Connecting San Franciscans to Nature and Each Other

Connecting San Franciscans to Nature and Each Other

It’s a warm spring day in the city. Lisa Chen is walking home with her daughters, Evelyn and Amy, after picking them up from school. As the girls skip ahead arm-in-arm, Lisa watches with a soft smile on her face. The birds sing, bees hop from flower to flower in the sidewalk gardens, and the lush tree canopy above rustles as a cool breeze blows. The cars slowly pass by Duboce Park, and Lisa grins at a driver as he extends a friendly wave.

As they turn on the next block, the girls sprint toward their home to drop off their backpacks. They return to enjoy the sunny afternoon and help their mom tend to the sidewalk garden they helped install as volunteers with Friends of the Urban Forest. They laugh together as they water the vibrant flowers and watch their neighbors play in the slow street. Lisa feels a sense of pride seeing the trees and gardens her family planted flourish in the community.

Since our founding in 1981, it has been our mission to connect San Franciscans to nature and each other. Like you, San Francisco is Lisa’s home. She was born and raised in Outer Richmond, has a deep connection to her roots, and feels overjoyed to be growing her own family in the city where she was once a kid.

In the summer of 2017, we met Lisa as a first-time volunteer. At that time, her daughters were growing up, becoming more independent, and like many kids living in urban areas, experiencing signs of stress and anxiety. While living in a big city is unique and enriching, it is not without its flaws. The constant stimulation, commotion, and noise began to affect Evelyn and Amy. As all mothers would, Lisa grew concerned about her children’s well-being. So, she created a vision of building a greener, quieter community for them and other kids who might be feeling the same way. When she discovered Friends of the Urban Forest, she knew that engaging in our urban greening volunteering sessions would be a great solution.

Peaceful tree canopies and colorful sidewalk gardens beautify neighborhoods and community planting events strengthen bonds and build civic and self-pride. This greater sense of community and connection to nature is scientifically proven to alleviate feelings of stress or anxiety, reduce loneliness, and increase well-being. And as a bonus, it makes our neighborhoods and streets safer, quieter, greener, and more inclusive for all.

Volunteering with us has allowed Lisa to craft her vision of a tranquil community, and has provided an opportunity for her daughters to build compassion and connect with the people and nature around them. Since 2019, Lisa and her family have planted over 100 trees and 25 sidewalk gardens in neighborhoods across the city—beautifying neighborhoods, improving safety, reducing noise, improving well-being, and building community!

Lisa tells us that her journey as a volunteer has had a lasting positive impact on her and her family’s lives. She sees the direct affect her volunteering has had on the community and her girls, who love walking home from school under the tall tree canopies where they express feeling at ease. Their volunteer sessions have become a family tradition, as the Chens now help plant trees and gardens every month with their neighbors. Evelyn and Amy tell us that they hope to keep the tradition alive when they have their own children one day.

Growing San Francisco’s urban forest is one of the most effective actions we can take to tackle the daily stresses of urbanization on our community and ensure well-being and lasting benefits for families, neighbors, the environment, and future generations. We’re looking for more volunteers like Lisa and her family to get their hands in the dirt, plant trees, and build sidewalk gardens alongside their neighbors. Just one volunteer session makes a difference. Together, we can revitalize San Francisco’s urban forest, build community, improve well-being, and create a shared vision of a beautiful, nature-rich home. Will you join us?