There is actually no such thing as a Palavra Tree. The name and its concept is based on the behavior of tribal leaders in early Africa, who would gather beneath a native tree to discuss solutions to problems facing thier communities. On of the plains of Africa, that mighty tree is known as the Baobab tree.

Despite its massive size, the Baobab never gets too far off the ground. Its sturdy, wrinkled trunk, inches upward like so many slats in a barrel. Its sprawling branches reach outward, instead of upward, as if to protect the land that gives it life.

As the guardian of its surroundings, the Baobab is a very patient tree; by day it allows itself to be used as a
scratching post by elephants and other beasts of the African plain. Once the sun goes down, the Baobab becomes a home for the creatures of the night. Bats and owls hide among its branches, gazing out on a world that was old when recorded time began.

Experts guess that some Baobabs have existed for 2,500 years.

If so, these trees are among the oldest living things on earth. Rocked by the wind and teased by the rain, these great trees have held fast to the grassy earth. In the earth they have found a way to endure.

In some respects, the story of the Baobab tree is Africa itself. Like the branches of the "barrel tree", most
Africans have sought to protect the land, which gives them life.

To a herder or farmer, this is merely a matter of common sense. The land, after all, is a provider a producer of
food, but to most Africans, the land has a much deeper significance. It is a resting place for ancestors, a home for the living and a promise of life for those yet unborn.

Palavra:

A long discussion of persons of different levels of culture, a knowledge; a conference of discussion. Webster's New World Dictionary

Palavra:

(Spanish) Word; a discussion between individuals for the purpose of achieving a higher level of understanding.

Palavra Tree:

A place where community people of different levels of culture and knowledge meet, to discuss or confer, and define the precise nature of alcohol and drug related problems for themselves and develop local solutions.

Our staff cares about people and knows how to help you. We welcome you as fellow humans in need, not as clients to be treated by experts. We provide an environment that is alcohol, tobacco, and drug free, and a feeling of care, concern,love, and understanding.

The Palavra Tree Inc. is The Baobab Tree of the City of San Diego.