Young Urban Forest Leaders

Being a young adult is a time of tremendous growth, both personally and professionally, as people move into “the real world.” Navigating this transition can be difficult, particularly for underrepresented individuals looking to enter a field dominated by other demographic groups. LEAF developed the Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) program to support underrepresented young folks who are at the beginning of their careers in urban forestry. Funded in part by the City of Toronto through an Urban Forestry Grant, this program sets participants up to be in the driver’s seat of their own career.

Sammy Tangir is an outdoor educator and an alumnus of the Young Urban Forest Leaders program. For Sammy, learning never stopped, and she has continued to pursue her passions, learning all she can about trees. Today, she’s a self-published author of a number of plant identification guides and an avid nature photographer, interests that were spurred on after her time as a Young Urban Forest Leader.

The Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) Program provides hands-on training and mentorship for Toronto youths. As Education Coordinator at LEAF, I, Lam Tran, am in charge of running and delivering this amazing program. But, not too long ago, I was lucky enough to be a program participant myself. At the time, I was full of hope, curiosity and a bit of anxiety. Little did I know, becoming a YUFL would turn out to be a defining moment in my life. Today, I want to share my story.