Community Chandler Showcases Young Talent in Exciting Youth & Teen Competition Photo courtesy of city of Chandler
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handler is gearing up for an electrifying evening as it hosts the Youth & Teen Talent Competition on Friday, Jan. 12, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Chandler Center for the Arts, located at 250 N. Arizona Ave.
Open to participants aged 5 to 19, the event is a vibrant platform for young performers in various categories, including singing, dancing, playing instruments, and more. Competitors, required to fill out a registration form, are gearing up for auditions on December 14, at the Chandler Community Center, located at 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., after submitting applications through December 12. With a modest entry fee of $5 for show admission, and registration costs of $30 for residents and $41 for non-residents, the competition promises an evening of diverse and dynamic performances. Cash prizes await the top talents in each category, adding an element of excitement to the friendly contest. This event not only celebrates the artistic prowess of Chandler’s youth but also offers a unique opportunity for community engagement and support for emerging talents. For more information, or to secure a spot in
what promises to be a memorable showcase of local talent, interested parties may reach out to Kennedy Terrill at kennedy.terrill@chandleraz.gov, call 480-7822730, or visit chandleraz.gov/events/youth-teen-talentcompetition-act-entry-deadline.
Tempe Unites for Green Future
Community collaboration transforms Cecil Shamley School with trees and gardens. Photo courtesy of city of Tempe
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empe’s efforts to cool and beautify several Tempe elementary schools continued on November 4 with a project at Cecil Shamley School in Tempe that brought dozens of volunteers together to plant 13 trees and completely refresh the community garden with new soil and plants.
The project was made possible thanks to a collaboration between public, private, and nonprofit partners, whose joint efforts are helping to expand shade coverage in Tempe. The city of Tempe’s Sustainability and Resilience Office teamed up with ASU HeatReady Schools, Trees Matter, Tempe Elementary School District, and Rio Reimagined to plant the trees with funding from State Farm, UPS, and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, Councilmember Berdetta Hodge, and 10 • December 2023 • THE KYRENE TIMES
Tempe Elementary School District Board Member Jim Lemmon also participated in the greening project.
foods in a sustainable way while offering the community an opportunity to recreate and come together.
These types of initiatives are part of a larger effort to increase shade canopy coverage in the city and create more resilience to extreme heat. Nearly 30 additional trees are being planted at three Tempe elementary schools in the coming months. The city has a goal of achieving a 25% tree and shade canopy in the city by 2040.
Earlier this year, State Farm awarded a $500,000 Century of Good grant to the city’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience to create a safer, stronger, and more resilient community by mitigating the negative effects of extreme heat.
Trees and community gardens offer many benefits, both within the neighborhood and as part of the larger community ecosystem. In addition to providing shade, trees can help reduce energy costs, clean water, and air, protect soil, and decrease the urban heat island effect. Desert-adapted trees—like those being planted as part of this initiative— are especially well suited to the Valley’s landscape. In addition, community gardens help improve access to fresh
Thanks in part to those funds, the Sustainability and Resilience Office is investing in green stormwater infrastructure, native tree planting, and renewable energy projects. EnVision Tempe, the city’s one-stop resource center and resilience hub, is scheduled to open soon.
treme heat and climate change impact all of us. By working together through projects like these, we can make the change for future generations and help build a resilient Tempe.” Tempe is taking action to reduce emissions and cultivate resilience by focusing on the guiding principles of fiscal responsibility, enterprise, equity, engagement, and effectiveness. Learn more about Tempe’s local actions to prevent global climate change at tempe.
“It’s inspiring to see community members, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector come together to make a difference right here in the Tempe community,” says Tempe’s Sustainability and Resilience Director Eric Iwersen. “Exmyhyperlocalnews.com
