Event: May General Meeting

Speaker: Tora Rocha

Topic: Fostering Appreciation of Our Local Ecosystems

Date: Thursday May 25, 2023 • 7 p.m.

Location: Shepard Garden & Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento

Tora Rocha is one of two co-founders of the “Pollinator Posse” which creates pollinator-friendly landscaping and fosters appreciation of local ecosystems through outreach and education. With eco-friendly landscape techniques at the heart of their work, they teach respect for the creatures which keep Northern California blooming. They envision a day when life-enhancing green spaces will grace every corner of Northern California and the world.

Tora was the parks supervisor at the City of Oakland for many years, responsible for all the landscaping on public facilities in the district. While working at the Gardens of Lake Merritt she realized that her own landscaping was adversely affecting the pollinators in the Gardens and planted 12,000 pollinator-friendly plants. She also installed AirBeeNBee Houses at the Gardens, showing children how to make bee condos or bee hotels for native bees.

This meeting is free and open to the public.

Event: April General Meeting

Speaker: Anne Fenkner

Topic: More Than Nice: Our Tree Rx

Date: Thursday, April 27, 2023 • 7 p.m.

Location: Shepard Garden & Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento

Anne Fenkner, a project developer with the Davey Resource Group, is responsible for the sales and business development of urban forestry related projects in the western United States. She presents twenty years of experience in community engagement in urban forestry.

Anne considers herself a practitioner of green infrastructure and believes healthy trees and a robust urban forest play a significant role in our health, well-being and prosperity. She is proud to represent urban forestry and is delighted to work with local communities to help them understand the value and extended benefits of a healthy urban forest.

This meeting is free and open to the public.