Live HealthSmart Alabama, a program of the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center, in partnership with Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club, hosted a tree planting event in Titusville on November 9, 2020.

Titusville, a community rooted in rich civil rights history, has been suffering from blight, abandoned homes and businesses, and a lack of resources. Live HealthSmart Alabama is partnering with community leaders to encourage energy for change, with Titusville as one of its four demonstration communities. Live HealthSmart Alabama’s built environment team, has been working hard to create and implement plans that improve the health and wellness of the community.

Titusville Development Corporation spokesperson, Archie Hill said, “Today, when you plant a tree, know that it is more than a tree for this community. It is hope. It is revitalization. It is a reincarnation of this community.”

Working together, Titusville residents joined UAB employees for the implementation of this transformative event.

“The Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club has been involved with community service projects in Birmingham for over 30 years, so its’ great to be a part of this revitalization effort in the Titusville community,” club president Counce Drinkard said. “We are excited about the opportunities UAB’s Live HealthSmart Alabama has planned and look forward to supporting those community-focused projects in the future.”

Other partners include: UAB Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center, Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council, the City of Birmingham, and TreesBirmingham.