During Summer 2022, CITYGREEN had the opportunity and outright pleasure to educate, elevate, empower, and engage eight Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, (MBSYEP) participants, two who have rejoined our new program under the DC Career and Technical Education Advanced Internship Program, also called DC CTE AIP. The DC CTE AIP is offered to District of Columbia Public Schools and Public Charter School students. With a total of ten students from four different high schools, we are extremely excited about the ability of this new cohort to be the beacon on the hill for students looking for other options after high school.

The 2022 cohort is the first of this decade, but the second of its kind. For it was in 2009, that the first group of teens were gather from street corners and basketball courts to learn about tree removal and urban forestry. Now, twelve years later it feels good to dust off carabiners, harnesses, and ropes for a renewed opportunity to offer young people the ability to explore an industry in need of diversity, new ideas, and talent. Apart of a joint venture to provide emergency tree removal services to the District's Urban Forestry Administration, the first cohort of junior arborist lased up their boots in the Spring of 2009 and unlashed them in the Fall of the same year. The program was short lived due to the lack of support of the junior arborist program and the tree care industry amongst several key agencies heads and officials at that time. Then, at some point during our base year one key requirements was changed, it was a major change within the contract requirements, that uniquely disqualified us from option year 1.  

At any rate, as in 2009, and now again in 2022, the Arboriculture Pre-Apprenticeship program is designed for students who face barriers to traditional employment, have little-to-no knowledge or experience in tree care, and or will consider an arboriculture apprenticeship or employment after completion. The program will focus on the field of arboriculture, creating pathways to eliminating structural joblessness, reducing crime and violence through community-based tree plantings, inspiring students to pursue environmental careers, and most importantly, positioning students to become certified, qualified, and recognized environmental advocates and stewards within their community.