#treeopp

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Creativity, Community and the TreeOpp Project

“Once I found myself in BLDG 61, I felt instant captivation by the technology at our disposal. 3D printers, a laser cutter, and a shop dedicated to nothing more than creative inspiration of those who enter.” – Bryce, TreeOpp crew member. 

TreeOpp 

TreeOpp has been a difficult project to describe because there are so many components: trees, homelessness, woodworking skills, technology skills, selling products, holding workshops, and the list goes on. 

Above: Bryce learning as part of the TreeOpp crew.

While the TreeOpp project addresses dying public trees and homelessness, the real focus is on the future: new skills learned, opportunities, usable products, art, and ultimately creative ideas producing the tangible. 

When the Knight Foundation announced the City of Boulder won a Knight Cities Challenge grant for the TreeOpp project, there was excitement, along with unanswered and open-ended questions. 

We didn’t know if anyone who was transitioning out of homelessness wanted to learn woodworking. We didn’t know if anyone would want to buy art and products the crew created. We didn’t know how multiple city departments, local businesses and nonprofits would work together on this project. 

Creativity and community were the answers.

Community Connections 

Emily Messina, development director at the Bridge House, says people who are homeless don’t feel a part of the community – that the housed community doesn’t see them, and if they do, they see a homeless person, defining the person by his or her current circumstance. 

Art and creativity act as a connection for people who are transitioning out of homelessness to re-enter the community and connect in a way beyond the homeless/housed dichotomy. 

Above: TreeOpp community workshop

One unanticipated consequence of the TreeOpp program is how the crew joined the BLDG 61 maker community. Janet Hollingsworth, creative technologist at the Boulder Public Library’s BLDG 61 and TreeOpp instructor, said she was surprised to see TreeOpp crew members coming in on their own time to use the makerspace and interact with community members as collaborators – helping each other with projects. 

While this is a great benefit to the TreeOpp crew, it also adds social and economic diversity to the makerspace, which is a benefit to all. 

The TreeOpp crew interacted with the public outside of the makerspace as well. At the most recent Boulder County Farmers Market Artisan Show, the crew talked with the public all day about products created, using local, reclaimed wood, and the problems the community is facing with the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation. These interactions focus on the future and showcase the crews’ abilities, talents and worth. 

Work and Creativity 

It takes a lot of work just to be accepted into the Boulder Bridge House’s Ready to Work Program. Applicants must first show a commitment to sobriety, have all their paperwork in order so they can be hired, and be ready to gain experience in the working world by being able to show up for work on time, follow directions and work as part of a team. 

While this is quite an endeavor in itself – especially considering the backgrounds many participants have experienced – their job prospects are slim after being incarcerated, homeless, or whatever challenges they have recently faced. 

Above: First TreeOpp crew working together

Many choose either picking up trash in parks or food service – necessary jobs that give them solid experience for future work. But, in addition to these jobs, a creative outlet is an integral part of the transition back to the housed and working community. 

Emily, at the Bridge House, says that while creative expression won’t solve homelessness on its own, it helps bring out participants’ talents, skills and interests and demonstrates them to the community – even if the participant isn’t a natural artist. 

Creativity and the TreeOpp Project 

TreeOpp crew members have showed up for the TreeOpp project enthusiastically and put their creativity to use immediately, encouraged by instructors and staff. Many crew members contributed their creativity towards the project – beyond building the products. 

One crew member, Shannon, came up with the idea of creating a butterfly to symbolize sobriety and new life and opportunities. 

Above: TreeOpp butterflies

Rico, another TreeOpp crew member, is a talented illustrator and has donated his drawings to the TreeOpp outreach efforts and used them for laser cutting projects. 

John, TreeOpp crew member and gifted photographer and videographer, created a video slideshow about the project from his perspective. 

Contributing to the Community 

Another benefit of the project is the opportunity for the crew to give back to the community by turning downed lumber into art and usable products. 

