PA IPL

Earlier this month, NAACP Blair County members and PAIPL volunteers and supporters gathered at Eastern Light Cemetery under the shade of old oak trees to talk about the Cemetery history and learn about tree equity and distribution opportunities in the Altoona area.

Eastern Light Cemetery is a Black cemetery founded in 1864 that houses the remains of 6 Black Union soldiers, in addition to the first Black graduate of Altoona High School and the relatives of a prominent Blair County Underground Railroad conductor. Eastern Light has been lovingly rehabilitated and maintained; young trees still with tubes and stakes will someday add their deep shade to this sacred place.

Many hands make light work!

Earlier this month, our Sacred Grounds participants came together at The Hill Wilmington for a site prep workshop, led by National Wildlife Federation - Mid-Atlantic Regional Center ! We learned how to sheet mulch to convert a grassy lawn into a beautiful native pollinator garden, which we’ll be planting this fall! Super grateful for the support from the Delaware Center for Horticulture and the Delaware Nature Society's Trail Ambassadors!

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK!

Curious about Geothermal? Did you know federal incentives are still available? Dig into it with PA IPL, Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light, and GreenerU! Join us for a webinar on June 23rd at 7 pm to explore the benefits of geothermal heat pumps for houses of worship.

Learn about geothermal technology & hear from two congregations about their experience with exploring & implementing geothermal for their communities. Register here; https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/myEjpQCnSMyEkFX4TJxTHg

Today, we are announcing the launch of our Tree2Table educational cohort application!
Roots, Branches, and Hands Tree2Table Education Cohort is a 12 month commitment. It begins with a three month learning community followed by 9 months of project and peer-to-peer support that is designed specifically for congregations and community groups that are looking to take their FIRST or NEXT community tree project step. We hope to convene community representative(s) in our cohort to support community tree planting or tree distribution projects. This cohort is open to all levels of tree experience. The deadline to apply is August 1st, and the cohort launches later in August.
Learn more and apply here! https://forms.gle/pkdgnhtkRGRg79baA

Recently our SWPA Organizer and Outreach Coordinator, Ben Knab-DiNardo, organized a gathering with faith and environmental leaders alongside our Executive Director, K Ruth. Together we shared laments, hopes, and possibilities for environmental justice and equity work in relation to trees.

Our program Roots, Branches, and Hands, seeks to be responsive to the tree equity needs, nuances, and priorities of each specific SWPA community. We are excited to co-create tree equity programming with our neighbors and partners!

Sr Kari and Helga Stokes offered reflections as we opened and closed to provide spiritual grounding. Helga shared a Baha’i teaching that “We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it.” Sr Kari noted as we closed this space together that sometimes the conversation itself is the prayer.

Whether you are inspired by trees, by faith, or the act of sacred gathering, this network is a home for you! Learn more and get involved in Roots, Branches, & Hands through our webpage; https://paipl.us/roots-branches-hands/

We are excited to announce that we’re launching our tree order form for Roots, Branches, & Hands today! Submit your order anytime now through July 15th to host a distribution this fall.

Roots, Branches, & Hands is designed to empower community tree leaders. For more information about how this process works, check out our volunteer guide. This guide covers much of the information that you’ll need to know including eligibility, how to request, the link to the order form, and more.

Check out the volunteer guide here; https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQHbLlRf7QwgqRuaqRBbvVobPOA4ld6sWo4KNgZYEK4J9x37X3BHrLc0yblxoV1NxDTOFs54YjY6ohJ/pub

We’re launching our tree order form and volunteer guide next Monday, June 8th. Come to our information session led by our tree program manager Dominique London on Friday June 5th at noon for more information about the process and for early access to the form. Register here; https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/0MPukfOwQQCTei7JSQs3IA.

The deadline to request trees is July 15th. You can also join our office hours on Thursday June 11th from 6-7pm or Friday July 10th from 12-1pm to ask questions! Links to register are here; https://linktr.ee/paipl

Happening tomorrow! Register now; https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9R8ZyrJrRk206vUgLPturg

Join us on Tuesday, June 2nd, from 7-8pm on zoom for a journey deep into the heart of our second Soul-scape of the year: Earth's Waters. Exploring this topic through music, prayer, meditation, and small group discussion, we invite you to awaken to the ancient Earth-consciousness that resides with us all, that we can access at any time. Register here; https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9R8ZyrJrRk206vUgLPturg

Curious about Geothermal? Did you know federal incentives are still available? Dig into it with PA IPL, Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light, and GreenerU! Join us for a webinar on June 23rd at 7 pm to explore the benefits of geothermal heat pumps for houses of worship.

Learn about geothermal technology & hear from two congregations about their experience with exploring & implementing geothermal for their communities. Register here; https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/myEjpQCnSMyEkFX4TJxTHg