hour tour will showcase some of the Detroit’s most innovative green space initiatives, while highlighting American Forests’ efforts to bring the health, community, and financial benefits of increased tree canopy – what they call Tree Equity – to Detroit and other urban areas across America.
Among attendees of Deep Roots Detroit will be CEOs and sustainability leaders of some of the biggest, most influential corporations in the world. American Forests’ CEO, Jad Daley, hopes these leaders will leave the tour inspired to help bring more trees and green spaces to communities in need.
“The hard truth is that low-income neighborhoods have inadequate tree canopy in cities across America,” says Daley. “That means the people who most need the proven health and wealth benefits of urban trees aren’t getting them, and we must do better. Fortunately, inspired leaders in cities like Detroit are taking action for Tree Equity. That’s why we’re proud to host Deep Roots Detroit with DTE Energy Foundation and advance our partnership in Detroit as a model for the nation.”
Among the stops of Deep Roots Detroit tour is a Detroit neighborhood housing complex where American Forests and the City of Detroit are partnering to create a tree nursery and public park on reclaimed vacant land. It’s fitting that this dynamic green space will sit near the epicenter of the historic 1967 uprising that so shaped the history of this iconic American city.
Detroit influencers and innovators will share their vision of what a sustainable Detroit means as they participate in a neighborhood nursery demonstration on the site of this important community resource, and tour attendees will learn how this pioneering model for reclaiming vacant urban spaces will mean more tree canopy for Detroiters, a sustainable source of trees for the city, and rewarding careers for local residents.
Deep Roots Detroit will also explore the popular El Moore Lodge & Gardens, a sustainably rehabilitated apartment building and neighborhood green space that connects the local community more deeply to nature. The tour closes the day at Detroit Vineyards, an urban winery in the heart of the city. (Anyone for some Motor City Mead?). If attending SB19, you can hop the tour bus at 5:30, June 4 near the Atrium entrance of the Cobo Center. But you have sign up first. To sign up or learn more about the Deep Roots Detroit Sustainability Tour & Tasting go to: americanforests.org/deeproots.
About American Forests
Founded in 1875, American Forests is the nation’s oldest conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring America’s forests, but our work today is more critical than ever because forests are a natural climate solution. Since 1990 alone, we have planted over 60 million trees in forest restoration projects in all 50 U.S. states. We have also worked in dozens of cities across America, expanding tree canopy and making our communities more sustainable, beautiful, and livable. Together, these projects recover hundreds of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat, safeguard vital watersheds, absorb millions of tons of greenhouse gases and protect some of the most stunning landscapes in America.
Published May 31, 2019 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST