New Haven Independent

A Tree Grows in the Hill

by Melinda Tuhus | November 13, 2008 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Make that a dozen trees, thanks to Davon Myles and his band of a dozen buddies engaged in greening their neigh- borhood.

Myles (pictured miming his work with a shovel) is like a mail carrier — neither heat nor cold nor concrete sidewalks can keep him from his appointed rounds, planting trees in the Hill. He and his mates in the Hill Youth Action Team (HYAT) were the heroes of a video made by another youth group, the Color of Words, which debuted Wednesday night at the Courtland Wilson branch library.

Working in collaboration with Urban Resources Initiative (URI), the dozen teens in the group planted a dozen trees over the summer. As they wrote in the HYAT Update, “We chose to plant trees because it’s good for the environment. Trees provide shade, clean the air and can increase property values.”

They used a GPS (global positioning system) device to learn about the type and condition of the trees already growing on Hill streets. Then they decided where to plant new trees — maples, flowering pears, flowering cherries and others, Myles explained.

He said the usual routine was to dig a hole, add compost, position the tree so it was straight, then fill the hole and water the tree.

On some streets it was more challenging, he said — streets bordered by concrete sidewalks with no breaks. In that case, he said, “We have to break the concrete and then do the regular routine. Usually we just have to dig.”

Myles is a sophomore at Cross Scholars. He has a year-round job with URI through Youth@Work. He said it’s getting too cold to plant trees, so he’ll soon be doing something else for the winter, though he doesn’t know what yet.

In the video, URI executive director Colleen Murphy-Dunning described tree planting as “hard labor,” because the trees with their root balls weigh a few hundred pounds and are at least 15 feet tall . Anything smaller would be less likely to survive the tough conditions confronting urban street trees.

But Myles said the work wasn’t as hard as he expected. It got quicker and easier as he gained experience.

The members of HYAT went door to door in the summer, talking to residents about the benefits of street trees and getting commitments from those living near the newly planted trees to water them.

kai%20perry.jpg Kai Perry (pictured), who advises HYAT, described some of the other activities the teens have engaged in to improve their neighborhood: removing trash, surveying residents about substance abuse policy and prevention, registering voters, and tutoring younger kids.

The Color of Words is a program to teach youth how to tell their stories through video. (Click here for a previous articley.) Teens from this group made a video of the HYAT teens planting trees called “The Greening of the Hill.”

valerie%20rodriguez.jpg Valerie Rodriguez (pictured), a junior at Career High School and a resident of the Hill, is a member of the Color of Words. Before picking up her camera, she picked up a shovel and helped plant a tree. She said her boss, Magalis Martinez, figured that would give her a better understanding of what the HYAT kids were going through.

“And from there,” she said, “I had the experience to know, oh, this is hard work, and I know exactly what they’re doing, so I could actually help out with the video.” She said it gave her a better grasp of what to film.

Rodriguez also helped edit the 10-minute video. She hopes intends to attend film school after graduation.

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Comments

Posted by: robn | November 13, 2008 9:32 AM

New Haven needs more good solid citizens like Davon Myles and his group.

Posted by: Nan | November 13, 2008 10:13 AM

Kudos to the Hill Youth Action Team! What a great story and a what a good-hearted crew of workers!! I look forward to hearing updates about your work.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 13, 2008 10:51 AM

WHAAWHOO guys!! Great job keep up the good work

Posted by: David Streever | November 13, 2008 10:59 AM

Thanks to all of you! What great citizens.

Posted by: Pat | November 13, 2008 12:26 PM

First of all Thanks to Kai for the job she has done & thanks to those who recognize the great work of the HYAT. I for the record need to state that this program is housed at Casa Latina, 154 Minor St, which is a satelite program of Casa Otoñal. In essence, as we would say in the vernacular - I have the honor & privelige of signing their pay checks.
Patricia McCann Vissepó, Executive Director of Casa Otoñal & Casa Latina.
you go, young people!!!!

Posted by: Lance | November 13, 2008 1:57 PM

Thanks for giving this kid credit Melinda.

Tell him to go easy on the oak trees though. The last thing this country needs is more ACORNS.

Posted by: Leslie Blatteau | November 13, 2008 3:50 PM

I have not one but two reasons to be proud of this story. Not only is Davon a student at CT Scholars, the school where I work, but his workteam also planted a tree right in front of my house! Thanks HYAT. I would only like to add that we need more programs like this. We need more opportunities for kids to learn what actually goes into making a city look and feel great. On election day, I came home in the afternoon to find the lower branches of my newly planted tree purposefully vandalized and broken; a heartbreaker on an otherwise amazing day. The tree still stands so all is not lost. But what if the kids who did that could have had the chance to plant the tree rather than break it? Could their perspective on their neighborhood have been different? Some may say that not every kid can be like these kids who work so hard, but if they don't even get a chance to try, who are we to judge them?

Posted by: mary rosario | November 13, 2008 5:19 PM

Davon so glad to hear you are doing so well I always knew you would.Keep doing what you are doing much love from Ms.Mary.!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Kathy Hagearty | November 14, 2008 6:28 AM

What great work! I hope all the youth involved get recognized for their positive activity. I also hope we as a community - New Haven and CT make it a priority to fund such programs and think about hiring these young people in the future

Posted by: Josiah Brown | November 14, 2008 1:26 PM

Congratulations to the students and to others including Magalis M. of the Color of Words and colleagues at the Urban Resources Initiative and Casa Otoñal & Casa Latina.

Thanks, Leslie B. of CT Scholars Academy, for your comment above, combining both pride and reflective concern.

For the possible interest of the Hill Youth Action Team, here is a curriculum unit on "Flora and Fauna of the Hill Neighborhood":
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2005/5/05.05.05.x.html

The unit was prepared in a Teachers Institute seminar on "Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation" that Oswald Schmitz of the Yale faculty led. Other units from the seminar include those by such NHPS teachers and Institute Fellows as:

*Pedro Mendia-Landa, on "Cycles of Life in an Urban Habitat: Changes in Biodiversity"
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2005/5/05.05.09.x.html

*Jennifer Esty, on "Species Diversity in Ecosystems with Different Techniques of Land Management"
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2005/5/05.05.07.x.html

Posted by: Deb Stewart | November 17, 2008 1:01 PM

It is a priviledge to work with young leaders all across the city and throughout our state.
The HYAT team is one wonderful example of youth and adults working in partnership to enhance their own neighborhoods! Our young people deserve more recognition (and support!) for their contributions, abilities and commitment to making the world a better place for all of us! "Yes, we can!" as our new President Elect would say!

A Tree Grows in the Hill

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