Diversity in Arboriculture

Growing a More Diverse Group of Community Forestry Professionals

2016 Youth Tree Team

What is YTT?

85 Employees• 68 High School Students• 17 Adult Leaders

7 Week Summer Program• Saturdays in Spring and Fall

2016 Stats: 5,000 Trees Watered Weekly3,721 Mulched386 Staked 522 Planted

Recruiting Method Passive Recruitment (Metro Area) Active Recruitment (Indianapolis Public Schools) Hiring is based entirely on merit, not ethnic or socio-economic

diversity. Youth employment is a means to accomplishing KIB’s mission.

• Youth employment has not been a mission of KIB.

YTT Demographics Breakdown

Female Male0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

37%

63%

52%48%

2016 Gender Identity: YTT Versus County

YTT Demographics Breakdown

African American White Multiple Asian Hispanic0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

39%

31%

16%

8%6%

28%

57%

3% 3%

10%

2016 Ethnicity: YTT Versus County

Employee Orientation

We read KIB’s Anti-Harassment Policy We layout expectations for an inclusive culture We give specific examples of inappropriate language

• “You’re doing that like a girl.”• “That’s gay.”

Handling Diversity Making a safe workplace Dismissing employees Difficult conversations

2016 End of Summer Reflections: “We had a very diverse group which launched us into a full season of learning and listening to one another.”

“YTT is also about relationships and teamwork. I like the opportunity to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. We are all brought together by a common goal.”

“We were all so diverse, but yet we still manage to click and form a family. “

Discussion on Diversity

We met with YTT and asked them about diversity in the Program• Types of diversity noticed• Youth insights

From Youth To Leader:Maurice’s Perspective

Growing This Type of Diversity in our Industry

Promoting from within Youth, Leader in Training, Leader

Job opportunity at KIB beyond the Youth Tree Team:• 6 Youth and 4 leaders have become paid or

unpaid interns.• 1 Youth and 2 Leaders have been hired as

permanent, part-time staff.• 2 Leaders have become full-time staff.