Host University

The Urban Forestry Program at Southern University and A&M, an 1890 land grant Historically Black University, serves as a host university for the project. SU is the largest HBCU in the nation, with five campuses, 3 in Baton Rouge, 1 in New Orleans, and 1 in Shreveport, LA. SU has a long history of education and outreach to minority and underserved communities in the nation and is uniquely positioned to accomplish this proposed project. SU has successfully hosted many national conferences such as the national minority in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences (MANRRS) conference with participants from all over the nation.

SU team members:

Dr. Zhu Hua Ning, Associate Professor, Southern University, Urban Forestry Program,

Mr. Rodney Stone (collaborator), USDA Forest Service Civil Right Unit liaison officer at SU,

Dr. Kamran Abdollahi, Associate Professor, Southern University, Urban Forestry Program,

Dr. Daniel Collins, Associate Professor, and SU Urban Forestry Program Leader,

Dr. Andra Johnson, Assistant Professor, Southern University, Urban Forestry Program,

Dr. Fulbert Namwamba, Assistant Professor, Southern University, Urban Forestry Program.

Ford Foundation- a partner with matching contribution

The Ford Foundation is a valuable partner in this effort and has pledged $50,000 matching

support in this effort to head-start the national UCF minority outreach conference.

Collaborating HBCUs

Our partners from HBCUs are: Grambling State University, Alabama A&M University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, and Science and Engineering Alliances, an alliances of five HBCUs.

Collaborating minority organizations

The National Conference of Black Mayors, National Council of 1890 Land Grant Historically Black CollegeS and Universities (HBCU), National Hispanic Environmental Council, the National Native American Tribal Council, Asian American Council, and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS), to name a few, will dissemination.

Collaborating non - profit organizations

Our partners of various non-profit organizations are, American Forests, National Alliance for Community Trees, Communities Committee for 7^th American Forest Congress, International Society of Arboriculture, Society of American Foresters, Ducks Unlimited, Inc, Baton Rouge Green, and Louisiana Urban Forestry Council.

Collaborating federal agencies

USDA Forest Service Civil Rights Unit, LA, Southern Regional Urban Forest Coordinator, USDA Forest Service Region 8, GA, Center for Urban Forestry Research, USDA Forest Service, CA, USDA Forest Service Northeast Research Station, NY, USDA Forest Service Northeast Research Station, VT, USGS National Wetlands Research Center, LA, National Park and Conservation Association, USDOI National Park Service, Division of Diversity and Civil Rights, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 5, USEPA, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service National Plant Data Center and USDOI-Bureau of Land Management.