CANOPY BLOG

San Mateo County Libraries Partner with Canopy for Climate Education and Community Engagement

By Canopy Team on August 12, 2024

Bilingual tree walk at Bell Street Park in East Palo Alto

San Mateo County, CA — Thanks to a new grant from the Sustainable California Libraries program, San Mateo County Libraries are excited to announce a new partnership with Canopy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to urban forestry. This collaboration will bring a series of bilingual workshops, community listening sessions, and wellness/tree walks to five different library branches, enhancing local climate education and engagement.

Over the next year, SMCL and Canopy will provide the following activities at these library branches:

• Bilingual Wellness/Tree Walks: Two walks at North Fair Oaks Library and two walks at East Palo Alto Library, promoting community health and environmental awareness.
• Community Listening Sessions: One session at East Palo Alto Library and one at Millbrae Library, providing platforms for community voices and input on environmental issues.
• Bilingual Workshops: Four workshops on topics such as tree planting, tree care, and fruit tree maintenance at East Palo Alto Library, and four similar workshops at North Fair Oaks Library. Additionally, one bilingual workshop will be held at Millbrae Library.
• Climate Justice Presentations: One presentation at Atherton Library and one at Portola Valley Library, highlighting the importance of environmental justice and equity.

“Libraries play a critical role in connecting communities and empowering them with vital information on climate issues and solutions,” said Jean-Paul Renaud, executive director of Canopy. “We are thrilled to partner with San Mateo County Libraries to provide these resources to our communities. Together, we can inspire action and foster a healthier, more sustainable environment for all.”

This initiative is part of the third round of the Sustainable California Libraries grant program, which supports libraries across the state in hosting climate education, resilience, and community engagement projects.

“Libraries are trusted messengers that can help change community behavior in ways other government agencies can’t,” said Greg Lucas, California’s State Librarian. “These grants help public libraries reduce their carbon footprint and work with local partners to build and share community sustainability solutions.”

For more information about the upcoming workshops and events, please visit the San Mateo County Libraries website or contact your local library branch.

About San Mateo County Libraries:
San Mateo County Libraries is a Joint Powers Authority that operates libraries in the communities of Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, North Fair Oaks, Pacifica, Portola Valley, San Carlos and Woodside. San Mateo County Libraries ignite growth through transformative experiences. Visit smcl.org for information about our community libraries, extensive digital and physical collections, innovative services, and numerous online resources and virtual programs and events.  

About Canopy:
Canopy is a nonprofit organization that plants and cares for trees where people need them the most. Canopy’s mission is to grow urban tree canopy in Midpeninsula communities for the benefit of all. Through education, advocacy, and community programs, Canopy fosters healthier and more resilient neighborhoods.