Tucson Spotlight

12/18/2024

We're getting ready to break for the holidays, but we've got a handful of stories to share before we do. Up first, Spotlight intern McKenna Manzo writes about Kindred Connections, a wellness collective that offers support and services to Black, Indigenous and People of Color, two-spirit, gender non-comforming, and q***r individuals in Southern Arizona. The group is in the third year of it's Q***r Cheer program, a three-step initiative that connects people with customized wellness boxes, a holiday meal and support.

The organization operates on a holistic model and seeks to teach people how to live in wellness. KCC considers all aspects of wellness, including the spiritual and emotional sense.

12/15/2024

Spotlight editor Susan wrote about Derechos Humanos' celebration commemorating this week's International Migrants Day and explored the contributions of migrants and the ongoing challenges they face. Venezuelans have been fleeing their country for nearly a decade, following an economic collapse in 2014 and U.S. sanctions a few years later. Protests erupted over the state of the country and with protestors facing government persecution and violence, many have been forced to flee the country. Read the full story here.

Local human rights advocacy group Derechos Humanos is commemorating International Migrants Day Saturday from 3-6 p.m. at the Global Justice Center.

12/14/2024

Spotlight intern Abbie writes about the Reveille Men's Chorus, which despite its name is open to singers of all gender identities. The group will be performing its 30th annual Holiday Spectacular show at the Temple of Music and Art Saturday and Sunday, with tickets available to purchase online or at the door. The chorus is a tight-knit group, but committed to creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming space for members of the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Read the full story here.

The group is holding its 30th annual Holiday Spectacular show at the Temple of Music and Art Saturday and Sunday, with tickets available to purchase online or at the door.

12/13/2024

Spotlight reporter Isabela attended a film screening and panel at the YWCA of Southern Arizona last weekend that focused on the challenges faced by children who have a parent that has spent time in prison or jail. The panel of local experts discussed the impact of incarceration on these families, following the screening of the mini-documentary The Forgotten Prisoner, which highlights the emotional and social struggles of children who are separated from their parents due to incarceration. Read the full story here.

More than 2.7 million children in the U.S. have an incarcerated parent. A panel of local experts discussed the impact of incarceration on families, following a Saturday screening of the mini-documentary "The Forgotten Prisoner."

12/12/2024

Spotlight reporter Angelina wrote about the Pima County Board of Supervisor's vote to extend through June 2026 its Emergency Eviction Legal Services program, which was launched in 2021 and has supported 464 individuals, including 229 children. Through the program, the county operates a low-barrier shelter at the city-owned Craycroft Shelter, whose residents have had an extremely high success rate when it comes to securing permanent housing. Read the full story here.

The Craycroft Shelter, formerly The Knights Inn, serves as a key component of the program, providing 67 rooms for families and individuals in need.

12/12/2024

Spotlight intern Lauryn wrote about the Town of Marana's online dashboard aimed at keeping residents and developers updated on the community’s growth. The platform, which was created to address frequent questions from community members, provides real-time insights into public and private development projects, including permits, inspections, and planning updates and offers a clear and transparent view of Marana’s ongoing growth. Read the full story here.

The dashboard is designed to meet the needs of both curious residents and commercial developers. Users can explore detailed project information, including locations, project types, and progress updates.

12/11/2024

Spotlight reporter Angelina wrote about a professor with The University of Arizona who's leading the charge to address the lack of accurate and accessible flood maps for underserved communities. Beth Tellman, co-founder and chief science officer of Floodbase, has been working for years to spotlight the critical issue of outdated flood data—especially in vulnerable areas, where reliable flood maps are either outdated or completely missing. Read the full story here.

Flood hazard maps determine flood zones, guide disaster response, and set flood insurance requirements. But many counties, don't have access to these maps.

12/11/2024

Spotlight intern Olivia profiled Tucsonan Joe Watson, a journalist turned prison reform advocate who shared his recent efforts to bring attention to Arizona's felony disenfranchisement laws. Watson spent seven years in prison before going to work for American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization that aims to “challenge injustice and build conditions for lasting peace.” Now, Watson runs his own strategic communication agency for mission-driven organizations while fighting for criminal justice reform. Read the full story here.

