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 groups

Explore the groups

Each node is led by a curator working with a particular community.

Elementary Education

Dr. Jennie Warmouth
Two children explore a pine woodland, holding up a fallen branch.
Illustrative photograph · Exploring trees.
Duygu Güngör / Unsplash

Lynnwood, 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.

The workplan

A Tree Guardian Club for grades 2–5, connecting classroom learning with the trees around the school.

Planned outputs

Teacher curriculum, videos, and a gallery of student art.

Visit this node

Black Heritage

Dr. Alicia Odewale
A large oak tree spreads its branches over green grass.
Illustrative photograph · An old oak tree.
Wolfgang Hasselmann / Unsplash

Tulsa, 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.

The workplan

Preserve the Greenwood Legacy Tree through arborist care and historic recognition, while bringing its story to more people.

Planned outputs

Interpretive signage, media, art, and community storytelling.

Visit this node

Incarcerated People

Kelli Bush and Michael Zirpoli
A historical botanical illustration of a juniper branch and berries.
Botanical illustration · Juniperus communis, 1817–1820.
The New York Public Library / Unsplash

Washington

Tree science and storytelling inside Washington state prisons.

Sustainability in Prisons Project

Focal group: Incarcerated participants and corrections staff.

The workplan

Tree-themed presentations and workshops with National Geographic Explorers, drawing on science, art, culture, and memory.

Planned outputs

Workshop sessions, curated readings, media, and reflective writing prompts.

Visit this node

Indigenous Communities

Kelsey Pazera
A juniper tree growing in the rocky Utah landscape.
Illustrative photograph · A juniper in Canyonlands, Utah.
Zoshua Colah / Unsplash

White 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.

The workplan

The Youth Tree Wisdom Workshop and planning for the Bear Dance Planting Project connect cultural knowledge, young people, and tree stewardship.

Planned outputs

Community-defined youth learning and respectful documentation practices.

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Faith-Based Communities

Chloe Mills
Hands tend a small green seedling in soil.
Illustrative photograph · Hands tending a seedling.
Ana Jovanovski / Unsplash

Utah 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.

The workplan

A fall forum in Utah, tree planting projects, and tree episodes for the Holy Earth podcast.

Planned outputs

The workplan sets targets of 200 fall forum attendees, 1,000 trees planted, and six podcast episodes, alongside social media.

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Tattoo Artists

Mason Atlas
A delicate leafy branch tattoo on a person’s wrist.
Illustrative photograph · A botanical tattoo.
Sincerely Media / Unsplash

Salt Lake City, Utah

The personal stories behind tree tattoos.

The Hive SLC

Focal group: Tattoo clients and artists.

The workplan

Tree Story Tattoo Videos document clients and their tattoos. An artist meetup creates space to share ideas and stories.

Planned outputs

Videos and client interviews, a park event, and a framework others can use to collect tree and tattoo stories.

Visit this node

Impact Investors

Valentin Olivry
A dense green forest canopy seen from above.
Illustrative photograph · Forest canopy in New Zealand.
Tim Marshall / Unsplash

Sorenson Impact Institute

Learning how investment can support forests.

Sorenson Impact Institute

Focal group: Asset allocators interested in forests who have not yet allocated capital.

The workplan

An Investing in Our Trees webinar led by investors and fund managers introduces forest-based investment and stewardship.

Planned outputs

Webinar modules, background materials, recorded presentations, and website summaries, with the foundation for a broader course or community of practice.

Visit this node
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About the images

Cover images illustrate the themes of each node. They are not photographs of TOUTI participants or activities. Opening photograph: Micah Hallahan / Unsplash. Individual image credits appear with each group.

Each node is organized around a focal group, an active workplan, a curator, and project team.

  • 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

    Learn More

  • 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

    Learn More

  • 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

    Learn More

  • 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

    Learn More

  • 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

    Learn More

  • 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

    Learn More

  • 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

    Learn More