TEMPE, Arizona--August 26, 2024
The City of Tempe is seeing an unlikely pairing of faith-based organizations with disaster preparedness and resiliency.
According to Carissa Fowler, Desert Palm United Church of Christ is one of eight such faith-based organizations, doing its part by installing a community garden to help residents adapt, respond, and recover from the growing and potentially disastrous impacts of climate change.
In her role as a Heat Mitigation and Resilience Specialist for the City of Tempe, Fowler created and now manages the Tempe Resilience Hub Network, an initiative designed to empower communities to be better prepared for--and resilient to--three main hazards: heat, fires, and power outages.
So, what does that have to do with community gardens? “The Tempe Resilience Hub Network plays a vital role in building resilience to climate hazards while also fostering community resilience in daily life,” says Fowler. The hubs include community gardens, education and programing, bicycle parking, ample shaded areas, green roofs, community gathering spaces, solar panels, backup power, EV charging and emergency food, water, and supplies.
As one of the Tempe faith-based organizations actively involved, Desert Palm recently received a grant to expand its current garden areas with four additional raised garden beds that will be available to the public, one that is wheel-chair accessible.
“This is about sustainability, and Desert Palm is excited to participate in this community-wide effort,” says Pastor Tom Martinez. “We celebrate our involvement in this exciting new program the city is sponsoring.”
The Tempe Resilience Hub Network is part of the ongoing action plan for Tempe’s 2022 Climate Action Plan Update, which integrates city departments, non-profits, and faith-based organizations in the planning of equitable emergency response to hazards and disruptions. Among its focus areas are every day programs and services, resilient infrastructure, and a community disruption response plan.
“Phoenix recently passed 80 consecutive days of 100-degree temps or above and this year experienced 645 deaths in Maricopa County,” Fowler says. “The whole community is affected, and by providing vital resources, support and a sense of community, there is a role for all of us.”
written by Pat Speer, Desert Garden UCC member