Neighbor Spotlight: Penn Hills resident makes impact in community through Shade Tree Commission leadership

Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would like to nominate someone as a Neighbor Spotlight, see pennhillsprogress.com, select the “Post Story” button in the upper right corner and complete the form to publish your nomination. Questions? Email Neighborhood News Network editor Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.

It’s hard to miss the impact longtime Penn Hills resident Kathy Raborn has on the community.

Raborn, the president of the Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission, has gone out of her way to help educate the community on the importance of taking care of the environment.

“It is super important we keep our ecosystem healthy,” she said.

Since its inception in 2017, the Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission has planted more than 200 trees in the area and completed multiple projects aimed at beautifying Penn Hills. The commission has helped Penn Hills earn a “Tree City USA” honor two years in a row.

“Our overall goal is to help residents of Penn Hills view trees in a positive way,” she said.

Her passion for the environment would come after her sons were born. Her oldest son loved insects and wanted to become an entomologist growing up.

One of Raborn’s first stints as a volunteer was as chairperson of the environmental committee for the former Forbes Elementary’s Parent Teacher Association.

She later joined the Penn Hills Community Development Corporation (PHCDC), which she has been a part of for 10-12 years, she said. The PHCDC is also a fiscal partner with the Shade Tree Commission.

The commission has worked on several projects to improve the environment in Penn Hills, including the three-phase Plum Creek Restoration project, one of Raborn’s favorite projects. The commission, along with several volunteers, planted trees and shrubs along the creek in Penn Hills Community Park.

“It not only transformed how it looked but also how the creek functioned,” Raborn said.

The work Raborn has done individually includes creating a butterfly garden at Winchester Thurston North School, designing the Lamar Garden, leading a monarch and milkweed project and creating a meadow in the Penn Hills Burial Park.

“I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the support of my family, friends and volunteers,” she said.

Raborn never thought the commission would grow into what it has become. The board has seven members and has had loyal volunteers help out over the years. The commission’s Facebook page has more than 400 followers.

“I didn’t know what it would turn into, but I am very excited it has grown, and I’m proud,” she said.

Susan Chikalla, a friend and fellow volunteer, has known Raborn for 30 years. Chikalla praised Raborn for being a great leader and getting others excited to take care of the environment.

“She is one of the most dedicated people I’ve met when finding a solution to a problem,” Chikalla said.

Rick Duncan, vice president of the commission, has worked with Raborn for more than four years and said he believes she was the right person to create the Shade Tree Commission.

“Kathy’s dedication, knowledge and continual hard work has created and established the commission as an active and effective community resource within Penn Hills,” he said.

While Raborn is proud of what she has accomplished, she does not want to take all the credit for the commission’s success.

“If people weren’t into this, we wouldn’t be able to do all the wonderful projects,” she said.