Category: Cultural

United Way of Northern Arizona — Chamber Radio Program Features UWNA

I recently had the honor of being a guest on the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce’s radio show Bizz Buzz to talk about the United Way of Northern Arizona and our efforts to step up for our youth.

UWNA has been a proud Chamber member for many years. It was wonderful talking with Chamber President & CEO Julie Pastrick and sharing with her audience how we are expanding our efforts in positive youth development.

The NAU Review — Documenting conflict in the Balkans, favorite Flagstaff walks, new master’s degree in nursing

As a young person, Bill Carter went to the Balkans with $200 in his pocket and a yearning to do good. Decades later, that youthful impulse is still paying dividends: The NAU professor of practice recently collaborated with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and the band U2 on the documentary film “Kiss the Future,” about the bloody Siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s and U2’s efforts to raise awareness of the conflict. A free, public pre-screening and discussion of the film will take place on campus on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Jan. 15-19, 2024

Did you catch the pink glow the morning of January 17?

Hello, atmospheric optics! The sun emits white light, however, as the sunlight passes through the atmosphere during sunrise or sunset times, long-wavelength (red) light is scattered less than short-wavelength (blue) light. Therefore, red-ish colored light reaches the observer’s eyes and clouds aid to the pink color that could be observed.

Sedona Arts Center — Gallery 928 – Attention: High School Students

This summer, Sedona Arts Center will offer its third year of Gallery 928, a unique art apprenticeship program for teens ages 15 to 18. Based on Chicago’s Gallery 37 summer public art program started in the 1980s, students will be hired to apprentice with a master artist to create a public art mural for the Sedona Arts Center.

This job opportunity is open to up to 12 artistic teens interested in expanding their skills and knowledge in the public art field as well as learning other art mediums and techniques. In partnership with Yavapai College, the students chosen to participate in the program will receive 3 free college credits. Students will also be paid a stipend of $500from Sedona Arts Center for their participation.

Flagstaff City — Coconino County Public Library — Happening at your library week of Jan. 15, 2024

View this email in your browser January 15th, 2024 Connect with your community Library Closures Adult & All-Ages Events Book Clubs Youth Events Technology Help To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, please call 928-213-2331 (Downtown Library)…

Sedona Arts Center — Sign up for a new art class today!

Our 2024 Catalog of Classes and Workshops has arrived!
Our 2024 Spring Catalog of Art Workshops and Classes has arrived! Stop by and pick one up in our Uptown Gallery. And remember, you can always view it online at SedonaArtsCenter.org

You can also browse all our classes and workshops online:
Click here to see all of our classes and

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Jan. 8-12, 2024

Grand Canyon Dispatch reminds all residents, locals, and visitors that road information can always be found at 928-638-7496. This recorded line is updated with real-time information directly from units opening and closing the roads.

For State Route closures and other road closures within the state of Arizona, call Arizona DOT at 888-411-7623, visit them at AZ511.gov, and download the app.

Residents and employees are encouraged to sign up for Everbridge notifications in order to receive up to date inclement weather and roads information as they occur. To sign up, residents can follow this link.

The NAU Review — Our most read stories of 2023, a grant to address autism disparities and Sudipta Mallik’s love of math

What happened at NAU in 2023? From exciting grants and university announcements to Homecoming photos and inspirational student stories, relive some of the highlights you may have missed last year in The NAU Review with this list of most read stories (and a few of our other favorites)!

First Things First report details challenges facing Arizona’s youngest children

As we begin 2024, I’m looking forward to working with our state’s early childhood stakeholders – including parents and caregivers, child care and health providers, state and non-profit agencies, educators, businesses, philanthropists, faith organizations, policymakers and elected leaders – as partners in addressing children’s school readiness.

To help with those efforts, I am pleased to announce that First Things First has published the latest edition of Building Bright Futures – our biennial assessment on the status of Arizona’s youngest children. You can read more about the report on our latest blog.

