Our Next Speaker

Shelly Barrick Parsons, Exec Director, Capital Trees LLC. "Cultivating Vibrant Public Greenspaces in RVA"

In March of 2025, Capital Trees celebrated 15 years of cultivating vibrant public landscapes. And they did more than plant trees — they sowed the seeds for what would become an essential path to creating a thriving Richmond. Capital Trees operates as a public-private partnership, bringing together the City of Richmond, corporations, nonprofits, foundations, and individuals to create a greener, more livable city. In June, 2021, Shelly Barrick Parsons became first full-time Executive Director for Capital Trees.

A graduate of Meredith College and Union Presbyterian Seminary, Shelly has guided ministries and nonprofits, including serving as founding Executive Director of the Harless Center, a public-private partnership that built community-focused student housing. She brings experience in growing and sustaining organizations, with an understanding of success that values both return on investment and the transformation of individuals and communities.