One windy and cold October Saturday, almost 50 Seattleites zipped up their rain jackets, put on gardening gloves, and gathered at Be’er Sheva Park. Serve Ethiopians Washington (SEW) rallied the group to plant trees in this lakeside park along the southwestern shore of Lake Washington as part of Green Seattle Day. This annual event, hosted by Seattle Parks and Recreation, encourages community members to join local organizations in caring for parks across the city.
The crowd at Be’er Sheva Park included Girl Scouts earning their tree badge, apartment dwellers eager to nurture their green thumbs, members of youth programs giving back to their community, neighbors invested in the place they call home, and dedicated volunteers returning for another SEW restoration event. Despite the gusty weather, the group radiated positivity and cheer as they planted over 100 native trees and shrubs.
Restoration work is vital to Puget Sound ecosystems. But events like this are about more than restoring habitats. They help people feel rooted, connected to the land and to one another, even in a big city.
Serving the Community and the Environment
Armaye Eshete founded Serve Ethiopians Washington during the height of the pandemic. What began as mutual aid for Ethiopian and East African refugees and immigrants has since grown into a pillar of the community. The organization offers youth soccer leagues, senior support, voter education, and technological assistance. Increasingly, SEW has made environmental stewardship a core part of its work, viewing care for the land as care for community.
At Be’er Sheva Park, SEW leads ongoing efforts to remove invasive species and plant native trees and shrubs. While the SEW team often works in the park two or three times a month, Green Seattle Day provides extra hands and resources once a year.
Over time, these efforts have helped transform this once degraded landscape choked by blackberry bushes into a young forest habitat. Already, birds have returned to areas once overtaken by invasive brush and the park is being enjoyed by neighbors, many of whom are Ethiopian immigrants who find a sense of familiarity in its shade and shoreline.
Inspiring Connection and Impact
The day’s event was organized by Nagessa Dube, a lawyer and SEW’s programs director. “We are not only planting trees,” Nagessa said. “We are building community and making our environment healthier for future generations.”
He spoke about the cultural significance of environmental stewardship in the Ethiopian community. “We have a deep connection and dedication to nature back home,” he said. “For example, in Oromo tradition, trees hold profound cultural, legal, and social significance, serving as courts, gathering places, and symbols tied to clans and rituals, which historically protected them from destruction. Similarly, in Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, water is deeply revered for its spiritual and healing power. Living away from home, you can get homesick and miss these connections.”
Working in this park sparks that connection, provides comfort, and has a healing power for both people and place.
Volunteers felt the benefits too. One said, “I want to get to know my community and give back in some way. I experience climate anxiety and doing something like this that makes small local change feels like a meaningful way to address the larger issues we’re all concerned about.”
As people feel a sense of belonging, the environment heals. Native trees filter water and air, provide habitat for wildlife, and build climate resilience. This focus on urban forestry is especially important considering Seattle has lost significant tree canopy in recent decades, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods
Building on the Momentum
Many hands made light work, and the group planted all the trees with time to share a hot drink and homemade meal. The warmth among the volunteers was unmistakable and the day reflected something simple and powerful: caring for a place together deepens the sense of belonging.
After a day of muddy hands and lively music, Nagessa and his team packed up with renewed energy. They are looking forward to further strengthening the partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation to include other parks and increase their impact across the region. “We want to do more,” he said with a smile.