Joe Watson has been working in prison reform advocacy for years, including his recent efforts to bring attention to Arizona's felony disenfranchisement laws.

12/10/2024

Pima Community College is expanding its newly launched climate education curriculum, which includes a suite of general education classes that students can apply to a variety of majors. The program was created through the college’s Climate Action and Sustainability Plan, which was implemented in 2022, and is led by Crystal McKenna. The idea isn't to churn out climate scientists or environmental activists, but rather to let students apply the concepts into their field of choice. Read the full story here.

The program was created through the college’s Climate Action and Sustainability Plan, which was implemented in 2022.

12/10/2024

Spotlight intern Lauryn writes about updates to the Town of Marana's Public Art Policy, which was launched last November and creates guidelines and funding for projects in the community. A year after its implementation, the town council approved a handful of recent changes to the policy recommended by town officials and advisory committee members to improve clarity and functionality. Read the full story here.

The policy outlines criteria for public art installations and creates funding for projects that meet the criteria.

12/10/2024

Spotlight team members Angelina and Caitlin were on hand last week to watch representatives from the nonprofit I Am You 360 cut the ribbon on Tucson's first tiny home village. The project is three years and $1.9 million in the making, with dozens of community members turning out to celebrate the milestone. The homes will be occupied by young people who have aged out of the foster care system, with half of their rent being held in an account to be used for a down payment on a home of their own. Read the full story here.

The village is made up of nine 450-square-foot, eco-friendly tiny homes and a larger community gathering center that includes a meeting area, kitchen and sleeping area for an on-site behavioral support specialist.

12/09/2024

Spotlight intern McKenna profiled Colette Barajas, who opened one of Tucson's first le***an bars, in 1983. Colette’s West was located on North First Avenue and became a safe haven for members of the LGBTQ community and just about everyone else. Barajas has spent decades advocating for LGBTQ rights and continues to do so in her current volunteer work. Read the full story here.

Colette Barajas opened Colette's West, one of Tucson's first le***an bars, on North First Avenue in 1983.

12/04/2024

A new leadership group took the helm in South Tucson today, so Tucson Spotlight Deputy Editor Susan Barnett decided to take a deeper look at some of the history, nuances and key issues that will shape the future of the body that governs the 1.2-square-mile city. While all council members are coming in with their own priorities, they will be tasked with addressing the same issues. Read about it here.

While all council members are coming in with their own priorities, they will be tasked with addressing the same issues.

12/03/2024

Tucson Spotlight is featuring a pair of stories today that you can't read about anywhere else. First up, reporter Isabela Gamez writes about the final meeting of the Rez Babes Book Club, which was formed during the pandemic to support Native and Indigenous authors. The club has grown to 150 members in a handful of countries and inspired some to start telling their own stories, but a lack of time and funding means that its days are numbered. Read about it here.

Rez Babes Book Club started as a group of about 20 people, but quickly grew into a monthly virtual gathering of up to 150 people from around the world.

12/03/2024

It's Giving Tuesday, and while there are no shortage of amazing causes, we'd like to make a case for supporting our community-based newsroom. Tucson Spotlight launched just over two months ago, and in that time we've:

*Published 160 stories to our website, with 55 of those stories available in Spanish.

*Created dozens of TikTok and Instagram reels to accompany our stories and reached tens of thousands of consumers who prefer not to read their news.

*Added three local reporting positions to the pool of Southern Arizona journalists.

*Provided paid internships to four University of Arizona students this semester.

*Covered topics you can't read about anywhere else, including news out of Marana, Oro Valley, South Tucson, Nogales, the University of Arizona and local K-12 schools.

*Featured regular coverage about businesses and people working to solve problems and make our community a better place.

One of our goals in launching was to spotlight underserved communities, and we're proud to say we've done just that. We've also managed to create a newsroom, despite our lack of a physical office. Spotlight has become a hub of learning for up-and-coming journalists, creating a mentorship network where newer reporters can learn from their more experienced counterparts.

We have big plans to add some new areas of coverage and expand our Spanish-language reporting and social media presence, but we can't do that without the community's support. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our newsroom today. You can find more details at https://tucson-spotlight.monkeypod.io/give/support-tucson-spotlight