Intern Insights: From roots to reflection

Hello! My name is Graciela Martinez, and I’m a rising senior majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies at the University of Kentucky. I was placed as an intern with the Urban Forest Initiative (UFI) through the Sustainability Internship Program during the 2024-2025 academic year, and I’d love to share a bit about my experience.

I first got involved with UFI through an Urban and Community Forestry course I took in the spring of 2024. UFI was an organization I had admired throughout my academic journey, and that class helped me learn more deeply about their work protecting our urban tree canopy. I applied for and was selected to participate in UFI’s TreeCATS (Tree Collegiate and Citizen Arboriculture Training) program, and upon completion, I knew I wanted to be part of their mission and daily operations.

UFI works to promote and protect the urban tree canopy across campus and throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. They do this through annual seminars, arborist trainings, Tree Week events, and more. During my internship, I supported community outreach, developed promotional materials, and carried out an independent project. One of my most memorable moments was connecting with community members over our shared fondness for trees. As a student, it was incredibly fulfilling to be on the other side of outreach, sharing information about UFI’s work and Lexington’s tree-related efforts. It helped me improve my communication skills, form meaningful connections, and feel more engaged with the local community.

In the fall, as I was getting familiar with UFI’s structure, I spent much of my time preparing for Tree Week. I helped table at sustainability-related events, created educational tree identification posters, and participated in a tree planting in Wayland, Kentucky. These experiences gave me valuable insight into the resources, methods, and strategies organizations use to promote urban tree canopy awareness and engagement.

In the spring, my focus shifted to developing and managing my independent project. I wanted to create something that supported urban forestry while also reflecting my own interests and areas for growth. From that idea, Resiliently Rooted, a spring art show and competition at UK, was born. The prompt for the show was: “From roots to canopy, how do trees inspire and sustain us?” I hoped the exhibition would emphasize how trees and green spaces shape our urban environments, foster community, and spark creativity. My goal was to celebrate the beauty and benefits of trees while engaging students, artists, and community members alike.

To support the project’s sustainability goals, I encouraged artists to source materials from the Lex Center for Creative Reuse, a local nonprofit dedicated to reducing artistic waste and offering donated and upcycled materials to the community at affordable prices.

The planning process for Resiliently Rooted began in early January when I secured a space in the Bolivar Art Gallery within the School of Art and Visual Studies. I developed contest guidelines, created promotional materials, and reached out to potential stakeholders. In February, the call for entries launched and was widely promoted via social media, UKNow, WholeSum, and more. I also assembled a judging panel consisting of graduate students Jessamine Michler and Bryce Chatwin from SA/VS, and Ignazio Graziozi, UFI’s coordinator.

At the close of submissions in March, we had received over 25 entries (check out all of the beautiful work here)! I coordinated with artists to drop off their work, and the judges selected the first, second, and third place winners. First place was awarded to Sara Grace Eames for her painting of an American Chestnut tree. Second place went to Lincoln Fuller for his oil painting of a Red River Gorge hiking area. Third place was awarded to Samantha Ratcliffe for a photograph taken at the Hindman Settlement School in eastern Kentucky.

Lastly, to set up the gallery, I measured wall space and artwork dimensions to ensure a balanced and visually appealing layout. By mid-April, the gallery came to life. A wide range of mediums such as clay, photography, painting, and more filled the space. Interactive elements like a tree memory game and a sustainability resource table offered visitors information on the Student Sustainability Council, one of our funding partners for this project, UK Recycling and their zero-waste initiatives at UK, and UFI resources.

We awarded 600 dollars in prizes, and after the week-long showcase, several pieces were displayed in the John Jacob Niles Gallery at the Fine Arts Library.

The exhibit was a tremendous success, and I hope it encouraged people to see the
beauty of trees in a new way through fostering environmental stewardship, encouraging partnerships, and raising awareness of campus resources.

This internship would not have been possible without the support of the UFI team, my mentors at the UK Office of Sustainability, and my fellow interns. Their guidance and encouragement sustained me throughout the year, and I highly recommend the Sustainability Internship Program to anyone looking for a hands-on, meaningful, sustainability-related experience. I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity, and it affirmed my desire to become a sustainability coordinator. I’m excited for what lies ahead for UFI, and I’m proud to be part of their journey.