From the MFI Teaching Cadre
This was the 15th year of SMA's proud MFI tradition. The
class of 2020 had an international flavour, with partici-
pants and teaching cadre members representing Canada,
Sweden, and many regions of the U.S. As Jean describes
so eloquently in her essay, the emphasis was on diver-
sity and inclusion; a scholarship provided by Southern
University and the USDA Forest Service assisted 19 par-
ticipants from diverse cultural backgrounds in attending.
The MFI curriculum is built around three interconnected
foundations: personal growth, professional growth, and
program growth. These foundations are strengthened
through lessons in effective communication. During our
week together we shared confidences; we stocked our
collective toolbox with proven methods to think and plan
strategically; we studied valuable techniques to empower
others and to help build and lead strong teams; and we
nurtured our creative process to help ignite new ideas.
Perhaps most important, we came home with the belief
that, as effective leaders, we can be the change we want
to see in our urban and community forestry programs.
One special time that we shared was our traditional
evening "fireside talk," when we gathered mid-week
with an invited guest speaker who shared her leader-
ship story with us. USDA Forest Service National Urban
Forestry Program Manager Beattra Wilson demonstrated
to us the importance of being confident, of trusting in
our strength and in our ability to make wise choices, and
of appreciating those leaders in our lives—our mentors—
who take the time to selflessly serve other people.
We are proud of each one of the par-
ticipants of MFI 2020.
—John McNeil, MFI 2020 Teaching Cadre Member
16 CityTREES
A subset of the 2020 MFI Teaching Cadre, l to r: Paul Ries, Walt Warriner, Cecil
Konijnendijk, John McNeil, and Michelle Cole. Photo Courtesy Walt Warriner
