Eastlake is one of nine communities represented in the inaugural Arizona Creative Communities Institute, a learning program wherein diverse teams from Arizona cities, towns, and neighborhoods reimagine community assets and devise meaningful projects that place creative engagement, ethical and equitable practices, and local wisdom at the center.

Team Members & Collaborators

The list below includes persons affiliated with the team at any point in the 2+ year engagement:

Talonya Adams, Attorney; Senior Policy Advisor, Arizona State Senate

Virgil J. Berry, President, Berry Realty & Associates

Rod Grimes, Artist; Senior Account Manager at The Arizona Informant

Ronn Turner, Artist; President/Founder, Phoenix Peace Memorial Benefit Festival

Richard Yarbough, Executive Director, Pilgrim Rest Foundation, Inc.

About Eastlake

“Eastlake is a diverse community with the feel of independent urban sensibility and vacancy. As a teenager my mother would ride the bus with her cousins, without my grandmother’s permission, to go swim at the pool and gallivant in the Eastlake Park. As a child I was baptized at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. Today, spend a Sunday in Eastlake and you will be blessed by a spirit lifting sermon at one of the many legacy churches, enjoy a soul food lunch at Mrs. White’s Golden Rule CafĂ©, hit the new walking trail and visit the civil rights memorial at Eastlake Park. Cross the street northbound on 15th and Jefferson and you’re at Councilman Goode’s home of 60+ years, head west and get on the light rail, the next stop is the center of downtown Phoenix. While not yet the anticipated 2020 vibrant environment, it has all the key ingredients to be: Eastlake is rich with cultural heritage and opportunity, it is a place of discovery, full of surprises with a burgeoning hidden vibe. Stay tuned.”

Talonya Adams, AZ CCI Team Eastlake

Project

Employing storytelling, documentary film, and jazz performances, Team Eastlake endeavored to amplify the neighborhood’s cultural and historical assets, elevate positive perceptions, and contribute to an inclusive, reimagined Eastlake. An additional project is under exploration, to redesign community signage and revitalize a local vehicle/pedestrian bridge—gateways to the community—to reflect the rich history of the place and its residents.

Photos

AZ CCI: Eastlake

Additional Information and Project Updates