Authored by: Ginger Orton By 9 a.m., more than 40 vehicles had already crunched into the lot at Flinchum’s Phoenix in Warnell’s Whitehall Forest. Inside, coffee steamed, extra chairs were shuffled in, and one facilitator mouthed to another, “Whoa—there’s a lot of people here.” If the morning had ended after the conversations around coffee, it still would have been a success. The occasion was the first meeting of the "tree network”, held on September 19, 2025, bringing together urban tree enthusiasts, professionals, and researchers from Athens, Atlanta, and beyond. Facilitated by Dr. Ignazio Graziosi, assistant outreach professor of tree biology, structure, and health, and the Community Forestry and Arboriculture (COFA) team, the group aims to strengthen relationships and amplify knowledge around urban tree health and management. Warmth and rapport built quickly over coffee, as familiar faces widened their circles for new connections. Graziosi had to shout over the laughter and conversation to kick off the meeting. The group, now seated shoulder to shoulder around tables, represented more than 30 organizations and 45 participants. “The goal is to bring together the exceptional work being done by different organizations in the Athens/Atlanta area and across Georgia,” Graziosi said. “We want to amplify and promote our efforts to grow and preserve urban tree canopy, particularly through engaging the public about tree science, benefits, and care.” He tasked the group with four questions to discuss at their tables: What needs or gaps can this network fill? How can it act on them? How can UGA and COFA support the cause? And what are your perceptions of two early ideas—a “tree calendar” and a public seminar? At one table, participants ranged from community members to university administrators and public planners, a small cross section of attendees. Common themes emerged: a desire to engage the public, the need for educational resources and events, and the value of a “collaborative expertise space.” Notes from each table were compiled, summarized, and used to shape a forthcoming "tree network” website that will host shared resources and a community calendar featuring tree-related events and opportunities. Through structured small-group discussions and shared decision-making, participants co-created the network’s priorities, identified gaps, and shaped next steps, hallmarks of participatory engagement. Even informal time over coffee played an important role by strengthening the relationships vital to continued momentum. The format captured diverse expertise while fostering ownership, buy-in, and trust, which fuel sustained collaboration. When the meeting closed, attendees lingered, continuing conversations for more than an hour, with one urging facilitators to get the group together “more often” — successes hard to capture in any traditional evaluation. Another meeting is already planned for November, when seminar planning will begin to engage local audiences in the value of urban trees. Ultimately, the morning’s success underscored a simple truth of science communication: effective engagement depends not only on sound principles but on making space for shared passion and human connection. Fittingly, the group’s next steps center on doing just that—engaging local audiences with evidence-based information to foster resilient urban treescapes. This piece launches Science Communication Spotlight, a new Warnell Outreach Note series highlighting science communication best practices spotted in the wild, written by Dr. Ginger Orton, assistant outreach professor of natural resource science communication.
