Kate Sessions Commitment (KSC) was formed in early 2019 to increase investments in “healthy trees for healthy neighborhoods,” inspired by Kate Sessions’ commitment to plant trees in Balboa Park, introduce trees from around the world, and shape our urban landscapes. Recently, more activities and accomplishments focus on monitoring, community support, and youth engagement.
In 2025-26, KSC shifted to providing professional experiences for young graduates in environmental science, geography, sustainability and urban studies. Three interns were added from San Diego State University.
- Young professionals organized and participated in internal strategic planning, and three focus program areas were selected: Tree protection and celebration, Young tree care, and Youth engagement. They reviewed accomplishments, local opportunities and barriers, internal strengths and weaknesses, and professional interests.
- Team worked with community groups to increase engagement in the City of San Diego’s “Ready, Set, Grow SD” project that features the establishment of 5,000 trees in six underserved communities.
- Tree condition surveys conducted for projects that were planted 4 to 8 years ago, identifying site factors associated with higher survival, diameter, height and crown vigor.
- Networking, social media and advocacy efforts increased. Mapping resources expanded for each project. Additional attention to leadership, project management, technical support, and intergenerational coaching.
In 2024-25, eight interns were recruited and started with a four-unit orientation. They joined other young professionals and experienced community members on “Kate’s team!”
- Conducted tree condition surveys of 400 trees planted in 2016 and 250 trees planted in 2020, reporting tree health, height and dbh, and differences by species, street, adjacent land use, and other factors. View reports.
- Expanded support for communities to participate in the City of San Diego’s $10 million urban forestry grant, Ready, Set, Grow San Diego in Otay Mesa-Nestor and Skyline-Paradise Hills. Worked with Southbay Sustainable Communities, SD Urban Sustainable Coalition and others to “walk the streets” to review planting locations, participate in information meetings and attend Community Forest Advisory Board meetings.
- Worked with community members to nominate Heritage Trees, set up a “Tree Gallery” to celebrate trees, and pilot a “community science” project for mapping and collecting condition information on trees in parking lots.
- Coordinated project leadership and implementation in weekly meetings (zoom), assessed local urban forestry needs and Kate Sessions’ capacities, and identified four program areas for 2025-26: tree protection, young tree care, and youth engagement, supported by communications and GIS projects.
In 2023-24, ten interns and many community members worked together on urban forestry issues, with intergenerational coaching and projects with professional-level experiences.
- Explored ways to increase trees in parking lots, prepared video and flyers for watering institutional trees (English and Spanish), and drew attention to tree losses and tree protection.
- Expanded tree mapping applications using land cover types, land uses, census and health data, street tree inventories, and more.
- Worked with community groups to further understand tree equity, co-instruct in Resident Leadership Academies (Encanto and Linda Vista), and introduce tree canopy and street tree inventory maps.
- Incorporated as a non-profit corporation eligible for tax-exempt contributions.
- Information about 2024-2025 intern opportunities.
In the first four years, KSC evolved as a movement and advocacy group with these accomplishments and others:
- Supported career experiences for ten college seniors at SDSU and CSU-San Marcos that majored in geography, environmental studies, sustainability, or urban planning
- Set up and maintained website https://katestrees.org/, Instagram #katestrees and Facebook page
- Developed logo embedded with our mission: Canopy. Community. Climate Action.
- Worked with retail and wholesale nurseries to stock quality, locally-suitable 5-gallon trees, and with organizations to invite members to grow trees in front- and back-yards
- Participated in local council and committee meetings to offer comments on Climate Action plans, implementation, budgets, tree planting and care, and tree protection
- Participated in climate action, environmental, urban forestry, community, gardening, faith and other local groups