LUNCH AND LEARN SPEAKER SERIES
Explore Houston’s History with a historical expert while enjoying your brown bag or ordered lunch from Tres Market Foods. This series of speakers is generously underwritten in part by The Summerlee Foundation.
1100 Bagby Street, Museum Gallery. Free Parking at 212 Dallas
APRIL 2026
📅 Thursday, April 16, 2026 🕛 Noon - 1 PM
Lunch & Learn: Barry Ward on Trees for Houston and Earth Month Action
Thursday, April 16 • Noon The Heritage Society, 1100 Bagby Street HTX 77002 Celebrating Earth Month
This Earth Month, The Heritage Society welcomes Barry Ward, Executive Director of Trees for Houston, for a special Lunch & Learn on the power of urban forestry and community-driven environmental action. Ward will share insights from his decades of nonprofit leadership and discuss how tree planting transforms neighborhoods, improves public health, and builds climate resilience across Houston.
Event Overview
Trees for Houston has planted over 700,000 trees since its founding, creating shade, beauty, and cleaner air for generations of Houstonians. Barry Ward’s leadership has expanded the organization’s reach, deepened its partnerships, and brought environmental equity to underserved communities.
This program offers an in-depth look at:
The environmental and civic impact of tree planting
How Trees for Houston engages schools, neighborhoods, and city leaders
The role of urban forestry in climate resilience and public health
Ways Houstonians can take action this Earth Month
By spotlighting this work, the event celebrates Houston’s green future and the local leaders making it possible.
About the Speaker: Barry Ward
Barry Ward is Executive Director of Trees for Houston, a nonprofit dedicated to planting and protecting trees throughout the region. Under his leadership, the organization has grown dramatically, expanding its programs to include school campuses, parks, esplanades, and underserved neighborhoods. Ward’s work reflects a deep commitment to environmental sustainability, civic engagement, and the belief that every tree planted is an investment in Houston’s future. Trees for Houston planted their 1,000,000 tree at Sam Houston Park at the begging of the year. We also learned that Ward worked at The Heritage Society at the beginning of his career!
Event Details
Admission: Free for members and $10 for non-members (open to the public)
Guests are welcome to bring their lunch or order a gourmet boxed lunch for $13.
PAST EVENTS
2026
January 15, 2026: Sons of the American Revolution Freedom Chapter, "Declaration of Independence"
February 19, 2026: Speaker Attorney Melva Becnel “100 Years of Black History Month”
March 19, 2026: Speaker Author Linda Dodge “The Women Founders behind the Museum of Fine Arts”
2025
January 16, 2025: Andrew “Dru” Sanders, "Texas in the International Civil War"
February 20, 2025: Dr. Caleb McDaniel Black History Month: “Captain’s Story: Slavery and Freedom in the Archives of The Heritage Society and Rice University”
March 20, 2025: Dr. Karen Kossie-Chernyshev, Professor of History atTSU and Founding Director, SWATH “Women’s History Month: Black Women’s Empowerment through Education”
April 17, 2025: Suzanne Simpson, "Wild Houston: A Natural History of the City”
May 15, 2025: Author Dr. Jeremy Pedigo for “The Life and Politics of United States Senator Sam Houston”.
May 16, 2025: Samuel Collins, The Birthplace of Juneteenth (Evening event, wine & cheese reception)
June 20, 2025: Bryanna Jenkins, LGBTQIA History Month (Evening event, wine & cheese reception) Click HERE for Programs for Adults
July 9, 2025: America250 Speaker and Wine Reception John Espinosa “Spain’s Contributions to the American Revolution” - Wednesday, July 9, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
August 21, 2025: The History of Mah Jongg by Linda Freedman Block
September 9, 2025: Forging Race and Gender Power in Houston by Dr. Samantha Rodriguez
October 16, 2025: Christean Kapp with Saengerbund.org - German Americans, German Texans, & GermanTown Houston
November 20, 2025: Family History Research Center, Clayton Library presents “Finding Your Roots”
