“Just a little piece of green in someone’s yard can transform their life.”
Maggie Valenti
At TreeFolks, we believe trees tell stories: of neighborhoods, resilience, and the people who help them grow. Few have shaped Austin’s urban landscape and its canopy quite like Maggie Valenti, a longtime city planner, TreeFolks board alum, and steadfast advocate for equitable green space.
🌱 A Public Servant Grows Toward Trees
Maggie’s career in public service began with a clear goal: to help people live better lives. But it wasn’t until she was offered the chance to lead the Austin Community Tree Program, a collaboration with TreeFolks that provides free trees to residents, that her work took root in urban forestry.
“Working for trees and people felt like the most exciting way to improve quality of life.”
From there, her role blossomed. She helped coordinate canopy expansion in historically under-shaded neighborhoods and served on the TreeFolks board, bringing a deep understanding of how city government and nonprofits can work together.
🔥 Healing After the Fires
One of Maggie’s most moving experiences came during the Bastrop wildfire recovery. As smoke drifted into Austin, TreeFolks mobilized to help landowners reforest their properties with pine saplings.
“It was inspiring to see TreeFolks step in to help people heal and to bring hundreds of volunteers together for something hopeful.”
Though much of the work was on private land, Maggie still remembers the sense of urgency, care, and community that defined those early efforts. She sees them as a model for how we respond to climate crises.
🌍 Why Canopy Equity Matters
As a planner, Maggie knows Austin’s growth is uneven. Areas east of I-35 often lack tree canopy due to natural prairie landscapes and decades of redlining, unfair zoning, and disinvestment. Small lot sizes, overhead utilities, and narrow setbacks limit where trees can be planted, but that hasn’t stopped her from trying.
“It’s a fine needle to thread, but we’re committed to getting trees where they’re needed most.”
Even when large shade trees aren’t possible, she sees value in planting smaller species that feed birds and pollinators. Every bit of green counts.
🧠Trees and Public Health
Maggie speaks passionately about the connection between green space and wellbeing.
“I wish more people understood the intersection—how even one tree can improve mental health, reduce stress, and bring people outside.”
She describes her own yard as filled with birds and native trees, many of them planted through TreeFolks’ NeighborWoods program. Her favorite moments are spent listening to birdsong with a cup of tea in hand and identifying migratory visitors through the Merlin birding app.
🌆 Looking Forward: A Greener Austin
As Austin plans for massive infrastructure projects like the I-35 cap and stitch, Maggie sees an opportunity to design urban spaces that bridge divides with trees.
“If we want to be a world-class city, we need a major investment in green infrastructure. That means treating trees like sidewalks or storm drains. They’re essential, not optional.”
She envisions dedicated city budget funding for trees, not just reliance on mitigation fees. It’s the next evolution of smart, compassionate urban planning.
🌳 Maggie’s Tree: A Weeping Willow in Queens
Maggie’s lifelong love of trees traces back to her childhood home in Queens, New York, where her parents planted a weeping willow in their tiny backyard.
“I grew up with that tree. We had a swing on it. I couldn’t wrap my arms around the trunk. It was that big. My dad even painted a portrait of me under it.”
Today, she can still spot the tree on Google Earth.
🌿 Quick Facts: Tree Equity in Austin
- Tree canopy coverage is significantly lower in East Austin compared to the west.
- Factors like lot size, overhead utilities, and historic redlining reduce plantable space.
- TreeFolks prioritizes planting in underserved neighborhoods through programs like NeighborWoods and Austin Community Trees.
đź“Ł Join Us in Planting a Greener Future
Maggie’s story reminds us that trees are more than landscape. They are infrastructure, connection, and hope. As Austin continues to grow, TreeFolks is committed to planting not just trees, but equity, health, and belonging.
Want to be part of it?
Explore our volunteer events, donate a tree, or share your own tree story with us at treefolks.org.
Author
HĂ©ctor González, TreeFolks’ Communications Strategy Manager, conducted this interview.Â
The TreeFolks NeighborWoods Program is a partnership with the City of Austin and Austin Energy.
