The Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire operates an urban forestry program in San Bernardino that addresses issues like poor student achievement, youth violence, unemployment, and advocating for trees and parks. The program trains at-risk youth and young adults in vocational tree care to provide psycho-social benefits to the youth while integrating urban forestry into the city's social services as a way to care for trees and the community.

1. The Southern California Mountains Foundation
Urban Conservation Corps of
the Inland Empire (UCC)
A State Certified Conservation Corps
Helping to Improve the Lives of Youth and the Environment

2. The Urban Conservation Corps
Urban Forestry Program operates
in the City of Bernardino

3. The program is designed to address
multiple interconnecting problems in
the urban community

4. From poor student achievement to
youth violence to unemployment to
advocating for trees and parks

5. To develop this type of urban forestry
program, we developed a new paradigm.
One that looks at Urban Forestry…

6. ....as a Social Value

7. “Managing Trees to develop
Positive Youth”

8. With Urban Forestry as a Social Value, we can
engage a broader group of stakeholders and
funders to fund urban forestry programs with
both a social and environmental context

9. For example, we receive funds from HUD to train
youth and young adult residents in public housing
about tree care and planting

10. Public Housing Young Adults Learning About Tree Care

11. Another example, we receive funds from the California
Gang, Intervention, Prevention (CAL GRIP) state funded
program to train at risk youth and at risk young adults in
vocational training in landscaping, urban forestry and parks
maintenance
Before……
After……

12. Gang Prevention & Early Intervention
Vocational Tree Care Training

13. When Urban Forestry is
Defined as a Social Value
Who Benefits?

14. TREES
Because they become integrated into the social service system
of a city and become part of a solution to a problem

15. YOUTH
Because of the Psycho-Social Benefits they get
from managing trees and learning new skills

16. COMMUNITY
Because more trees and youth are cared for in the
community