
COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, recently sat down with KAFF Country for a recent Pete’s Community Cafe interview on childhood trauma issues impacting youth and families in the region and the use of techniques to promote healing, growth and build resiliency.
During the interview, Watahomigie discussed how CCC&Y tackles the issue through a variety of online training programs on its https://coconinokids.org/prevention/ webpage.

Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.

As the United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) grows in its commitment to Step Up for Our Youth, it’s important to ensure that the work we do aligns with our three core areas of focus: early childhood development, positive youth development, and supporting families in need.
With that in mind, we’ve been working diligently to transition the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant program to trusted partners so that thousands of local tax filers who have relied on VITA services in the past will continue to have access to them.
We are pleased to announce that United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona (UWTSA) and Northland Free Tax Assistance (NFTA) will be coordinating efforts to provide VITA services this year in our region. We are grateful to these two organizations for continuing our work so that northern Arizonans will keep receiving the tax refunds and credits they are entitled to.

Community members are preventing type 2 diabetes together with the FREE PreventT2 lifestyle change program offered by North Country HealthCare. Guided by a trained lifestyle coach, groups of participants are learning the skills they need to make lasting changes such as losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress.

The Coconino County COVID-19 testing site located at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff will move to a new location effective Saturday, Jan. 23.
The move to the new site at Coconino Community College (CCC), 2800 S Lone Tree Rd. will allow the County to expand vaccine administration at Fort Tuthill County Park and at mobile sites throughout the County when additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine become available.

Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.

Online learning opportunities are perfect for students who are interested in taking one of our educational opportunities, but prefer to work at home. These learning opportunities provide a well-rounded experience in various visual art mediums.
Our workshops are live online learning experiences with one-on-one interaction between student and instructor. Click here to see all our online learning opportunities

The Coconino County ADAC is now accepting entries for its Black History Month Essay Contest. The essay contest is open to all elementary through high school students in Coconino County.
Essays submissions will center around the theme of the Black family and must be received by Feb. 19.
“This is our ninth year holding the essay contest and it really is such a joy to read these beautifully crafted pieces from children of all ages. This year, our essay prompts center around the Black family, which has been described by some as a microcosm of the entire Black/African-American race. We are offering a number of prompts for students based on their level of school and are eager to hear from them about examples of the Black family and community,” said Khara House Chair of ADAC.

The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth will present “Igniting Collective Action: Moving Beyond ACEs” at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 via Zoom. Click here to register.
Imagine a community in which the effects of childhood trauma are clearly understood, the impact of inequitable experience is acknowledged, and people are aligned toward creating equitable access to assets and protective factors that support positive life outcomes. This training will explore the roadmap to creating change at the community and system level by using the findings of both leadership research and today’s thought leaders.
*Recommended one-hour prerequisite available for community members with limited background about the research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is available at https://coconinokids.org/prevention/

NOW FEATURING:
Nancy Black, Christine Debrosky, John Foster, Chikako Myers, Joan Roberts, and Julie Ronning Talbot
The Center’s Fine Art Gallery showcases the largest selection in Sedona of artwork by local artists. If you are seeking a rare piece of fine art, a gift of exquisite jewelry, appreciate stunning photography, or looking for a lovely keepsake from your visit to Sedona, the Arts Center has it all and more. The Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax – almost a 10% savings.
The Fine Art Gallery is currently open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. Sedona Arts Center is located at 15 Art Barn Road in Uptown Sedona.
Our new online gallery represents a full spectrum of the diversity of artists represented by the arts center. Visit us today!

Coconino County will join the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s memorial to remember and honor the lives lost to COVID-19.
Starting at 3:30 p.m. Arizona Time, 5:30 p.m. E.T, Americans will come together for a national moment of unity and remembrance. To participate, individuals should light a candle in their window. They may also tune in at 5:30 p.m. ET for a ceremony with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, featuring the first-ever lighting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to honor those who have died.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18, Coconino County invites the community to participate in service. Join Coconino County in creating signs with positive messages for community members and messages of thanks for essential workers and healthcare personnel. Throughout this week, the community is encouraged to hang signs in their windows, yards, or cars to spread positivity throughout the community and to thank essential workers.

Williams resident Eric Eikenberry has been appointed to the Coconino Community College District Governing Board.
“All of my adult life, I’ve been a huge advocate and supportive of the community college mission,” Eikenberry said. “And since I’ve been living here, I’ve supported the CCC mission in particular. I’m delighted to be appointed and can’t wait to serve our students and community.”

