The 2012 Trees 4 Life project culminated in a community tree-planting event, “A Day of Healing,” at the Jungle Hill park in East Oakland on April 28th, 2012. This event was inspired by Growing a Global Heart’s memorial tree planting vision and they were a key visionary in planning the tree planting ritual. The community gathering was an opportunity for people to plant the trees in honor of people that died on the streets of Oakland. The tree planting process was an affirmation of creating new life in Oakland, while healing the earth as we heal the human community. The event was a collaboration of youth and staff from United Roots, the Trees 4 Life youth crew, the Urban Releaf staff and youth volunteers, Belvie Rooks and Dedan Gills from Growing a Global Heart, Zakiya Harris from Grind for the Green and Earthseed Consulting, Nicole Lee and Xiomara Castro from Urban Peace Movement, community members and elders from the Jungle Hill community, as well as an assortment of volunteers from the Bay Area community including photographers Susan Lambert and Steve Uzzell doing photography. As people planted over 8 trees in the Jungle Hill park, as well as dedication tree with a plaque, youth from Trees 4 Life performed spoken word and songs. The opening ritual included an invocation song by Luta, from the Ohlone Sogorea Te Warriors, as well as an opening statement from Dedan Gills of Growing a Global Heart (his statement is below). The Trees 4 Life short film will include footage from the event and will be released in June 2012 (to be available on the United Roots website).