About

Philly Tree People (PTP) is a volunteer operated neighborhood-based non-profit organization dedicated to organizing tree plantings and maintaining the health of the urban forest in 19125 and 19134. Philly Tree People is the community volunteers that shows up to lend a hand to help beautify the streets of 19125 and 19134, including its working board o directors. Philly Tree People is dedicated to helping people obtain and maintain street trees. We are a small volunteer organization that operates a summer youth green job skills training and engagement program (PTP Green Corps), the PTP Pruning Club, and hosts two community street tree plantings a year.

PTP was founded by three neighborhood women in Spring 2007 by Jacelyn Blank, Nykia Perez Kibler, and Dina Richman and was solely operated by the three founders from 2007-2019. Currently, PTP is led by several actively involved neighbors or former neighborhood residents including two of it’s founding board members. We are a group of community volunteers that are working toward increasing the tree canopy in the neighborhood and who are trained Tree Tenders via the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Founders Nykia Perez Kibler (#PD-2135A) and Jacelyn Blank (#PD-2783A) are both ISA Certified Arborists.

Please help us maintain our commitment to excellence. We can’t do it without you. We can’t do it without your donation. Your donation is tax-deductible as we are a federally approved 501c3 non-profit organization. Property owners, we strongly urge you to make a donation of $30 per tree request to help offset costs associated with planning large tree plantings and the subsequent maintenance of trees. Your donation will keep our group moving forward and allow us to continue planting trees in our neighborhood. Thank you!

Contact Us:

Current Board Members:

  • 2007 – Present: Jacelyn Blank, PTP Co-Founder, ISA Certified Arborist #PD-2783A
  • 2007 – Present: Nykia Perez Kibler, PTP Co-Founder, ISA Certified Arborist #PD-2135A
  • 2021 – Present: Jen Brown, PTP Board Member
  • 2021 – Present: Evan Graves, PTP Board Member
  • 2023 – Present: Maddi Heimer, PTP Board Member

Former Board Members:

  • 2021 – 2023: Eli Gorman, PTP Board Member
  • 2021 – 2023: Kara Kneidl, PTP Board Member
  • 2019 – 2020: Monica King, PTP Board Member
  • 2007 – 2019: Dina Richman, PTP Co-Founder