City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1304470
that with those networks in place, MFI will organi- cally be more diverse going forward and a model for other forestry leadership development programs. At a time when innovation and inclusion are seen as one and the same—that is to say, that when all lived experiences are brought to the table, the level of innovation will be higher—Diversity in MFI fulfilled an important role, and the com- munities these leaders serve will benefit. You asked me what my biggest hope is for the Forest Service's role in urban forestry in the U.S. My hope is that urban and community forestry ser- vices will be delivered equitably, that we stretch our resources and authorities to help communities meet the most basic and human-felt needs to live healthy lives. In 2020, the pandemic and climate change impacts have amplified disparities in urban heat islands and in canopy cover and showed how those gaps have over time increased the vulnera- bility of everyone, but in some communities more than others. As any good leader in 2020 would, I want to see an emphasis on access and equity. In the meantime, I am also a mother of two—a kindergartner and a fourth grader who are doing virtual learning 100% of the time; I'm working from home 100% of the time; and sometimes a nerf ball flies through my office. One day I was on a video call with partners and my daughter yelled down the hall that she couldn't find the Zoom passcode to get into virtual P.E. class. I believe we are all doing our best and it's good to be trans- parent about the challenges of juggling these new, global realities at home. For me, home is in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. with my family. Before signing off, I want to recognize the amazing team of urban forestry professionals who I've worked with for several years now. I have the honor and privilege of moving into a different role but we still function as a team. Together, we are, as I've said in past presentations, "making shift happen." From Rural Louisiana to the Nation's Capital When I started my federal career, my ultimate goal was to one day work at the White House. Nineteen years later, I've completed two rotations—Council of Environmental Quality (2016) and Office of Management and Budget (2020). I don't know what's next for me, but I know how I want to show up in this new, elevated platform of service. —Beattra Wilson 22 CityTREES