For Jaci Randel, the vision of a healthier environment where everyone can thrive has always been at the heart of her work. This passion led her to help establish Bexar Branches Alliance in 2021, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing San Antonio’s urban forests. Jaci’s journey to founding this organization is a testament to her lifelong commitment to making the world a better place, a drive that has been with her since her early days as a Starbucks store manager. 

Originally from Northern California, Jaci spent 25 years working for Starbucks, a role that took her across the country. Her career saw her immersed in coffee education in cities like New York and Seattle, eventually bringing her to San Antonio. Her move to the Alamo City was initially motivated by a desire to support a friend in Beaumont, Texas, whose husband was serving as a civilian contractor in Iraq. 

In San Antonio, Jaci met her husband Michael at an after-party, sparking a journey that would see them both deeply involved in nonprofit work. Michael, an arborist, served as the City Forester in both San Antonio and Norfolk, Virginia, which connected the couple to Norfolk’s environmental efforts. While working as the City Forester in San Antonio, Michael led an initiative to plant 10,000 trees. 

While in Norfolk, Jaci and Michael became involved with a nonprofit focused on tree planting and environmental restoration. The organization, initially a small volunteer group, grew significantly under new leadership. Jaci recalls tree planting projects leveraging the City of Norfolk’s Living Legacy Grove Program, which included dune restoration planting along the Chesapeake Bay, tree canopy expansion at two local elementary schools, and removal of invasive, non-native plant materials for ecological restoration along the Elizabeth River. This laid the foundation for her future work in San Antonio. 

“As a Board member of Friends of Norfolk’s Environment, we leveraged Michael’s experience to capitalize on an existing program called “Living Legacy Groves”, a tree planting program run by the Norfolk Tree Commission,” Jaci explains. “We were able to get grant funding to plant the 4 Living Legacy Groves before I moved back to San Antonio.” 

After Hurricane Doren brought devastating flooding to much of Norfolk, the couple decided to return to San Antonio, where they realized a long-held dream: starting their own nonprofit. Bexar Branches Alliance was born during the COVID-19 pandemic with other like-minded community members, fueled by their shared expertise in forestry and a deep desire to give back to their community. 

Bexar Branches Alliance quickly became a vital organization in San Antonio, filling a void in urban forestry. The nonprofit’s success has been recognized with awards, including being named the AACOG Nonprofit of the Year. Bexar Branches now spearheads numerous projects: 

• Tree Buds Citizen Forester: An in-depth training program that educates citizens about tree care, identification, and advocacy, offered in partnership with the Alamo Forest Partnership. 

• Fiesta Verde: A regional urban forestry conference aims to bring together professionals, experts, and stakeholders in the tree care industry to share the latest science, best practices, and innovative solutions for urban forest management and broader environmental preservation. 

• Project CANOPY: A program empowering Northside ISD students to plant trees and become environmental stewards, connecting them with a global community through The GLOBE Program. 

• BBA 5K – Run for the Trees: An annual 5K event celebrating trees and raising awareness about urban forestry. 

• Tree Trail Trek Series: Guided walks through San Antonio’s parks, led by tree experts, offering education on tree types and their environmental benefits. 

• Volunteer & Plant Trees: Opportunities for the community to get involved in planting and caring for trees across the city. 

One of the most anticipated events is Trees and Torque, a community car show hopefully scheduled soon. The event will highlight the importance of air quality in San Antonio and promote trees as “shade mechanics,” crucial for mitigating heat and pollution in urban areas. See the event list here. 

Under Jaci’s leadership, Bexar Branches has completed 18 projects valued at over $95,000, all while remaining an entirely volunteer-driven organization. Volunteers from Catchafire, a platform that connects nonprofits with professionals, have been instrumental in supporting the Alliance. They’ve helped redesign the website, set up accounting systems, manage events, and more, acting as an extended staff for the organization. 

Jaci’s dedication to nonprofit work is further evidenced by her participation in the SVPSA Fellowship, where she spent a year learning from experts about nonprofit operations. This training has undoubtedly contributed to the success and growth of Bexar Branches, which continues to expand its impact on San Antonio’s environment and community. 

With upcoming projects like the planting of 225 trees along the Huebner Creek Greenway Trail and potential partnerships with Bexar County parks, the future looks bright—and green—for San Antonio, thanks to Jaci Randel and Bexar Branches Alliance.