Sacramento, Calif. – The California ReLeaf Board of Directors is proud to welcome Cindy Blain as the new executive director. Ms. Blain will lead the organization in its efforts to empower grassroots organizations and build strategic partnerships that preserve, protect, and enhance California’s urban and community forests. She brings a wealth of expertise to California ReLeaf with over eight years of experience in environmental and urban forest nonprofits and a decade in marketing and operations.
“The staff and Board are very pleased to welcome Cindy” said Jim Clark, Chair of the California ReLeaf Board. “We look forward to working with her as our organization addresses critical urban forestry issues throughout the state and works with nontraditional urban forestry partners. This is a great way to celebrate our 25th anniversary.”
Most recently, Ms. Blain was the Research & Innovation Director at the Sacramento Tree Foundation, one of California’s largest urban forest nonprofits. In expanding the reach of urban forestry, she developed partnerships in urban planning, transportation, and public health. Blain orchestrated four highly acclaimed Greenprint Summit conferences designed to communicate urban forest benefits across sectors, with a recent emphasis on human health. In addition, she was responsible for leading several of Sacramento Tree Foundation’s cutting-edge grant projects related to public health, air quality and urban greening.
“I’m delighted to have the chance to work more closely with the community organizations dedicated to growing great urban forests in California. The work of these grassroots champions is incredibly important to the health and well-being of our expanding urban communities,” said Ms. Blain.
Based in Sacramento, California ReLeaf serves over 90 community-based groups and promotes alliances among grass-root organizations, individuals, industry, and government agencies that contribute to the livability of our cities and the protection of the environment by planting and caring for trees and by enhancing the state’s urban and community forests.