Original founders Sarah Lord, Jill Jonnes, Jane Brown, Amanda Cunningham, Barbara Shea, and Zoe Clarkwest came together around a kitchen table and sought out on the mission to transform Baltimore communities through trees. These women, all Baltimore natives and longtime environmental stewards, enacted a plan that led to the formation of Baltimore Tree Trust. Together with volunteers from across the community, BTT began planting in the neighborhood of McElderry Park and actively re-greening East Baltimore’s Harris Creek Watershed. 

Through connecting with neighborhood residents, local partners, and community groups, our organization doubled the number of trees across the watershed, growing the city canopy one tree at a time. This initial planting project served as the base for our deep-rooted community-engaged plantings across Baltimore neighborhoods while bringing awareness to the importance of our urban forestry initiatives.

BTT transitioned from a volunteer-based organization to Baltimore’s premier city-wide tree planting operations. With the support of the Baltimore City Department of Forestry and its Tree Baltimore program, BTT began planting street trees and green spaces on a neighborhood scale, helping to re-green blocks and connect the city’s growing, but still inequitable, tree canopy. BTT’s team of Neighborhood Foresters began removing impervious surfaces to create new and expanded tree wells, while planting over 1,000 trees seasonally. This transformative period marked significant organizational growth as BTT strengthened its partnership with Tree Baltimore, saving $200-300K annually while ensuring access to quality tree stock. 

The organization launched the 6-week Urban Roots Apprenticeship program for returning citizens and expanded it into comprehensive career pathway initiatives that allowed for more training and skill development for placement at local employment partners. Operational improvements included shifting from bare-root planting methods to more effective techniques and enhancing community communication strategies.

BTT invested in its workforce by converting contractors into full-time employees, growing from 4 team members to over 10 staff. The organization expanded operations from East Baltimore to serve the entire city. It also formed research partnerships with the Baltimore Ecosystem Study and the Forest Service to support its evidence-based approach to urban forestry.

BTT has experienced unprecedented growth and impact across Baltimore’s communities. Strategic investments from the France-Merrick Foundation enabled purchasing specialized equipment, such as a stump grinder and concrete saw, allowing BTT to provide comprehensive site preparation services. The organization now employs a paid crew of 24 neighborhood foresters who receive year-round tree planting and care training, with dedicated efforts toward building careers within the green economy. This expanded workforce has allowed BTT to plant over 3,000 trees annually while providing two-year warranty care for over 6,000 trees.

Another significant milestone was establishing the Park Heights Nursery, a two-acre facility that transformed a vacant lot into an active community space, growing over 2,800 seedlings and young trees while hosting community events. BTT has invested in staff development for continuous learning and thought leadership, with team members attending and presenting at national conferences, including the Partners in Community Forestry Conference.