Eagle Eye Institute (EEI) and the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition coordinated a statewide Massachusetts Arbor Day Celebration that mobilized urban youth to take action to combat global warming. YouthBuild students in 13 cities across Massachusetts planted trees in their communities on Arbor Day, April 27, 2007. Fall River YouthBuild students had to postpone their event to April 30th, due to torrential rain on the 27th. The event provided hands-on experience for these students while helping them to take action to improve their community’s health. The statewide effort was funded in part by an Urban Forestry Challenge grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. YouthBuild is a ten-month construction skills training curriculum for men and women ages 16-24 who have not completed high school run by the Old Colony YMCA  For more information about the program, contact Director Terry Moran at 508-678-1975. For more information about the Fall River Street Tree Planting program, contact Mary Ann Wordell at 508-679-8887.
 

(Top row, left) YouthBuild Students listen as Richard Kitchen, Director of Fall River Parks & Cemeteries, gives them instructions on the basics of tree planting. (Top row, center) Jimmy Irizarry and Kaimari Mills cross their shovels before beginning digging. (Top row, right) Fall River Cemetery and Tree Department employeeTom Eaton begins cutting the wire on the tree ball as Mr. Kitchen shows students how to measure the proper depth for planting. (Bottom row, left) Kyle Rose, Joe Charron, Ryan DeOliveira and Louis Gonzalez stand next to a tree they planted. (Bottom row, center) Ryan DeOliveira, Joe Charron, Tasha Medeiros, Kaimari Mills and Emelson Leonirio are proud of their work. (Bottom row, right) Antonio Almeida, Emelson Leonirio and Kaimari Mills stand next to a tree that they planted.