"Our City Forest (OCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 and has spent more than 30 years cultivating a green and healthy Silicon Valley by engaging residents in the protection, growth, and long-term care of the urban forest. OCF has planted over 100,000 trees and shrubs, trained generations of volunteers, and delivered more than 1,200 community workshops and events across the South Bay. Through a hands-on model, OCF pairs tree planting with education and stewardship to ensure lasting environmental and community benefits, particularly in neighborhoods that have historically lacked tree canopy and access to green space. Our City Forest (OCF) will host a community-centered urban greening event on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Ida Jew Academy and George V. Boeger Middle School in East San José. This project is located in a low-canopy neighborhood characterized by high impervious surface coverage, elevated temperatures, and disproportionate exposure to air pollution. Through this event, at least 75 volunteers will plant 17 climate-appropriate trees across the two public school campuses. Our City Forest has secured formal approval from the Mount Pleasant School District, including a signed planting permission form and all required site authorizations, confirming that the district is fully aware of and supportive of this planting project. The anticipated climate outcomes of this project include increased tree canopy, reduced exposure to extreme heat, improved air quality, enhanced stormwater infiltration, and long-term carbon sequestration. Urban trees provide measurable climate benefits by reducing urban heat island effects, filtering particulate matter such as PM2.5, absorbing carbon dioxide, and providing shade that lowers surface and ambient temperatures. Volunteers will participate directly in tree installation. Tasks will include digging and preparing planting holes, planting and properly positioning trees, installing stakes and ties, applying mulch, watering newly planted trees, and cleaning and restoring the site following installation. Volunteers will also receive instruction on proper planting techniques and basic tree care to ensure strong establishment and long-term survival. By combining hands-on volunteer service with measurable environmental impact, this project directly advances California Climate Action Corps’ focus area of urban greening while addressing canopy inequities in one of San José’s most heat-impacted neighborhoods."