Crew member Dan said, “I'm a Boulder native looking to help the trees and learn a new trade.” After learning about the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation, the crew was also in a position to educate the community and help address this community problem, while rejoining the community as a contributing member.

Above: TreeOpp May sale

Bryce, who once lived in a park in Longmont, been hired for some contracting work at BLDG 61 and continues to be a contributing member of the BLDG 61 team. 

He wrote a letter about his experience with Ready to Work, BLDG 61 and Treeopp, and stated, “When I got to participate in the activities and discussions held by staff, and felt my ideas were just as important as anyone else’s, I felt welcome; not as a student, or even a guest, but a member, things begin to turn around. I am so blessed to have had this intervening factor brought to me. If everyone were given this chance, I feel I’m not the only one who would be making this claim.” 

[bouldertreeopp-blog]

#TreeOpp product gone international! This snowflake ornament made it Rode, England. #woodworkingcommunity #eab #travel @bobridgehouse #boulderlibrary @bldg61 @knightfdn #knightcities #boulder (at Rode, Somerset)

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Emerald Ash Borer (#eab) drawing by Rico, #TreeOpp crew member. Using this to make earrings with the laser cutter. @bldg61 @bobridgehouse @knightfdn #education #amazingdrawing #creativity #knightcities #earings #bugjewlery #lasercutter (at Boulder, Colorado)

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Using the sander to work on the boards for our first table. #TreeOpp @bldg61 @bobridgehouse @knightfdn #woodworking #knightcities #eab

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#TreeOpp work completed! @bldg61 @bobridgehouse @knightfdn #woodworking #knightcities #eab

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Thanks to everyone who supported #treeopp on Friday! @bldg61 @bobridgehouse @knightfdn #holidaygifts #knightcities (at Canyon Theater and Gallery)

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Shop #Treeopp tonight! Beautiful and meaningful local holiday gifts - including this ornament. 5- 8 pm at the Canyon Gallery, Boulder Public Library. @bobridgehouse @bldg61 @knightfdn #woodworking #knightcities (at Boulder, Colorado)

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Everything is precise with #woodworking: Great job #TreeOpp crew making exact pieces for the public workshops! @bldg61 @bobridgehouse @knightfdn #eab #knightcities (at Boulder, Colorado)

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#TreeOpp crew prepping wood for our workshop on Tuesday! @bldg61 @bobridgehouse @knightfdn #knightcities (at Boulder, Colorado)

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Looking forward to putting this #eab wood to good use! @bldg61 @bobridgehouse @knightfdn #treeopp #woodworking #knightcities (at Boulder, Colorado)

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#TreeOpp crew prepping wood for the 1st public workshop tomorrow. @bldg61 @bobridgehouse @knightfdn #woodworking #knightcities (at Colorado)

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#treeopp crew at work! @bldg61 @bobridgehouse @knightfdn #woodworkingskills #knightcities (at Boulder, Colorado)

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TreeOpp Crew #3 + public workshops coming soon

We've selected the next #TreeOpp crew from the Bridge House Ready to Work program! Our format will be a little different from previous sessions. This fall, the crew will learn woodworking basics while helping prepare wood for public workshops.

The public will be invited to workshops from 5 to 7 p.m. each Tuesday from Oct. 24 through Nov. 28 - for ages 14+. Each workshop will focus on making decorative wooden boxes out of reclaimed ash wood affected by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). 

Space is limited - sign up to reserve your spot! Registration opens on Tuesday, Oct. 10. 

More information on TreeOpp

Workshop information + sign up

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#tbt Our first #Treeopp crew at their first class last year! @knightfdn @bobridgehouse @bldg61 #knightcities (at Central Boulder, Boulder, Colorado)

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#TreeOpp lumber for sale at ReSource!

Create your own art and products from local, reclaimed ash wood from public trees! We will begin selling lumber at ReSource on Saturday, June 10. Quantities are limited. More information