The new report provides insight into the challenges facing young children in Arizona and details the need for continued work to ensure the future stability of child care in our state’s post-pandemic landscape.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Jan. 1-5, 2024

Want to stay up to date with park information, including road closures?

Sign up for Everbridge notifications!

The Everbridge platform sends real-time texts, emails, and/or calls to park employees, residents, and community members.

NPS Everbridge notifications are distributed for incidents impacting public safety, means of travel, work conditions, utility interruptions, and significant park-wide incidents. 

Below are examples of incidents that may require notifications:

Education Forward Arizona — Reflecting on a year of impact and influence

Building Bright Futures: One Student at a Time

Every student who walks across the stage, diploma in hand, is a testament to our important work and inspires us to keep moving forward. These students are the future of Arizona – and with each degree, we are closer to reaching our state’s Achieve60AZ attainment goal.

Here are just a few of the ways our work has made an impact on students’ lives this year:  

Flagstaff STEM City — Board Member Introduction: Tom Safranek

To me, the excitement around STEM is the potential for discovery, new fields of study and applications that make people’s lives better – both in the day-to-day and in the grander scheme of human exploration and endeavor.

Inspired by my fascination with STEM, I earned my degree in agriculture and plant science from the University of Arizona. I later went on to start my education career and taught 7th grade biology in Yuma and I’ve been working in education for the past 20 years.

FLagstaff Youth RiderS (FLYRS) — Cheers to 2023

2023 is almost over, and it’s time to reflect on what an exciting year it has been. We are so happy to have you all a part of FLYRS as we reached greater heights than ever before. With nearly 1000 youth served this year, we have worked further toward our mission of developing resilient, caring, and growth oriented youth through cycling. Thanks to your support, we have been able to strengthen our community by providing an ecosystem of bike-centric programs, events, and opportunities.

Check out this short reel of some fun moments from 2023.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Wishing you a very Happy New Year and thank you from CCC&Y

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

We want to wish you all a very Happy 2024.

We are so thankful for the support you have shown CCC&Y over the years.  We are looking forward to continuation of our Trauma-Informed systems work with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County under the “Reimagine Community” program and we are excited to expand our webinar offerings in the coming year.  We will be having guest presenters, new outreach, more prevention and more healing!

We are hoping to count on you for support!

If you need to renew a membership, would like to make a donation, would like to give the gift of membership during the holiday season etc….please visit https://coconinokids.org/contribute/

P.S., 

Change is coming in 2024 for our popular News website and our weekly e-newsletter. Our News website is currently under construction and will eventually merge with our main website this year.

As part of that move, our regular weekly e-newsletter is also transitioning to a fresh look for 2024.

And we want your help!

Please CLICK HERE to submit your suggestions to help us better design a weekly e-newsletter that better meets your needs in 2024.​​​​​​​

Thank you to everyone who has already provided some great suggestions for our newsletter. Very much appreciated.

Sedona Arts Center — Call to Artist — Application Deadline Jan. 26

Sedona Arts Center Artists of all levels, working in all mediums are invited to enter into our Annual Juried Exhibition & Sale. The exhibition will run from March 6-31, 2024

Monetary awards will be given for First Place/Best of Show Award ($500), Second ($250) and Third ($150) place.
Honorable mention awards will be awarded at the discretion of the jurors and no monetary amount attached.
People’s Choice Award is announced at the end of the show. No monetary attached.
DEADLINE for submission: January 26, 2024
How to Apply:

43rd JURIED ART EXHIBITION – Apply Online at Cafe – Click Here.

January 2024 at the Museum of Northern Arizona

Message from Mary –

As we all enter a new year and recover from the holidays, remember that a visit to the museum is a warm and welcome escape from winter. Come on a blustery day to enjoy the lush beauty of Tony Foster: Watercolour Diaries from the Green River. Visit alone when you need some calm and quiet or come with a friend for a social outing that prompts thoughtful discussion. No matter when you come or whom you visit with, museums are proven to be good for you, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, and connecting you to the wonders of the world. A visit to MNA is a great way to start the new year!

