In this week’s Our Town, we head to Channelview — a close-knit community surrounded by petrochemical plants and the environmental pressures that often come with them.
Now, a unique partnership is taking root, putting free trees into the hands of families while creating paid opportunities for young people to lead environmental change.
Growing Greener — and Stronger — Together
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) has teamed up with Channelview Independent School District to improve air quality and expand access to green space by distributing free trees throughout the community. At the same time, the nonprofit is connecting young adults to hands-on conservation work and career pathways.
“Absolutely,” said Valeria Casas when asked if this is how you make an impact. “Our goal is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and environmental stewards.”
Through its paid internship program, SCA provides young adults with real-world conservation experience. Interns mentor and collaborate with local high school students, building both environmental knowledge and leadership skills.
Learning beyond the classroom
Gema Rodriguez, an environmental educator with the program, says the work is meaningful every day.
“Every day that I come to work, I know that I’m contributing to something that is benefiting the whole community,” Rodriguez said.
One moment that stood out most for her was a field trip to Sheldon Lake State Park.
“They just had such an amazing time seeing how conservation is applied in state parks,” she said, describing students experiencing environmental stewardship firsthand.
Since 1957, the Student Conservation Association has engaged more than 100,000 young people in protecting parks, forests, marine sanctuaries, and community green spaces — making it the nation’s largest youth conservation program.
For intern David Johnson, the lessons go beyond planting trees.
“Organization,” he said when asked about the most important skill he’s learned. “And I’ve learned the importance of giving back to the community.”
Investing in the future
District leaders say the benefits stretch far beyond a single tree giveaway.
“Every single one of our families will have an opportunity to plant these trees and to support the environment but likewise enjoy the fruit that they will bear,” said Dr. Tory C. Hill, superintendent of Channelview ISD. “That’s important for not just now but for the future of our community.”
For Casas, the work is deeply personal. As an SCA alum, she understands how transformative the experience can be.
“SCA exposed me to the world of conservation,” she said. “But I was always one of the few people of color in those spaces. So now that I’m in my position, I am in a way paying it forward.”
Her hope is that diversifying the field will bring new voices and perspectives to environmental decision-making.
“There’s new perspectives at the table and hopefully that would drive a lot of the land management decisions moving forward,” Casas said.
From paid internships to putting trees directly into the hands of families, the Student Conservation Association is doing more than greening a neighborhood, it’s empowering young people in Channelview to lead, serve, and invest in the future of their own community.