Celebrating Successes In Building Community Resilience – Sonora Environmental Research Institute

We want to recognize and give a tremendous thank you to Bank of America and the Arbor Day Foundation for supporting and funding our project to build community resilience.

With the help and support from 180 wonderful volunteers, neighbors, parents, community partners (Tucson Clean & Beautiful/Trees for Tucson, and Tucson Water) we were able to plant a total of 467 trees and 398 native shrubs in our community. We installed several passive rainwater harvesting systems, two cisterns, and planted trees and native shrubs at Davis Bilingual Magnet Elementary School in Barrio Santa Cruz. Former participants in our limited-income rainwater harvesting program also received trees and native shrubs at their home. We had five tree planting events in five neighborhoods (Toumey Park neighborhood, Menlo Park neighborhood, Pueblo Gardens neighborhood, Barrio Anita and Barrio Santa Cruz) where we planted trees and native shrubs in residents’ front yards.

Through this project we were able to help families benefit from shade, cooler homes, improved air quality, reduced energy usage, the costs that come with energy usage, and a beautiful lush environment.

Gallery: Building Community Resilience

volunteers planting a tree — Tree planting in Barrio Santa Cruz neighborhood.

Rainwater harvesting cistern — SERI installed rainwater harvesting cistern at Davis Bilingual Elementary

young volunteers planting a tree — Young volunteers plant a tree.