Our History
Speaking for the trees since 1989
Past Board Members Years of Service:
Mario Becerra: 2019-2021
Gail Church: 2004-2014
Jim Clark: 2009-2015
Haydi Danielson: 2014-2019
Lisa DeCarlo: 2013-2015
Rose Epperson: 2009-2018
José González: 2015-2017
Ruben Green: 2013-2016
Nancy Hughes: 2005-2007
Tracy Lesperance: 2012-2015
Rick Matthews: 2004-2009
Chuck Mills: 2004-2010
Cindy Montanez: 2016-2018
Amelia Oliver: 2007-2013
Matt Ritter: 2011-2016
Teresa Villegas: 2005-2011
Since 1989
“1989 was a year of great historical significance. The Berlin Wall fell. Students stood in protest in China’s Tiananmen Square. The Loma Prieta earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay Area. The Exxon Valdez spilled 240,000 barrels of crude oil along the Alaskan shoreline. The world was abuzz with change and concern.
That year, long-time urban forestry and parks advocate Isabel Wade saw an opportunity for change within California’s communities. She brought the idea for a statewide urban forestry program called California ReLeaf to the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national land-conservation organization. While small in comparison to most memorable events of 1989, Wade’s idea has gone on to make a big difference for urban forestry efforts in California…”
…Continue reading article in our newsletter archives (story starts on page 5).
History and Milestones
1989-1999
April 29, 1989 – Arbor Day – California ReLeaf is born, launched as a program of The Trust for Public Land.
1990
Selected by the State of California to serve as the State’s Volunteer & Partnership Coordinator for Urban Forestry.
1991
California ReLeaf Network created with 10 members: East Bay ReLeaf, Friends of the Urban Forest, Marin ReLeaf, Peninsula ReLeaf, People for Trees, Sacramento Tree Foundation, Sonoma County ReLeaf, Tree Fresno, TreePeople, and Tree Society of Orange County.
Genni Cross becomes Director.
1992
Supports 53 urban forestry projects with America the Beautiful Act funding ($253,000).
1993
First Statewide Meeting of the ReLeaf Network is held in Mill Valley – 32 Network groups attending.
1994 – 2000
204 tree-planting projects plant over 13,300 trees.
ReLeaf Network grows to 63 organizations.
September 21, 1999
Governor Gray Davis signs the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act (Prop 12), which included $10 million for tree planting projects.
2000-2009
2000
Martha Ozonoff becomes Executive Director.
March 7, 2000.
California voters approve the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act.
2001
Advocates for the restoration of $10 million in urban forestry funding in AB 1602 (Keeley), which will be signed by Governor Davis and become Proposition 40.
2002
Co-hosts the California Urban Forest Conference in Visalia with the California Urban Forests Council.
2003
Leaves the Trust for Public Land and becomes an affiliate of the National Tree Trust.
2004
Incorporates as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.
November 7, 2006
California voters pass Proposition 84 – contains $20 million for urban forestry.
2008
Sponsors AB 2045 (De La Torre) to update the 1978 Urban Forestry Act.
Co-hosts the Community Tree Leadership Forum with the Alliance for Community Trees in Santa Cruz and Pomona.
2009
Administers $6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding.
2010-2019
2010
Joe Liszewski becomes Executive Director.
2011
California Arbor Week is established under Assembly Concurrent Resolution ACR 10 (Dickinson).
Awarded $150,000 for environmental education sub-grants from the Environmental Protection Agency – the sole recipient for the Region IX.
2012
Ensures non-profits are eligible recipients for all cap-and-trade funds in AB 1532 (Perez).
California ReLeaf launches its annual California Arbor Week Poster Contest for California youth.
2013
Leads a coalition of land trusts in protecting and revising the EEMP.
2014
Secures $17.8 million in cap-and-trade auction revenues for CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program in the 2014-15 State Budget.
ReLeaf Network grows to 91 organizations.
California ReLeaf hosts its 25-year reunion in San Jose.
Cindy Blain becomes Executive Director.
December 7, 2014
California ReLeaf celebrates its 25th anniversary. The milestone anniversary was celebrated by organizing a California ReLeaf Tree Team to participate in the California International Marathon.
2015
California ReLeaf moves to its new office location at 2115 J Street.
2016
California ReLeaf hosts The Power of Trees Building Resilient Communities Network Retreat in partnership with the California Urban and Community Forests Conference in Los Angeles.
Reunion Recap
In October 2014, California ReLeaf hosted a 25th Anniversary Reunion Party to celebrate and share all the hard work and good memories that have made the ReLeaf Network the wonderful, active community it is today.