Press Release

SAVE THE DATE: TRANSFORMING VACANT DETROIT LOTS INTO POLLINATOR HAVENS THIS ARBOR DAY

April 17, 2025

Detroit, MI (April 18, 2025) – To mark Earth Day and Arbor Day, EARTHDAY.ORG and Detroit Hives are teaming up to restore a vacant lot in Detroit—one of over 90,000 across the city—and transform it into a thriving community space for local pollinators and residents alike.

This event is part of EARTH DAY.ORG’s Great Global Cleanup®, which focuses on uplifting communities and creating long-term environmental solutions. The cleanup will take place at the Finney Community Arboretum & Botanical Garden, where volunteers will remove trash, strip back old soil, plant cover crops and flowers to attract wild bees native to the region.

Detroit Hives is leading efforts to turn neglected lots into vibrant pollinator habitats—creating bee farms, botanical gardens, and arboretums that promote biodiversity, local honey production, and conservation. Their work has helped Detroit earn the designation of an official Bee City USA member, and one of their success stories includes transforming Eminem’s former home into a flourishing bee garden.

LOCATION & DETAILS:

  • Friday, April 25, 2025, from 1:00PM – 4:00PM
  • Finney Community Arboretum & Botanical Garden exact address available upon RSVP or press inquiry

For media inquiries, to attend the event, set up interviews, or get ‘before and after’ photos, please contact:

Aminah Taariq-Sidibe (EARTHDAY.ORG) – Will be at the cleanup and available to the media

Timothy Jackson (Detroit Hives)

Michael Karapetian (EARTHDAY.ORG) 

Background:

Volunteers, local college students, and community leaders are expected to attend. Journalists will also have the opportunity to visit Detroit Hives’ completed bee farm at the site of Eminem’s childhood home to see the long-term impact of these restoration efforts firsthand.

“The Great Global Cleanup is about more than just removing waste—it’s about building a waste-free world in a way that uplifts people and supports local ecosystems,” said Michael Karapetian, The Great Global Cleanup Coordinator at EARTHDAY.ORG. “Detroit Hives is doing incredible work to revitalize spaces for both the environment and their communities, and we’re proud to be part of their mission.”

“The Arbor Day Volunteer event is part of our broader vision for the Finney Community Arboretum and Botanical Garden—a four-season perennial oasis designed to benefit both people and pollinators in the Finney neighborhood. This initiative was born directly from community feedback and is our response to local concerns around urban heat islands, stormwater runoff, inner-city blight, and limited access to green spaces and physical mobility. Through a collaborative effort, we’re transforming this space into a community anchor that supports Detroit’s designations as a Tree City, Bird City, Bee City USA, and a UNESCO City of Design.” said Timothy Jackson, Co-Founder of Detroit Hives. 

About Detroit Hives:
Detroit Hives is a nonprofit organization working to transform vacant lots into vibrant pollinator habitats across the city of Detroit. By combining community cleanup efforts with education and biodiversity projects, Detroit Hives supports local bee populations and inspires environmental engagement in underserved areas.

About EARTHDAY.ORG:
Founded in 1970 by the organizers of the first Earth Day, EARTHDAY.ORG has grown into the world’s largest environmental movement, mobilizing over one billion people annually to protect the planet and its people. Our mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental community globally. This year Earth Day marks its 55th anniversary and has designated this year’s Earth Day theme as Our Power, Our Planet. Learn more at EARTHDAY.ORG.

For media inquiries, interviews, or to attend the event, please contact:
Terran Fielder, [email protected], +1 661 444 4436