March 27, 2024 – Philadelphia, PA – The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), a leading nonprofit focused on making the Philadelphia region greener and healthier through horticulture is thrilled to announce that long time staff member, Keith Green has been appointed as the new Vice President for its Healthy Neighborhoods Program.
Green brings a wealth of experience and passion to this role, having spent the past 30 years at PHS, most recently serving as Senior Director for PHS’s LandCare program. In that position, he spearheaded PHS’s nationally recognized model that transforms urban neighborhoods by cleaning, greening, and maintaining vacant lots. Green’s leadership was instrumental in developing new initiatives, expanding the program’s reach, and cultivating key partnerships for long-term success. He oversaw tremendous growth that has allowed PHS to clean, green, and maintain 13,000 vacant lots annually. This work has been scientifically proven through University of Pennsylvania researchers to benefit public health, lower crime, and contribute to moderate, prosperous growth in real estate values in addition to improving quality of life for residents. Green has been featured in the New Yorker, TEDx, and other publications.
Prior to joining PHS as a staff member, Green began his journey with the organization as a young teenager, volunteering his time in PHS community gardens to make a difference in his local community. Over the 30 years that he has been involved with PHS, he has developed extensive expertise in various areas, including vacant land stabilization and management, capacity building for small business contractors, community engagement, landscape construction, workforce development, budget oversight, and partnership building.
As a member of PHS’s Leadership Team, Green will help advance Vision 2027, PHS’s 200th anniversary strategy to use its full organizational capacity to unlock horticulture’s potential to advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region by addressing four social determinants of health:
- Creating healthy living environments
- Increasing access to fresh food
- Expanding economic opportunity
- Building meaningful social connections
“I am thrilled to see where Keith takes us in this new leadership role! His dedication to creating positive change through horticulture is truly inspiring,” said Matt Rader, President of PHS. “His deep understanding of the community, combined with his proven track record in program development and leadership, makes him the ideal candidate to lead our Healthy Neighborhoods division.”
As Vice President of Healthy Neighborhoods, Green will leverage his experience and entrepreneurial spirit to build upon PHS’s impactful programs that serve city and suburban neighborhoods, and which have grown more than 40% in the past five years. He will lead a team of over 30 talented individuals, fostering a collaborative environment that strengthens and expands PHS’s reach. His purview will include oversight of activities including Community Gardens, Trees, LandCare, Workforce Development, Stormwater Management and will include strategic projects such as Nicetown and Tioga’s “Love Where You Live” and the Philly Tree Coalition.
Green will also be responsible for developing and driving horticultural and equity-centered strategies to maximize the impact of gardening on the health and well-being of diverse communities. Additionally, he will cultivate partnerships and represent PHS with stakeholders to further expand the organization’s impact.
“I am incredibly honored to take on this new role and lead PHS’s Healthy Neighborhoods division,” said Green. “For my entire life, I have believed in the transformative power of gardening and the positive impact it has on our communities. I look forward to working with our dedicated team, partners, and supporters to continue making the Philadelphia region a healthier and greener city for all.”