The Trump administration announced on January 12, 2021 the plan to release additional doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to states to expand vaccinations to individuals age 65 and older.
Moments after sending a news release about the County awaiting guidance from Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) on this matter, ADHS announced the inclusion of those individuals as priority populations within Phase 1b.

Flagstaff city administrative functions will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. City Hall administrative functions will reopen on Jan. 19 with regular hours of 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library and East Flagstaff Public Library will also be closed on Jan. 18. Both locations will resume curbside hold pickup and phone reference services on Jan. 19.

I have had the blessed opportunity to work with at-risk youth in Flagstaff for over 20 years. I first learned of the Coalition when I attended the Child Abuse Prevention Conference over 15 years ago. Since then, the Coalition has been such a wonderful resource for me. They provide support, education, and have helped connect me to individuals and other organizations that advocate for youth.
Not only have I been able to share useful information with my family and friends, but my work circle has also benefited.

On the evening of Monday, Jan. 4, Coconino County swore in elected officials during a virtual ceremony. Elected officials taking a term in office after winning election in November of 2020 include the Board of Supervisors, the County Constitutional Officers and Superior Court Judge Cathleen Brown Nichols.
“It’s an honor for all of us to serve the residents of Coconino County. Together, we are ready to face 2021 with optimism and action from the most diverse set of leaders the County has ever had,” said Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “Challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to face our community and I know that together we will demonstrate the resilience and leadership our County is known for. The immense commitment of our elected officials to community and public service is something our County residents can be very proud of.”

Research shows that mentally invigorating activities heighten brain power and help preserve our brains sharp as we age, forging new neural pathways in the process. Facing another birthday and having been cordoned off for the past 10 months, I decided to take a solo road trip to Bisbee, an old mining town of 6,000 or so inhabitants located in southeastern Arizona, United States. I was very pleased to find a welcoming town, somewhat surreal, filled with historic architecture and creative and culturally rich people. With the same purpose I decided to challenge myself with a different approach to my traditional cultural anthropology photography, this time using different subjects and filters to better capture the feeling of the town as I strolled through its winding, narrow streets and alleys.

Online learning opportunities are perfect for students who are interested in taking one of our educational opportunities, but prefer to work at home. These learning opportunities provide a well-rounded experience in various visual art mediums.
Our workshops are live online learning experiences with one-on-one interaction between student and instructor. Visit us Here to learn more about all of our online learning opportunities!

Dear Neighbor,
The purpose of this message is to inform you that the City of Flagstaff’s Open Space Program proposes to file for a Zoning Map Amendment for the McMillan Mesa Natural Area, application number: PZ-20-00063. The application intends to change the existing Public Facilities and Rural Residential Zoning to Public Open Space Zoning for passive recreation and preservation.
On November 8th, 2016, Flagstaff voters voted in favor of Proposition 413 – Campaign for a Greater Buffalo Park. This proposition restricted the use of approximately 300 acres of City-owned property on McMillan Mesa to public open space and passive recreation. The City Council approved the McMillan Mesa Natural Area major plan amendment (Resolution Number 2018-50) on Tuesday, October 16th, 2018. The next step is to amend the McMillan Mesa Natural Area’s existing zoning from Public Facilities and Rural Residential Zoning to Public Open Space.
A second and final meeting to provide interested community members the opportunity to ask questions about the proposal and provide comments will take place on January 13th.

A commercial kitchen that until recently was the catering arm of Thornager’s on Kiltie Lane is finding a new life as an affordable testing ground for food entrepreneurs who do not have access to a fully-stocked professional cookery.
After 30-plus years in catering, including three decades as the owner of Thornager’s, Karen Sorensen was ready to hang up her apron. She even toyed with the idea of selling the Equestrian Estates event venue, but ultimately decided to shut down the catering portion of the her business while continuing to rent out the clubhouse.

