News

Thank you to our outgoing global director, Jacie Keeley!

Reflections on the Precipice of a New Season: Growth, Challenges, and Change

Nearly three years ago, in November 2019, Tenzin Osel Hita (Global Tree Initiative founder), shared his vision. Osel wished to find a way for people of all backgrounds to come together over a meaningful project that could be offered to the Dalai Lama as a token of gratitude for his never-ending and universal inspiration.

Jacie Keeley, the first Global Tree Initiative (GTI) Global Director, immediately understood the mission – to build a global community committed to fostering a conscious, wise, warm-hearted world of peace, where people respect and live in harmony with each other, with animals, and with the environment.

From there, the Global Tree Initiative was born.

As we near the third anniversary of GTI becoming more than just a wish, but a tangible community, it is fitting to reflect upon where we have come from, and the challenges we have faced and look to the future.

GTI has grown considerably since its inception, thanks to the leadership of the first global director, Jacie Keeley!

In just under three years, GTI has recorded 1,640,621 trees planted in 59 countries! There are regional coordinators in 15 different countries, spanning six continents. It is easy to see that GTI has come a long way from its origins as a WhatsApp group in January 2020.

In September 2020, GTI became registered in the U.S. as a 501c3 non-profit (under its umbrella organization Universal Clear Light).

When the needs of the non-profit outgrew the ability to be supported by only unpaid volunteers, Jacie took to fundraising for the first (and only) paid staff members, beyond the bookkeeper and webmaster. Thanks to the generosity of many, Jacie was able to bring on Anrich Bester and later Kika (Francisca) Gusmão to fill the two independent contractor roles.

Jacie has brought GTI from just a seed to growing roots, sprouting, and now the beginnings of a blooming community united by tree planting. The season has come to bid a fond farewell to Jacie as she enters retirement for a second time, and welcome in new faces to step into leadership and bring Global Tree Initiative to a full-fledged mature, and flowering organization!

Jacie originally retired in 2015 after a fulfilling career in community organizing and resource building. From serving as secretary to her Buddhist teacher, Lama Yeshe, for six years, organizing one of the first world tours for the Dalai Lama in the early 80s, starting a Buddhist center in South Florida in the late 80s, to building an award-winning children’s summer enrichment program from scratch, helping older adults continue life-long learning, and connecting small business owners to mentors, Jacie has had an impactful career.

She came out of retirement in 2019 to help Tenzin Osel Hita realize his dream, and what has become her dream, and the dream of so many involved in the Global Tree Initiative; plant your tree, grow our forest, save their future!

Please join us in thanking Jacie Keeley for all she has done as the first-ever global director of the Global Tree Initiative. Please, congratulate her on her second retirement after a long and inspiring career of service.

Please share this. Thank you!

More News

Our GTI office is closed from March 1 – 15

Our Global Tree Initiative operational team will take a maintenance break from March 1 – 15. During this period, our platforms will still be available to you, but we will not respond to any emails or queries via our website or social media platforms.

A farewell message to Jorge

We will remember Jorge and everything he shared with us. His sweet adventures and lovely pictures.

Exciting update on #WalkForTheTrees2023

Mark tells us that “The walk will trace ancient routes across the traditional country of 4 of the 5 clans of the Ngurai Illum Wurrung (First Nations Peoples of the Kulin Nation): the Boonwurrung, the Woiworung, the Taungurong and the Djadjawurung. The walk will honor the original inhabitants who have occupied, cared for, and managed their country for at least the past 32,000 years (based on physical evidence along the route).

Why should we eat pulses more often?

This article will focus on (1) what makes pulses an environmentally friendly crop, and (2) the health benefits one can get from including pulses in one’s diet.

Join us in celebrating our founder’s birthday

On February 12, Tenzin Ösel Hita celebrates his birthday, and he is inviting us all to join his campaign to support the Global Tree Initiative.

Australian community walks to support the Global Tree Initiative!

Our two Australian coordinators, Mark Allaway and Jill Lancashire are planning a charity walk for the benefit of the Global Tree Initiative! The event is called “Walk for the Trees 2023”.  The walk will take place closer to the end of March this year.

January 21 is National Squirrel Appreciation Day in the USA!

In preparation for celebrating this year’s squirrel appreciation day (21 January), Kat and Bonnie would love to hear from YOU!

A message of appreciation from our partner, Manica Youth Assembly

We are honored to share a heart-felt message of appreciation from our partner in Zimbabwe, Manica Youth Assembly!

The voice of our global community in 2022!

Thank you all for 2022. We look forward to what we will accomplish, together, in 2023!

Thank you for supporting our fundraiser!

A very big THANK YOU to everyone who supported our fundraiser, and for helping the Global Tree Initiative grow.

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