Get Involved!
For this program, your Congregation can become involved, or you can individually volunteer as a Tree Planter.
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville Tree Planting Project
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.
We want all communities to have access to the environmental, spiritual, and health benefits that trees provide. In Nashville, some neighborhoods are heat islands, with poor air quality and limited green space due to low tree canopy coverage. The Branches of Faith project engages churches to plant trees in these areas to reduce this urban heat effect in under-canopied neighborhoods as an expression of Biblical faith.
Through participatory planning workshops, we’re laying the groundwork for long-term tree equity efforts. Join us to restore tree canopy and provide the mental, physical, and spiritual health benefits of trees!
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: Access to technical experts, tree planting and maintenance guidance, and connections with local staff and city partners.
Participatory Planning Workshops: Community-driven workshops where local knowledge meets technical expertise to identify tree planting priorities and develop strategies that reflect Baltimore’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:
Explore Nashville Churches and Heat Disparity
This map allows you to see the distribution of Nashville 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.
Timeline
Current Status: We are in Phase 1, actively recruiting congregations and building partnerships.
Phase #1
Coalition Building
(April – December 2026)
Building the Nashville Tree Equity Hub Coalition, developing educational resources and workshop curricula, recruiting congregations, and establishing partnerships.
Phase #2
Participatory Planning
(January – September 2027)
Hosting participatory planning workshops and meetings where congregations and community members work together to identify priorities and create the Nashville Tree Equity Action Plan.
Phase #3
Implementation
(October 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 as a Ministry Partner:
- Free trees, training and resources to plant and care for trees with your faith community.
- Approved tree planting and care plan developed in coordination with our technical partner.
- Funds for tools, supplies, and tree maintenance.
- Support to run a tree planting event
- $1,500 Community Engagement Stipend.
What’s Expected from Your Ministry:
- Decide where trees will be planted, on church grounds or in a priority area neighborhood.
- Participate in 2 workshops (2027)
- Help develop a tree planting and care plan (2027)
- Host a Planting Day or tree giveaway (fall 2027/winter 2028)
- Care for the trees by watering regularly, etc) after they are planted.
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 Nashville tree planting project.
Partners