Theatrikos Theatre Co. January Newsletter – Classic American Comedy Harvey Opens Jan. 26

Theatrikos Theatre Company brings Mary Chase’s Harvey to the Flagstaff stage. A lovable and eccentric Pulitzer Prize winning classic American comedy about a perfect gentleman and his very strange best friend—a six foot tall invisible rabbit named Harvey. A charming, delightful and enchanting testimony towards the value of kindness over the importance of conventionality. 

Harvey’s Broadway debut ran for 1,775 performances. It has been revived on Broadway and London’s West End numerous times and has played all over the world. There have been three television adaptations and the famous Academy Award winning movie starring Jimmy Stewart.

Reach a vibrant, prosperous Latino audience. Plan your 2024 advertising with us now

Your advertisement will be seen by a Northern Arizona audience that is approaching 716,000 hits, nearly 30,000 visits and almost 13,000 unique visitors on our website as of Nov. 15, 2023.

Your advertisement will reach an Internet-savvy Latino audience in the 18- to 34-year-old demographic range.

Your advertisement will reach a targeted audience of key local Latino community and political leaders and nonprofit organizations who receive our weekly e-newsletter.

Let www.AmigosNAZ.com help your business or nonprofit organization have a successful 2024. Contact Frank X. Moraga at fmoraga@amigosnaz.com

Jan. 21 — Drawing Cultural Inspiration free talk at the Sedona Arts Center

This series, focused on Cultural Appropriation, has been a long time coming. This has been an issue here at Sedona Arts Center for many years but has never been addressed. When I began researching what other arts centers or museums had regarding policies on this topic, I came up short­­ – even at the national level. It was clear that this was a topic that needed further exploration. I contacted the Museum of Northern AZ to see if they might be interested in partnering with us on a lecture series to put this issue in context and inform a potential joint policy or working agreement and they jumped at the chance. We are extremely excited to offer this series of lectures in partnership with MNA and look forward to what we discover together.”

Jan. 27 — ‘Humor Healing,’ featuring James Junes and Talibah Begay, to be held at NAU

FLAGSTAFF — “Humor Healing,” featuring James Junes and Talibah Begay, will be held at at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at Ardrey Auditorium at Northern Arizona University.

Event is free, no tickets needed, and parking is in P13 lot behind Ardrey. The cost for parking is $3/hour and attendee may purchase the permit at the drive-up kiosk upon entering campus via the Riordan Road off Milton Road.

Feb. 18 — Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra announces Benefit Auction “My Favorite Things” website is now open

This is your chance to win beautiful pre-wrapped gift baskets, elegant jewelry, original pieces by local artists, tickets to area attractions, exciting vacation opportunities, and much more.

Here are just a few of the enticing items we’re highlighting of the 60 available. Click on the image to be taken there directly there:

Feb. 21 — Regional Plan Committee to review chapters of Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and Coconino County invite residents to attend meetings of the Regional Plan Committee as the Committee begins reviewing draft chapters of the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045. The first chapter to be reviewed focuses on natural resources, and the Committee will discuss the chapter on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at the City of Flagstaff Public Works Building (3200 W Route 66).  

Feb. 25 — Sedona Arts Center — Celebrate Sedona this Sunday, more events

FOOD, WINE, BEER, ARTIST DEMOS, SPECIAL EXHIBITION

Celebrate Sedona engages the local community while celebrating and
featuring local and regional arts, food and drink! Held at Sedona Arts Center,
Celebrate Sedona is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of our
community’s music, food, drink, and artistry.

March 1, 2 — NAU Department of Theatre is producing ‘Voices in America’

A modern retelling of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles.  The play is set in LA, and imagines that Oedipus is a young man in prison who is about to be released. He encounters Laius (his father) on the streets, they fight, and he kills Laius.  He then goes to the family compound of his friend from prison, Creon, asking to stay for a few days up to a week.  There he meets Jocasta, his mother and they have an instant connection.   

