At Groundwork Erie, we believe every Erie neighborhood deserves clean air, healthy food, thriving green spaces, and meaningful opportunities for our community to make a positive impact. Our mission is to build a greener, healthier, and more resilient Erie by working alongside the people who live here, especially the next generation of environmental leaders.
All across Erie, you can see the impact of this work:
- Fresh produce grown and distributed by young people through our Pay-What-You-Can Markets and 4th Street Community Farm.
- Trees and native plants bringing shade, beauty, and ecological benefits to Erie neighborhoods.
- Young people gaining hands-on experience caring for our city’s land, trees, and waterways.
In 2026, our workforce programs are growing.
- Green Team provides paid environmental work and learning opportunities for Erie youth ages 14–18. This summer, 20 young people are working alongside Groundwork Erie staff to grow food, care for trees, maintain green spaces, reduce litter, and learn what it means to be an environmental steward.
- Our Ground Corps program provides another pathway to meaningful environmental employment and leadership for adults. Ground Corps members work on projects across Erie from urban forestry and tree planting to green space maintenance and neighborhood based landscaping while building practical skills and experience.
Together, these programs create a pathway for our community to grow from their first environmental job into skilled environmental workers and community leaders. It’s more than a summer job or a work assignment. It’s an investment in young people and in the future of our city.
And we don’t do this work alone. Our partnerships with residents, schools, community organizations, and neighborhood groups make this transformation possible. The strongest projects are those shaped by the people who know and care about their neighborhoods best.
This Erie Gives Day, your donation helps us:
- Hire, train, and mentor more young people through Green Team and Ground Corps.
- Expand our Pay-What-You-Can Markets and urban agriculture work, including the 4th Street Community Farm.
- Plant, water, and care for trees in Erie neighborhoods.
- Restore neglected and underused spaces into vibrant, safe, and useful community assets.
- Provide our crews with the support needed to find success in their first jobs: uniforms, raincoats, work boots, sunscreen, etc.
- Support youth and adults in opportunities to work and visit National Parks like Yellowstone National Park through our partnership with Groundwork USA.
Your gift stays right here in Erie. It becomes a tree planted on a neighborhood street, fresh produce grown on an urban farm, a vacant lot transformed into a community asset, or a young person gaining the skills and confidence to build a future in Erie.
When you support Groundwork Erie, you’re not just supporting a program. You’re investing in our community members and youth, in healthier neighborhoods, and in the sustainable future of our city.
Let’s grow a greener future for Erie, together!