When Vanessa Castillo began playing with the idea of organizing a spring celebration for East Palo Alto families, she didn’t know what kind of reception she would get from the wider community.
Castillo, a community engagement coordinator with the CORA, a nonprofit that supports individuals who experience partner abuse, wanted to create a place of unity, where community members could come together in a fun and friendly environment. So she went looking for collaborations.
First, she called Shirley Poitier, the program management officer with the East Palo Alto nonprofit RISE, which operates out of East Palo Alto’s Little Blue House. Poitier loved the idea of a spring community event, and not only offered to host it at her organization’s space, but proposed expanding it by getting the local library involved as well.
Castillo then pitched the idea to East Palo Alto Library community program specialist Kenny Gabe, and was met with immediate enthusiasm.
“We were like, yes! Can we bring friends?” Gabe recalled responding. Shortly after, nonprofits Canopy and Ecumenical Hunger Program added their names to the lineup.
“It was like the Justice League — all of us coming together to figure out how we could do this,” Gabe said.
RISE, CORA, Canopy, Ecumenical Hunger Program, and the East Palo Alto Library each contributed to and helped promote the event.
Their collaborative efforts resulted in the “Family Spring Hunt,” an event that brought 180 people, and at least 90 children, to the spacious and kid-friendly backyard of the Little Blue House in East Palo Alto on Friday afternoon.
Just 30 minutes into the two-hour event, the backyard was already buzzing with excitement. A group of adults and kids sat in a circle, singing and drumming on cajóns. Kids chased each other around a play structure while giggling toddlers on tricycles wobbled through a maze of mingling parents. Families chatted over pizza and snacks at picnic tables in the shade, while others browsed nonprofit booths to learn about community services and resources.
It was like the Justice League — all of us coming together to figure out how we could do this.
Kenny Gabe, community program specialist, East Palo Alto Library
For many families, one of the most exciting parts of the event was being able to go home with their own fruit tree. In an effort to grow urban tree canopy across the Midpeninsula, the nonprofit Canopy has been helping to plant trees in neighborhoods with low tree canopy coverage such as East Palo Alto. Handing out potted trees at events like the Family Spring Hunt is a new strategy that Canopy Executive Director JD Renaud says makes it easier for renters to bring trees into their outdoor spaces.
Canopy arrived at the event with 25 potted fruit tree saplings for families to take home and plant— all of which were gone within an hour. “The reaction when people realize that they can have a tree too, even though they can’t plant it… there is a joy that you see in people’s eyes,” Renaud said of watching families sign up to take a tree.
As the event came to a close, families lined up to receive decorated plastic Easter eggs and goody bags – necessary finishing touches on a spring-themed family event. The line weaved through the backyard, but no one seemed to mind the wait as parents continued to chat and kids continued to run and play.
Castillo says that, while they can’t yet promise the same event for next year, CORA does plan to partner with other community agencies and nonprofits for more community events in the future.
“This just came together, and I’m so happy and I’m so proud of us,” Castillo said, tearing up a little as she looked out over the event. “Because this is what community partnership is, you know? Getting together with community partners in the same city, and [saying] let’s make this event happen for families… and we made it happen.”