Those in the social service industry are worried about our families. Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth (CCC&Y) Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie says isolation, depression and anxiety – all conditions that can be made worse by the pandemic – are increasingly having a negative effect on children in Arizona, particularly in rural areas where resources are less available than in larger cities and distances to travel for support are far greater. She’s encouraging individuals and communities to resolve to make a difference in children’s lives in the New Year.
Read more

On the evening of Monday, Jan. 4, Coconino County swore in elected officials during a virtual ceremony.
Elected officials taking a term in office after winning election in November of 2020 include the Board of Supervisors, the County Constitutional Officers and Superior Court Judge Cathleen Brown Nichols.
“It’s an honor for all of us to serve the residents of Coconino County. Together, we are ready to face 2021 with optimism and action from the most diverse set of leaders the County has ever had,” said Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “Challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to face our community and I know that together we will demonstrate the resilience and leadership our County is known for. The immense commitment of our elected officials to community and public service is something our County residents can be very proud of.”

Join Jen Puzey & Adam Shimoni for a discussion on Youth and their Wellbeing from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021.
Jen has over a decade of experience counseling clients with addiction, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, and eating disorders, specifically among athletes and young adults.

Coconino County will hold a virtual swearing-in ceremony for elected officials Today, January 4th at 5:30pm. Congratulations to elected officials taking a term in office: Supervisors Horstman, Archuleta, Ryan, Begay and Fowler; Sheriff Driscoll, County Attorney Ring, Recorder Hansen, Treasurer Benatar, Assessor Ruiz, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lewis.
Join on Zoom//bit.ly/3rbzzJs
Webinar ID: 994 7622 4476
Or Join Via Telephone: 888 788 0099 (Toll-Free)

NAU Latin American Studies will present Assistant Professor of History Elizabeth Schwall will talk about her recently published book, “Dancing with the Revolution: Power, Politics, and Privilege in Cuba” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7 and LA 120 (and simultaneously via Zoom).
The NAU Bookstore will be at the event with copies of the book for sale, and I’m sure Elizateth would be delighted to sign a copy for you!

In its first event of the semester, NAU Latin American Studies will present ‘Mala Confición: Forced acculturation & spiritual surveillance in the Confesionario limense (1585)’ Zoom lecture at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28.
Molly Borowitz is assistant professor of Transatlantic Early Modern Literature and Cultural Studies in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Georgetown University. Her talk examins how a 16thcentury text taught religious leaders in colonial Peru to control indigenous people by treating actions that the Spanish Crown wished to discourage as religious crimes.

The University of Arizona Latin American Studies will present the Spring 2021 Charlas Con Café: “The Emerging Forms of Bolivia’s Anti-Communal State” with Huáscar Salazar Loham, from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5.
(In Spanish with simultaneous English interpretation)
Charlas Con Café is a weekly space to hear lectures from a wide variety of experts and discuss topics relevant to the Latin American region.

Adam Goodman from University of Illinois, Chicago will present his recent book, “The Deportation Machine: America’s Long History of Expelling Immigrants,” via Zoom on Thursday Feb. 18 at 6 pm. In the words of Mae Ngai, the book is “a must-read for all those who care about the reach of state authority and its consequences for immigrants and citizens alike.”
The event is open to all (anyone, anywhere on the planet with an internet connection!) but you need to register ahead of time at: http://eepurl.com/hlfiZb

The Northern Arizona History Dept. will present a very timely Latin American event about cholera epidemics in Argentina in the 19thCentury — “Medical Narratives, Popular Opinion, and Uncertainty: The Cholera Epidemics of 19th Century Argentina,” at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 2.
During the nineteenth century, cholera impacted Argentina in a wave of epidemics like many other parts of the globe at the time. Although we now know much about the disease, for significant portions of the 1800’s, doctors, government officials, and society were uncertain over the numerous aspects of the disease: origin,contagion, and treatment. As a result, an assortment of opinions, theories, and conjectures all coexisted that often contradicted each other, and demonstrates the limitations of the “medicalization of society”.

Jeremy Slack, professor of geography at the University of Texas, El Paso, will present the virtual lecture, “Deported to Death: Asylum, Drug Violence, and Immigration Enforcement on the US Mexico Border,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 4.
The Immigration Awareness Series event is co-sponsored by Latin American Studies and the student club NAU No More Deaths / No más muertes.

Join us for our next Charla, “The Power of Peru’s Bicentennial Generation,” next Friday, March 5th from 1-2:30pm MST! We will have five panelists speaking about Peru’s recent democratic crisis, youth mobilized protest, and human rights abuses, moderated by Professor Jessica Retis from the University of Arizona School of Journalism.