March 2 — Opening reception for Coconino Center for the Arts ‘Youth Arts 2024: Color Outside the Lines’

The annual Youth Arts exhibition showcases local youth artists in Coconino County and the regional community, exhibiting their recent artwork at Coconino Center for the Arts. The exhibition is open to and inclusive of all artwork submissions by youth artists (pre-K to 12th grade, living in Coconino or Navajo counties) that reflect the theme Color Outside the Lines. Our objective is to engage youth audiences throughout Northern Arizona and support a wide range of art disciplines. This exhibition is non-juried and all submissions were accepted.

March 4 — NAU to present ‘The Silver Women: How Black Women’s Labor Made the Panama Canal’

Flores-Villalobos argues that Black West Indian women fed, housed, and cared for the segregated Black West Indian labor force, subsidizing the construction effort. They did not hold contracts, had little access to official services and wages, and received pay in both silver and gold even though most other black workers were paid only in silver, while white workers were paid only in gold. West Indian women developed important strategies that helped them navigate the U.S. empire and nurtured further West Indian migrations, linking Panama to Harlem and Cuba.

Through March 29 — Sedona Arts Center — 43rd Annual Juried Members Exhibition Now Showing!

The Annual Juried Members Art Exhibition & Sale, our community’s largest and longest-running exhibition, showcases both 2D and 3D artwork in a range of mediums and styles by emerging and established artists. From drawing, painting and photography to jewelry, wood and fiber art, more than 80 artworks by 75 SAC member artists from across the country will be displayed.

“The members’ show features imaginative artworks by artists of all ages and experience levels, from nationally and internationally known professionals to first-time exhibitors,” says Julie Richard, CEO of Sedona Arts Center.

Through March — ‘Resilience: Women in Flagstaff’s Past and Present’ exhibit on display at Historic Ice House in downtown Flagstaff

Exhibit includes 20 panels showcasing inspiring and impactful local women throughout Flagstaff’s history including past and present Hispanic residents Delia Ceballos Muñoz, Procure Vergara Martinez, Noemi A., Jessie Jimenez Alonzo, Bonn Baudelaire

FLAGSTAFF — Culture Connection AZ and the Martin-Springer Institute are presenting the historical exhibit Resilience: Women in Flagstaff’s Past and Present at the Historic Ice House in downtown Flagstaff. The exhibit will be on display for the full month of March, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm.

The stories of women presented in the Resilience exhibit cover each decade from the 1880s to 2020s in the former pioneer and mountain town of Flagstaff in northern Arizona. Women have been part of Flagstaff’s social fabric from its very beginnings in the 1880s. Throughout the decades, women have shaped the town’s development as public figures and caretakers. Through their stories, we can trace societal changes in a small town of America’s Southwest.

April 3 — NAU Dept. of History will present ‘Parade for a Cartel: Criminal Complicity and the Takeover of States in Latin America’

Dr. Matthew Hone will discuss the takeover of Latin American states by organized crime in the context of the history of state-sponsored violence in Latin America.

April 6 — AZ Cultural Connection to present ‘Places of Flagstaff’

The “Places of Flagstaff” event promises an unforgettable afternoon that will ignite your senses and foster a vibrant sense of community spirit. Renowned Flagstaff artist Eric Kruse will take center stage, unveiling his extraordinary wood art creations. These hand-carved portraits, landscapes, and logos pay homage to the iconic businesses that define our beloved city, encapsulating Flagstaff’s cultural heritage.

April 11 — NAU will present ‘Electrifying Mexico — Technology and Transformation of a Modern City’

Montaño explores the role of electricity in Mexico’s economic and political evolution. She outlines the ways that the coal-deficient country pioneered large-scale hydroelectricity and sought to face the world as a scientifically enlightened “empire of peace.” Montaño documents inventions and adaptations that served local needs while fostering new ideas of time and space, body and self, the national and the foreign. Complicating historical discourses in which Latin Americans merely use technologies developed elsewhere, here Montaño emphasizes a particular national culture of scientific progress and its contributions to a uniquely Mexican modernist political subjectivity.

