Node Focal Groups
Node focal groups
Our
communities.
Meet the people leading TOUTI’s seven nodes and see what they’re working on.
Meet the groupsExplore the groups
Each node is led by a curator working with a particular community.
Elementary Education
Dr. Jennie Warmouth
Elementary Education
Dr. Jennie Warmouth
Elementary EducationLynnwood, Washington
Students at Spruce Elementary learn about the trees in their schoolyard.
Second-grade teacher at Spruce Elementary
Focal group: Primary school students and teachers.
What’s taking shape
A Tree Guardian Club for grades 2–5, connecting classroom learning with the trees around the school.
What the node is creating
Teacher curriculum, videos, and a gallery of student art.
Black Heritage
Dr. Alicia Odewale
Black Heritage
Dr. Alicia Odewale
Black HeritageTulsa, Oklahoma
Preserving the Greenwood Legacy Tree and the Black history it carries.
Black Heritage Tree Project
Focal group: People connected to Black Heritage Trees in Tulsa.
What’s taking shape
Preserve the Greenwood Legacy Tree through arborist care and historic recognition, while bringing its story to more people.
What the node is creating
Interpretive signage, media, art, and community storytelling.
Incarcerated People
Kelli Bush and Michael Zirpoli
Incarcerated People
Kelli Bush and Michael Zirpoli
Incarcerated PeopleWashington
Tree science and storytelling inside Washington state prisons.
Sustainability in Prisons Project
Focal group: Incarcerated participants and corrections staff.
What’s taking shape
Tree-themed presentations and workshops with National Geographic Explorers, drawing on science, art, culture, and memory.
What the node is creating
Workshop sessions, curated readings, media, and reflective writing prompts.
Indigenous Communities
Kelsey Pazera
Indigenous Communities
Kelsey Pazera
Indigenous CommunitiesWhite Mesa, Utah
Tree planting and youth learning with the White Mesa Ute community.
In partnership with Indigenous Led and A’nuche
Focal group: White Mesa Ute community members.
What’s taking shape
The Youth Tree Wisdom Workshop and planning for the Bear Dance Planting Project connect cultural knowledge, young people, and tree stewardship.
What the node is creating
Community-defined youth learning and respectful documentation practices.
Faith-Based Communities
Chloe Mills
Faith-Based Communities
Chloe Mills
Faith-Based CommunitiesUtah and Latter-day Saint communities
Tree planting, a fall forum, and the Holy Earth podcast.
Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship
Focal group: Latter-day Saint communities.
What’s taking shape
A fall forum in Utah, tree planting projects, and tree episodes for the Holy Earth podcast.
What the node is creating
The workplan sets targets of 200 fall forum attendees, 1,000 trees planted, and six podcast episodes, alongside social media.
Tattoo Artists
Mason Atlas
Tattoo Artists
Mason Atlas
Tattoo ArtistsSalt Lake City, Utah
The personal stories behind tree tattoos.
The Hive SLC
Focal group: Tattoo clients and artists.
What’s taking shape
Tree Story Tattoo Videos document clients and their tattoos. An artist meetup creates space to share ideas and stories.
What the node is creating
Videos and client interviews, a park event, and a framework others can use to collect tree and tattoo stories.
Impact Investors
Valentin Olivry
Impact Investors
Valentin Olivry
Impact InvestorsSorenson Impact Institute
Learning how investment can support forests.
Sorenson Impact Institute
Focal group: Asset allocators interested in forests who have not yet allocated capital.
What’s taking shape
An Investing in Our Trees webinar led by investors and fund managers introduces forest-based investment and stewardship.
What the node is creating
Webinar modules, background materials, recorded presentations, and website summaries, with the foundation for a broader course or community of practice.
Each node is organized around a focal group, an active workplan, a curator, and project team.
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Focal group: Primary school students and teachers
Curator: Dr. Jennie Warmouth, second-grade teacher
Workplan: Tree Guardian Club for grades 2 to 5
Outcomes: Teacher curriculum, videos, and student art gallery
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Focal group: People connected to Black Heritage Trees in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Curator: Dr. Alicia Odewale, Black Heritage Tree Project
Workplan: Preserve and elevate the Greenwood Legacy Tree through arborist care and historic recognition
Outcomes: Signage, media, art, and storytelling
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Focal group: Incarcerated participants and corrections staff in Washington
Curators: Kelli Bush, Michael Zirpoli, and the Sustainability in Prisons Project
Workplan: Tree-themed presentations inside state prisons by NGS Explorers
Outcomes: Workshop sessions, curated readings, media, and reflective writing prompts
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Curator/partners: Kelsey Pazera, Indigenous-led, and A'nuche
Focal group: White Mesa Ute community members
Workplan: Youth Tree Wisdom Workshop and planning for the Bear Dance Planting Project
Outcomes: Community-defined youth learning and respectful documentation practices
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Focal group: Latter-day Saint (LDS) communities
Curator: Chloe Mills and LDS Earth Stewardship
Workplan: Fall forum in Utah, tree plantings, and tree episodes for the LDS “Holy Earth” podcast
Outcomes: 200 fall forum attendees, 1,000 trees planted, six podcast episodes, and social media
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Focal group: Tattoo clients and artists
Curator: Mason Atlas, The Hive SLC
Workplan: Tree Story Tattoo Videos documenting clients with tree tattoos, plus a tattoo artist meetup
Outcomes: Videos and client interviews, a park event, and a replicable framework for collecting tree/tattoo stories
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Curator/partners: Valentin Olivry, Sorenson Impact Institute
Focal group: Asset allocators interested in forests who have not yet allocated capital
Workplan: Investing in Our Trees webinar led by investors and fund managers
Outcomes: Webinar modules, background materials, recorded presentations, website summaries, and the foundation for a broader course or community of practice