The nonprofit TreePeople is admired for its work to provide shade, reduce extreme heat and create healthier, more livable neighborhoods by planting trees in areas that need more trees. In TreePeople’s West Valley Greening Project, they will distribute 5,000 5-gallon size trees to residents, and plant 1,000 15-gallon size shade trees in public spaces.
Xiomara Duran, Community Forestry Associate Manager and San Fernando Valley resident said, “Through this project of planting 1,000 trees and distributing 5,000 trees we have the power to change the urban landscape, and it’s not something we TreePeople take lightly.”
“That’s why we do our best to capture and act on community feedback, source quality stock, and plant ‘right tree, right place’ — which means choosing a tree that won’t outgrow the space allowed to it.”
Duran added, “Community members can nominate a street within the project area for tree planting with us, and we door-knock and initiate conversations with residents about the type of trees we’ll be planting adjacent to their home, and the tree’s watering needs. We’re also focusing planting efforts around schools and parks to create shady pathways to school and green space.”
Edgar Velazquez, Community Forestry Coordinator, who grew up in Canoga Park said, “During today’s planting I was speaking with volunteers about the current temperature, so I checked my phone and it was only 77 degrees. This was surprising to everyone and a few people responded, ‘This is why we need the trees.’ Even though the temperature isn’t that high, we feel the heat a lot more. We need trees to keep our cities cool.”
Isabel Morales, Pierce College student and San Fernando Valley resident, said, “Planting trees with TreePeople has been a blessing. I love meeting new people with such beautiful and welcoming attitudes. Every day volunteering feels fulfilling. I leave feeling grateful for both the trees we planted and the connections made.”