April 12 — NAU Dept. of History to present talk on ‘Yerba Mate: The Drink that Shaped a Nation’

FLAGSTAFF — The NAU Dept. of History will present a talk with author Julia Sarreal (ASU, History) on her new book: “Yerba Mate: The Drink that Shaped a Nation,” at 12:30 p.m. April 12 at Liberal Arts Building 136.

Her second book is the first to explore the history of Yerba Mate, an iconic beverage in Argentina, from the precolonial period to the present.

The event is co-sponsored by the NAU Latin American Studies.

April 21 — NAU to present Luis Alberto Urrea — “The Typewriter in My Kitchen: One Writer’s Fable

Luis Alberto Urrea, a Guggenheim Fellow and Pulitzer Prize finalist, is the author of 19 books including Devils Highway and House of Broken Angels. Join him for an evening in Cline Library Assembly Hall as he tells his story of growing up with the arts and humanities as a crucial lifeline to the world beyond his modest home.

May 23 — Registration has begun for inaugural Northern Arizona Anti-Hunger Summit in Flagstaff

The Northern Arizona Anti-Hunger Summit (NAAHS) will explore human-food relationships and how northern Arizona’s systems impact this connection. The summit will explore the diversity in food system histories, challenges, diets, cultures, and food justice solutions.

Through June 8 — Coconino Center for the Arts to present Chilean artist Francisco Gonzalez Castro’s exhibit ‘Bodies, Limits, and Transgressions’

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Center for the Arts will present Chilean artist Francisco Gonzalez Castro’s exhibition “Bodies, Limits, and Transgressions” through June. 8.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Looking Back & Planning Ahead

This year has been one of change and progress for United Way of Northern Arizona.

Before we take a look at some of the biggest events that defined this year, I wanted to thank you not only for your support of UWNA, but also for the kindness you have shown me during my first year as the President & CEO of this superb nonprofit.

When I joined UWNA, I was thrilled to help lead a nonprofit known for its ability to address the big issues and be an agent for change. The Board of Directors and staff of UWNA are committed to amplifying UWNA’s role as a community convener in 2024 and beyond.

Thank you for your support of UWNA in the past year and for living United in Purpose.

You can you still make a donation to Theatrikos

December is the time of year for charitable giving. And to become a member of Theatrikos. We hope you’ll become a member today so Theatrikos can keep bringing the best theatre to Northern Arizona.

We’ve only been able to reopen because pandemic relief grants and annual memberships have made it possible. But disaster relief is pretty much over. So annual memberships are all the more important. Your donation will make a difference.

City of Flagstaff announces holiday closures

FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff City Hall will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25 and Monday, Jan. 1 for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Closures and reopening schedules for other City facilities and services are listed below.

Sedona Arts Center — Upcoming Art Classes and Workshops in Sedona!

Taking Classes and Workshops on our campus in Uptown Sedona affords the opportunity not only to explore the arts, but also to meet new people and immerse yourself in the Sedona arts community. We also have a variety of online workshops as well.

Besides what you see in this email, there are more offerings on our website. 
Click here to see all of our classes and workshops.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — An Invitation to the Flagstaff Community

We’re very pleased with the outcome of the vote on Proposition 480 where 73% of voters chose to overturn the NAH request to rezone 98 acres near Ft. Tuthill for a new hospital. F3, in coalition with others, helped make this happen. We gathered signatures to ensure the referendum was placed on the ballot, we worked to educate the community about the choices posed and the consequences of the vote. Flagstaff spoke loud and clear and in a non-partisan manner against a new hospital and wellness village on the edge of town.
 

