Buy-in Case Study:

New Haven, CT

How New Haven, CT Cultivated Green Skills with a Youth and Re-entry Program for Green Infrastructure

Region	Northeast	Principle	Broadcast
City	New Haven, CT	Best Practice	Build diverse coalitions that help broaden your reach
Population	140,000
Partners	Yale School of the Environment, New Haven Department of Parks & Trees, Emerge CT, Common Ground High School, The Sound School

Project Description

The GreenSkills program, initiated by the Yale Institute of the Environment’s Urban Resources Initiative (URI) in 2007, addresses urban, environmental and social needs by providing green jobs to high school students and formerly incarcerated adults in New Haven, CT. Partnering with the New Haven Department of Parks & Trees, the program offers free tree planting services to residents, fostering environmental stewardship and improving the city’s tree canopy. To date, GreenSkills crews have planted over 7,000 trees across New Haven, connecting participants to their community and environment while equipping them with valuable skills.

An Urban Resources Initiative crew during a tree planting.

Best Practices in Action

GreenSkills exemplifies the best practice of building diverse coalitions by partnering with local organizations, schools and government departments to involve underrepresented groups in green infrastructure. The program collaborates with Emerge CT, Common Ground High School and The Sound School to recruit participants, ensuring a wide reach across various New Haven communities. This coalition approach broadens the program’s impact, strengthens community ties and fosters inclusive environmental stewardship. The collaborative model also increases community buy-in because more members of their community are receiving benefits from the program. It is not just about receiving a tree, it is also meaningful to community members that their family members are receiving job training, for example.

Key Learnings

Inclusive partnerships

Collaborating with diverse organizations broadens participation and enhances program reach.

Workforce development has long-term impacts

Providing green jobs to marginalized groups helps build skills and fosters long-term connections to the community.

Community engagement

Offering tangible benefits, like free tree planting, encourages widespread community involvement and support.

Other Recommendations

Activate community and public relations.

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