CONTENT: Article Local impact happens when community-based tree planting organizations create projects that involve citizens, schools, churches, and government. This is the work of the 160 members of the Alliance for Community Trees program. These passionate nonprofit organizations are the boots on the ground — a grass-roots network united in their purpose of improving communities and towns across the country with trees. Never has the dedication of these organizations been more apparent than this past spring, as the world was gripped by pandemic. One such group is Green Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. In a community ranked first in rising urban heat island effect, Green Columbus has been hard at work to plant trees and curb the issue. Earth Day Columbus—known as the largest Earth Day volunteer event in the U.S. — needed to continue in 2020. The health of community residents depended on it.