Leaves You Hopeful is a short podcast series produced by 2023 Dogwood Alliance Fellow Aanahita Ervin. It highlights stories about large institutions - government, private foundations, corporations - misusing forests against the wishes of the local community members. While misuse of forest land is often legal, it is not ethical. These offending institutions are large and powerful. Oftentimes people assume they can’t ask questions. Sometimes, they don’t have the resources to do so.

THIS EPISODE:

Mr. Charlie’s life’s work culminated into a 1000 acres of forest land he created after 30 years of hard work. His last wish? To give that land perpetuity. He bequeathed his land to the University of Georgia Foundation (UGAF) in hopes of achieving that. Unfortunately, his wishes were not fulfilled. 

Beginning with Mr. Charlie, this episode follows his life journey and how it led him to plant a million trees. Then the legality, but ethical opaqueness, of UGAF’s actions is explored with the help of Aliss Terrell. The role UGAF plays in this story and their actions are explained by discussing the history and power university foundations have historically had. The episode ends with a brief look into how Aliss, seemingly alone, can act to fight for our forests in her own way.

Special thanks to Aliss Terrell for her dedication to her uncle’s story and legacy. Her research and thoroughness helped tremendously. Here is the trailer to the documentary about Mr. Charlie’s Trees, as well as the GoFundMe.