Becky Schwartz
on the New
MFI Diversity
Mentoring Program
My name is Becky Schwartz and I most recently
worked for a little over three and a half years
as an urban forester with the Washington, DC
Urban Forestry Division. I'm a 2020 Municipal
Forestry Institute (MFI) graduate as well.
Last year, my wife Adriann and I were elated when
her hard work paid off and she was accepted into
her dream MBA program, at Harvard University.
After some discussion, we decided to move to
Cambridge together so she could start in the fall of
2021. This meant I would have to find a new job in
an unfamiliar city where I only had a few profes-
sional connections. That is what led me to apply
for the new MFI Diversity Mentoring Program. I
thought it would help me with my upcoming job
transition and to build connections and set profes-
sional goals for myself. I was fortunate to be selected
as a mentee in the first cohort of this program.
The program is flexible. After I completed a quick
and easy application, I was sent short bios of possible
mentors. Then, I ranked the mentors by the persons
I felt most personally and professionally compat-
ible with. Finally, program leadership selected my
mentor, Davey Resource Group Area Manager for
New York City Danielle Gift, based on my ranking.
In the beginning, Danielle and I decided how
often to meet and what to talk about. I also meet
quarterly with the larger mentee cohort and
with the program leaders to share feedback.
Danielle and I decided to meet for an hour about
once a month over a virtual video platform. First,
she helped me create a professional development
and job transition plan. After that, I asked for her
thoughts and experiences on a variety of organiza-
tional, cultural, and structural work issues and topics.
For example, as I've only worked in the public sector,
we discussed the pros and cons of working in the
private vs. public sector. I learned to be more open
to the private sector and the flexibility and sup-
portive professional development it can entail. >>
Becky Schwartz
18 CityTREES
