Get Involved!
For this program, either your Congregation can become involved, or you can individually volunteer as a Tree Planter.
Austin, TX
Austin Branches of Faith Workshop
Does your community suffer from summer heat? Are you lacking green spaces in your neighborhood? Your church can be part of the solution by joining our Branches of Faith project. Join this workshop to learn how to receive free trees and technical support on planting and maintenance so that your community will benefit from shade, air filtering, green space, beauty, and heat resilience for decades to come.
Saturday, May 30, 2026 | 9 am – 12 pm (CT)
Sabado, 30 de Mayo, 2026 | 9 am – 12 pm (CT)
Register Here
About the Austin Tree Equity Project
Tree equity means ensuring all communities have access to the health, environmental, and spiritual benefits that trees provide. In Austin, some neighborhoods face heat islands, poor air quality, and limited green space due to lower tree canopy coverage. The Branches of Faith and Renuevos de Esperanza projects are planting trees to reduce urban heat and strengthen protection from pollution as an expression of faith in action.
We’re building a coalition of congregations and community partners dedicated to increasing tree canopy, reducing urban heat, and centering the voices of frontline communities.
Through participatory planning workshops, we’re laying the groundwork for long-term tree equity efforts that address climate and environmental justice in communities that need it most.
The Austin Hub includes two tracks:
- English-speaking congregations through the Branches of Faith initiative
- Spanish-speaking congregations through the Renuevos de Esperanza initiative
What we are Building Together
Educational Resources: Faith-based materials grounding tree equity in Scripture, theology, and spiritual practice—available in both English and Spanish.
Ongoing Support: Regular hub coalition meetings, access to technical experts, connections with city partners, and continued resources to sustain this work beyond the grant period.
Participatory Planning Workshops: Community-driven workshops where local knowledge meets technical expertise to identify tree planting priorities and develop strategies that reflect Austin’s unique needs.
Tree Equity Action Plans: Collaborative plans created by hub members that outline where, how, and when tree planting will happen, ensuring an equitable distribution of benefits across participating communities.
Tree Planting Implementation: Funding for approved projects, plus technical support to ensure successful planting and long-term tree health.
Eligible Communities
We are prioritizing outreach and engagement with congregations located in communities identified as disadvantaged by the EPA’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. These are neighborhoods that experience disproportionate environmental burdens, including limited tree canopy, higher heat exposure, and reduced access to green spaces. See if your congregation is in an eligible area using the map below.
If your church does not show as eligible in the disadvantaged community map, but it is still interested in participating, you can contact the local site coordinator to discuss options for participation.
Explore Austin Churches and Heat Disparity
This map allows you to see the distribution of Austin church sites in relation to the levels of heat disparity across the city, showing which churches and their neighborhoods would most benefit from involvement in our urban tree planting. A translated map is available using the language switcher symbol in the upper right-hand corner of the map.
Timeline
Current Status: We are in Phase 1, actively recruiting congregations and building partnerships.
Phase #1
Coalition Building
(April 2025 – March 2026)
Building the Austin Tree Equity Hub Coalition, developing educational resources and workshop curricula, recruiting congregations, and establishing partnerships.
Phase #2
Participatory Planning
(March 2026 – December 2026)
Hosting participatory planning workshops where congregations and community members work together to identify priorities and create the Austin Tree Equity Action Plan.
Phase #3
Implementation
(January 2027 – March 2028)
Putting plans into action—planting trees, integrating tree equity education into congregational life, and establishing sustainable tree maintenance programs.
Congregations
What You’ll Receive:
- Faith-based educational and worship resources on tree equity and the spiritual significance of trees
- Technical support for site planning and tree care
- Opportunity to help shape the Austin Hub Tree Equity Action Plan
- Access to implementation funding
- Ongoing connection with other congregations and partners committed to this work
What’s Expected:
- Participation in participatory planning workshops (2 workshops in 2026)
- Regular attendance at Tree Equity Hub coalition meetings (4-6 per year)
- Commitment to implementing tree equity projects identified through the planning process
- Integration of tree equity principles into congregational teaching and mission
Tree-Planting Volunteers
Opportunities to participate in tree planting events, workshop support, and community engagement will be posted as they become available.
Additional Resources
- Tree Equity Score Map
- Theological Resources (Coming soon!)
- Liturgical Resources (Coming soon!)
Contact
Questions? Contact [email protected] for questions about our urban tree planting projects.
Partners
