On a weekend morning in Bloomington’s Park Ridge neighborhood, volunteers gather with shovels, mulch, and young trees ready for planting. By the end of the day, 32 new trees will take root—planted by more than 50 residents and volunteers, including students from Indiana University.
At the center of the effort is Ava Hartman, BAESS’23, executive director of CanopyBloomington, a community organization dedicated to expanding and caring for the city’s urban tree canopy.
For Hartman, these moments are where community, climate action, and long-term impact come together—each planting contributing to benefits that will last for generations.