Johnathan Vankin, Assistant Professor, Latin American Cultural Studies and affiliated faculty at the UArizona Institute for LGBTQ+ Studies, UofA, will present “Severo Sarduy: Fatigue and the Tempo of HIV/AIDS.” The presentation is an examination of the relationship between illness and time in Sarduy’s final novel, Pájaros de la playa.

NAU Latin American Studies will present Chilean musician/composer Freddy Vilches “Suite Latinoamericana: Vernacular and Concert Music” at 3 p.m. Wednesday April 7.
Join NAU Latin American studies for a Zoom event featuring Composer Freddy Vilches, as he performs selections from Suite Latinoamericana and discusses how he recontextualized elements of Latin American New Song in the symphonic composition. The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required.

Join us for a candid unscripted ‘Barber Shop Talk’ conversation about the George Floyd murder trial, Daunte Wright’s Accidental Shooting (& the ongoing accidental gun instead of taser shooting saga) and more at 6 p.m. Monday, April 19 Livestreamed on Facebook @murdochcommunitycenter.
This conversation will focus on the thoughts of Black men on the day that the Nation hears the closing arguments in the George Floyd murder case as well as their feelings about the shooting death of yet another young black man by police that happened this past Sunday in the same city and more.

All are invited to join the Coconino County Diversity Council Meetings in August, which aim to connect our diverse communities with their local governments.
The Councils include the African Diaspora Advisory Council, the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and the Indigenous Peoples Council. A joint meeting of the three councils is held every quarter.
Click on the image above and then click on the link to the Virtual Meeting you want to attend.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and National Public Lands Day with an event at Lower Lake Mary Picnic Area, Lake Mary Road, Flagstaff Arizona. There is no lifeguard on duty and there is no water in this part of Lake Mary but there will be poetry, culture, barbeque, and more!
Readings@11:00am, Build Your Own Hotdog@12pm. Free entrance and parking for this event.

Student Affairs is hosting an Indigenous Peoples’ Day event at Coconino Community College’s Lone Tree Campus on Monday, Oct. 11. Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors Indigenous peoples and recognizes their cultures and histories. During this year’s observance at CCC, the College’s Land Acknowledgement Statement will be the focus of attention.

NAU College of Social and Behavioral Sciences to present “Policing the Borders of Citizenship” with Jennifer M. Chacón is a Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law from 4:30 to 6 p.m. MST via Zoom on Monday, Oct. 18.
Chacón is the coauthor of the immigration law textbook Immigration Law and Social Justice and has written numerous articles, book chapters and essays on immigration, criminal law, constitutional law, and citizenship issues. Professor Chacón is the immediate past Chair of the American Association of Law School’s Section on Immigration and a member of the American Law Institute. She holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and an A.B. in International Relations from Stanford University.

Dear supporter of Creative Flagstaff,
I would like to invite you to join our upcoming Viola Awards Community Meeting on Wednesday, October 20th at the Coconino Center for the Arts. I hope you will be able to join us.
This round table meeting will brainstorm how to continue to evolve the Viola Awards, which will begin accepting nominations in late November for the 14th annual event. The strategic plan unveiled at this year’s event, in June, further prioritizes equity within Creative Flagstaff’s programs, to celebrate creativity in all its forms, and to continue to build recognition within and beyond Flagstaff. It is through these lenses and more that we hope to have a lively discussion about how the Viola Awards will serve our community for another 10+ years. …
While we welcome everyone to attend this meeting, please note that an RSVP is requested and can be done here. Additionally, in accordance with the Coconino Center for the Arts Covid policy, attendees must present either their vaccination card OR a negative covid test from within 72 hours of the event, and photo identification upon their arrival. To see the Coconino Center for the Arts’ full Covid policy click here.

Please join us on Sunday, Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. in Ardrey Memorial Auditorium for a special concert featuring renowned conductor, Luis Sánchez, and the NAU Wind Symphony. Titled “Escenas,” this concert celebrates folk music with works by Arturo Márquez and Silvestre Revueltas as well as a special performance by Flagstaff’s ownBallet Folklórico de Colores on Pablo Moncayo’s Huapango.

NAU Latin American Studies will present a poetry reading by Todd Miller from his latest book “Build Bridges not Walls: A Journey to a World without Borders” (City Lights: 2021) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18 in LA120.
This reading is co-sponsored by Criminology and Criminal Justice, Comparative Cultural Studies, Global Languages and Cultures, and the NAU student club–No más muertes.