With the rejection of 480, Flagstaff is now provided with a great opportunity! We can now start a true community discussion about the healthcare needs in Northern Arizona. Here’s what F3 believes must happen now:

Community gathers for traditional Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration in Flagstaff

FLAGSTAFF — More than 100 luminarias surrounded Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Chapel as traditional music could be heard coming from inside during the annual Celebration Our Lady of Guadalupe held Dec. 12, 2023 in Flagstaff.

Participants to the Celebration met the previous evening at the chapel to take part in a procession to San Francisco de Asis Church on Route 66. After a scheduled brief stop at the Flagstaff Fire Dept.Station 2 for coffee and other drinks and sweets, participants walked up to the church watch a dance by Las Matachines de San Francisco de Asis, the Rosary (led by teens), a play and consecration to Mary.

At the celebration on Dec. 12 at the chapel, participants were greeted by the glow  luminaries surrounding the chapel. placed by members of  Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces.

The celebration included a Rosary, lead by Las Guadalupanas, followed by the presentation of Las Mañanitas, the Mass in English, with coffee, Mexican chocolate and pan dulce served in the church’s basement.

CHAC, other County Diversity Councils celebrate the holiday season by participating in the 2023 Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights

FLAGSTAFF — Despite of chilly evening that started in the low ’30s, throngs of families lined the streets of downtown Flagstaff to watch the annual Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights held on Dec. 9, 2023.

Presented by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and the Vora Financial Group, the parade featured more than 60 entries, including Coconino County and members from the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC), the County’s Diversity Council and other supporters.

Banners displayed on the decorated vehicles included those from CHAC, the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Council and the African Diaspora Advisory Council.

‘That Others May Live: CCC Student CJ Crowley Takes a Selfless Stand’

FLAGSTAFF — CJ Crowley stands in the CCC Commons posing for his picture – his demeanor is calm, cool and collected. Crowley, a 29-year-old native of Loma Linda, California, is known on CCC’s campus as a man of many lived experiences.  In his words, “Everyone has a story maybe mine will resonate with readers. I hope it does. I want others to know that you don’t have to let past mistakes define you.”

Crowley’s journey began with a childhood marked by constant change, as his father, a minister in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, led the family on a journey to various places. Eventually, CJ found himself in Arkansas, where he attended a Christian boarding school. It was there that he was invited to join the gymnastics team.

“I was a ground tumbler, and my favorite move was the full layout,” Crowley recalls, reflecting on his early days in gymnastics. He excelled in the sport, staying active and even playing basketball while gaining skills in gymnastics. His talents on the mat did not go unnoticed, and he was offered a gymnastics scholarship at Southwestern University in Texas. Crowley earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology, but he soon realized that the traditional 9-to-5 employment in his chosen career field was not fulfilling.

With a family background steeped in military service, including his father’s service during the Cold War and his brother’s tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was only natural that the military presented itself as a potential path.

Green Party of Coconino County Qualifies for 2024 Ballot

COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County’s Elections Department would like to announce that the Green Party of Coconino County has qualified as a new party for County races in the 2024 Primary and General Elections.

On November 17, 2023 the Green Pary of Coconino County filed a purported 258 petition sheets with 1,993 signatures. Upon receipt and after processing, the Coconino County Elections Department (Elections) counted 1,997 signatures submitted and rejected 42 petition signatures pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-803(B). 

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Dec. 11-15, 2023

Portions of the North Kaibab trail, between Manzanita and Supai Tunnel, will be closed beginning at sunrise on Monday, December 18 and ending at sunset on Sunday, December 24. Closures will be in effect from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. to allow for contractors to install seismic survey nodes in Roaring Springs Canyon.

Work crews will be installing survey nodes in highly technical terrain above the trail, which may result in inadvertent and unpredictable rock fall onto the North Kaibab Trail. These survey nodes are small, wireless sensors that will be able to detect and record seismic activity in the area.

For the latest trail updates, please visit the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates page.