Greetings,

This is an amazing time for us at The Greening of Detroit. As the city we serve transforms itself as a post-industrial urban center, we are poised and ready to participate in Detroit’s next chapter. We believe there is tremendous opportunity to create and inspire a new paradigm for Detroit — one that is green, clean, healthy and thriving.

The demand for our green industry expertise and the professional services we provide is growing rapidly. We are working hard to collaboratively address the needs of the Detroit community, including everything from unemployment to food sovereignty. In 2012 we increased our capacity and expanded our scope of work to continue elevating our urban leadership in green infrastructure, open space and productive land use.

All of our work at The Greening of Detroit adds economic value to the communities we serve, and focuses on using land in a way that improves quality of life, has environmental integrity, and promotes education and stewardship. But most of all, The Greening provides hope for the future of the city of Detroit.

Tree plantings and urban gardens bring people out of their houses to work together, build community and strengthen neighborhood relationships. Our workforce development program puts unemployed and under-employed Detroit residents to work in green industry jobs, providing trainees with marketable skills and employment opportunities. Detroit high school students make money for college and learn about the environment and ecology, broadening their worlds and inspiring their commitment to be good stewards of the earth.

The future is now. Despite the multitude of challenges facing the city of Detroit, we believe in the opportunities that lie ahead. The vacant land in Detroit is an opportunity for a new vision, new strategies and a new Detroit.
We know the work we do would not be possible without the generous support of our many volunteers, donors, supporters and community and corporate partners – and for that, we thank you. We ask that you stay the course with us as we continue our efforts to build the next Detroit, a thriving healthy and sustainable urban community.

Warmest Regards,

Reuben A. Munday
Chairman

Rebecca Salminen Witt
President