Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Indianapolis lost federal matching funds for replanting trees because of the word "diversity" in biodiversity [View all]
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/environment/2025/02/26/feds-pull-tree-planting-grant-from-keep-indianapolis-beautiful/80473693007/The USDA revoked a federal tree-planting grant to Keep Indianapolis Beautiful in a move the nonprofit's CEO said may be the result of anti-DEI initiatives coming from the Trump Administration.
Jeremy Kranowitz, president and CEO of KIB, said the $400,000 grant for urban forestry projects was awarded to the organization in January through the Arbor Day Foundation, but was then clawed back on Tuesday. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is a nonprofit organization that plants trees throughout the city and coordinates large-scale clean up programs.
The Arbor Day Foundation did not immediately respond to IndyStar questions about the grant.
The money, reflecting about 6% of KIB’s annual funding, would have provided Indianapolis with a more biodiverse tree canopy and made tree plantings more equitable throughout the city. The use of the words “biodiversity” and “equity” may have been the reason the grant was revoked, Kranowitz hypothesized.
There’s growing evidence that words like “biodiversity” are being targeted by federal agencies bent on terminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives across the country.
Jeremy Kranowitz, president and CEO of KIB, said the $400,000 grant for urban forestry projects was awarded to the organization in January through the Arbor Day Foundation, but was then clawed back on Tuesday. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is a nonprofit organization that plants trees throughout the city and coordinates large-scale clean up programs.
The Arbor Day Foundation did not immediately respond to IndyStar questions about the grant.
The money, reflecting about 6% of KIB’s annual funding, would have provided Indianapolis with a more biodiverse tree canopy and made tree plantings more equitable throughout the city. The use of the words “biodiversity” and “equity” may have been the reason the grant was revoked, Kranowitz hypothesized.
There’s growing evidence that words like “biodiversity” are being targeted by federal agencies bent on terminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives across the country.
13 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read