The City of Phoenix and Arizona Public Service (APS) held the sixth annual Planting Hope event, which combined a tree planting initiative with efforts to raise awareness about domestic violence. On Tuesday, volunteers planted over 50 new trees in the Edison-Eastlake Community. These trees were supplied through the APS Community Tree Program after residents applied for assistance following damage from monsoon storms.
Mayor Kate Gallego highlighted the collaborative nature of the event: “Planting Hope is a powerful example of what happens when residents, City departments, and community partners come together with a shared purpose,” she said. “This event brings beauty and shade to the neighborhood, while raising critical awareness about domestic violence and the resources available to those affected. It’s a reflection of our City’s commitment to building safer, stronger communities.”
District 8 Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington added: “This is what community-led transformation looks like. Planting Hope is more than a tree planting, it’s about healing, beautifying, and strengthening our neighborhoods,” she said. “This is a great example of what happens when residents and partners come together to bring positive change to our community. It’s the power of that partnership and the leadership of residents that has allowed Planting Hope to grow and flourish over the years.”
The Planting Hope event forms part of broader revitalization work in Edison-Eastlake led by the City’s Housing Department. This includes using more than $42 million in federal Choice Neighborhoods Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to replace 577 public housing units with over 1,000 new mixed-income homes, expand green spaces by nearly nine acres, and develop new community resource centers such as Thash Mahd Center and Horizon One Vision Center.
Titus Mathew, Director of the City of Phoenix Housing Department, commented on these ongoing efforts: “The Housing Department’s role in Edison-Eastlake goes far beyond creating new housing, we’re here to support a comprehensive, resident-driven transformation,” he said. “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.”
Through its Community Tree Program launched in 2022, APS collaborates with Title 1 schools, non-profit organizations, neighborhood groups, cities and towns serving low-income areas to provide trees and help with their planting. Since its start, APS has supported planting over 2,100 trees.
Tina Marie Tentori, APS Director of Community Affairs stated: “As a home-based utility company, we want to give back to the communities we live, work, and serve every day,” she said. “Our Community Tree program is just one way we do that.”
Planting Hope was initiated in October 2020 during Domestic Violence Awareness Month as an opportunity for safe community engagement amid pandemic restrictions. The tradition began with residents planting purple flowers—the color representing domestic violence awareness—creating supportive signs in gardens and sharing information on resources for survivors.
Trees added this year include varieties featuring purple blooms as an ongoing symbol supporting both environmental improvements and domestic violence awareness.
Additional support for this year’s event came from BLICK Art Supplies and Arizona Skin Cancer Foundation who donated arts supplies and sunscreen for participants.
More information about applying for support from APS’ Community Tree Program can be found at https://www.aps.com/en/About/Sustainability-and-Innovation/Community-Programs/Community-Tree-Program.
Details regarding revitalization initiatives led by Phoenix Housing Department are available at https://www.phoenix.gov/housing/neighborhood-revitalization/edison-eastlake-community-choice-neighborhoods.
