Mission
PROJECT SWEETIE PIE ADVANCES COMMUNITY HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY BY HELPING EXPAND AND CARE FOR THE TREE CANOPY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED IT MOST. THROUGH HANDSON YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND TARGETED PLANTING INITIATIVES, THE ORGANIZATION STRENGTHENS LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS, IMPROVES AIR QUALITY, AND SUPPORTS LONGTERM CLIMATE RESILIENCE FOR RESIDENTS ACROSS HENNEPIN COUNTY. THE GRANT PROVIDED PROJECT SWEETIE PIE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN HOW TREES ARE GROWN AND HOW GARDENS ARE PREPARED. THROUGH HANDSON ACTIVITIES AND GUIDED INSTRUCTION, YOUTH GAINED PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN TREE PRODUCTION, SOIL PREPARATION, AND BASIC HORTICULTURE SKILLS THAT SUPPORT HEALTHIER, GREENER NEIGHBORHOODS.