Staff reports | Community updates
Phoenix has partnered with Arizona Public Service for the sixth annual Planting Hope event, which was held Tuesday, Sept. 30 in the Edison-Eastlake Community.
Volunteers planted more than 50 trees provided through the APS Community Tree Program, following damage from recent monsoon storms, according to a press release.
“Planting Hope is a powerful example of what happens when residents, city departments and community partners come together with a shared purpose,” said Mayor Kate Gallego in a prepared statement. “This event brings beauty and shade to the neighborhood while raising critical awareness about domestic violence and the resources available to those affected.”
“This is what community-led transformation looks like,” said District 8 Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington. “Planting Hope is more than a tree planting — it’s about healing, beautifying and strengthening our neighborhoods.”
The event is part of a broader revitalization effort led by the city’s Housing Department, which is overseeing a $42 million transformation funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhoods Grant, the release states.
Plans include replacing 577 outdated public housing units with more than 1,000 mixed-income homes, adding nearly nine acres of green space and developing the Thash Mahd Center and Horizon One Vision Center for community resources.
“The Housing Department’s role in Edison-Eastlake goes far beyond creating new housing,” said Titus Mathew, director of the Phoenix Housing Department. “Events like Planting Hope reflect the deep partnerships and long-term investments that are reshaping this neighborhood into a more vibrant, resilient and inclusive place to live.”
APS launched its Community Tree Program in 2022 and has helped plant more than 2,100 trees in Title 1 schools, nonprofit organizations and low-income neighborhoods across Arizona.
“As a home-based utility company, we want to give back to the communities we live, work and serve every day,” said Tina Marie Tentori, APS director of community affairs. “Our Community Tree Program is just one way we do that.”
Planting Hope began in October 2020 as a way to connect with residents during the pandemic and recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In past years, participants planted purple flowers — the awareness color for domestic violence—created signs with messages of hope and shared resources for survivors.
This year’s trees, including several with purple blooms, will provide lasting shade and environmental benefits while reinforcing the community’s commitment to safety, healing and resilience.
