Almost 5,600 students are graduating this weekend, and four leaders, including an NAU alum and the National Teacher of the Year, will speak at the ceremonies and receive honorary doctorates.
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth will present Historical Trauma with Iya Affo Training & Discussion from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18.
Click here to register
We know from speaking to the community many have been impacted by injustice and inequity.
A step in our Self-Healing Communities work.
All Welcome!
Raffles & More
With funding support by Vitalyst Health Foundation and the Department of Child Safety Prevention Councils.
For more information, contact: coalition@coconinokids.org
Downtown Flagstaff. One of Northern Arizona’s premier arts events held in historic downtown Flagstaff. 6 p.m.; free.
Join us for ArtWalk this Friday, May 6th! Come see us at our info booth in Heritage Square from 5-8 pm to pick up an ArtWalk Map – your guide to downtown during First Friday! Go digital and use the online map here.
Please join us on May 5th in the main gallery of Coconino Center for the Arts. The steering committee of the city’s Dark Sky Arts and Ideas Festival (working title) along with hired consultants from Canary Studio will present on a proposed concept and potential naming for the city-wide festival.
As stakeholders, we want your input and feedback on festival branding, your needs for participation, and feedback on the proposed concept. Your input is important as we move forward with festival planning.
When you’re undocumented, you don’t always feel like you have a voice. Alexandra Samarron Longorio wanted to make sure undocumented students did. The first-generation college student took on an undergraduate project that shared stories of Arizona’s undocumented students, and as a master’s of public health student and a senior research coordinator for CHER, she studied how hotel practices and policies affect the health of Latina immigrant housekeepers. She also helped establish Aqui Entre Nos—Just Between Us, a CHER initiative focused on wellness and health for hospitality workers, in collaboration with hotel housekeepers, CHER researchers and other MPH students.
The 9th Annual Community STEM Celebration is an opportunity for the greater Flagstaff region
to engage with the STEM community– K-12, college and university educational institutions, businesses, government agencies, non-profits, and others.
Hands-on activities, demonstrations and conversations excite participants, expose the community to STEM educational and career opportunities in Flagstaff and celebrate Flagstaff’s designation as “America’s First STEM Community”
A burst of fushia in the inner canyon this week (NPS Photo/D. Yurcik)
This year’s fire season is off and running in the Southwest with four Type 1 Incident Teams already deployed for fires in the region. Earlier this week our wildland fire seasonal staff arrived and began fire training and annual pack tests continued through this week (see photo above).
In the coming weeks, park managers will be coordinating with the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests to assess fire restrictions and determine if the park will need to transition to fire restrictions in the near future. As of Thursday, 4/28, the Tunnel Fire north of Flagstaff, was at approximately 19.075 acres with 43% containment. More information on the Tunnel Fire can be found by visiting the Tunnel Fire Inciweb site here.
Painting For All Levels: ONLINE!
with Gretchen Lopez
May 6, 2022
From the beginning to the experienced student, this one-day class in oil or acrylic will guide and teach students how to approach the painting process with confidence, while exploring the basics of value-pattern, composition and color. Students may work from life and/or photos. Instructor demonstrations and lots of individual attention provided.
In a world defined by cities reaching for the sky, Dr. David Gillette has dedicated his life to looking below the surface at the world that once was. Dave is many things: a paleontologist, a geologist, and a biologist, who studies the history of the Earth through the lens of evolution.
Although Dave is retired, he is still active within the research and outreach community. With his trusty rock hammer, Dave explores the life that once existed on Earth millions of years ago, taking opportunities as they come to him to explore new areas and find new fossils, as well as to share his work with the public.
In April, Broadway League dropped their vaccine mandate for audiences. At their April meeting, Theatrikos’ board of directors decided to follow Broadway’s lead. So, effective with Foreigner, Theatrikos will no longer require vaccination for audience on Friday and Saturday night performances.
All of our cautious safety protocols will remain in effect for Sunday matinees: proof of vaccination requirement, masks, social distancing, closed concessions.
At MNA we look at the land through many lenses. Some are literal lenses – microscopes, binoculars, and telescopes. Many are figurative – mapping data to reveal an otherwise unseen pattern or reconstructing a place in time from remnants that remain.
Art can be another lens to bring the world into focus. The Great Unknown: Artists at Glen Canyon and Lake Powell opens in May, exploring that area through the artistic lens of the photographer. The starting point is Eliot Porter’s striking, nearly abstracted images. Porter’s book The Place No One Knew established the genre of photobooks for environmental causes. Among the other works in the exhibition are the black and white photos by Martin Stupich, where the dam itself dominates the frame, as well as more recent images by Peter Goin that bring attention to what the receding waters of Lake Powell reveal. The Great Unknownhas been drawn from an exhibition of the same name previously on show at the New Mexico Museum of Art, and curated by Katherine Ware, MoA’s Curator of Photography.
The 14th Annual Viola Awards are happening THIS Saturday, April 30th! This year’s event will be one to remember. A limited number of tickets for the event are still available. Don’t wait — get yours today!
This year’s Viola Awards are recognizing 41 finalists across 10 categories. See the full list of finalists on our website. Winners will be announced during the main ceremony on April 30th.
Purchasing a ticket to the main ceremony includes admission to the afterparty which will feature our four Excellence in Music finalists: iiwaa, Tré Orona & Tsoh Tso, WinterHaven, & Tha ‘Yoties.
A Tunnel Fire Community Meeting will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at Sinagua Middle School, 3950 E. Butler Avenue, Flagstaff (parking information below).
This meeting is to provide an update regarding the fire conditions, potential flood risk, and evacuation status.
Representatives from the County, Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Weather Service, and Tunnel Fire Type 1 Incident Management Team will provide information on these topics and be available to answer questions. American Sign Language interpretation will be available at the meeting.
Sign up now—Coconino County Emergency Notifications
When emergencies happen, be the first to know.
The Coconino County Emergency Notification System uses Alerts powered by Rave Mobile Safety’s Smart911 to send official, real-time alerts to the public with information about potentially life-saving actions you may need to take to keep you and your family safe.
This service allows you to receive voice, text, and email emergency notifications generated by Grand Canyon Dispatch and public safety officials. More information on this program can be found on the county’s website and a link to sign up can be found here.
In this edition…
Message from Jeronimo
Redistricting Supervisor Districts
Museum Fire Flood Project
Event Highlights
Service Positions Open in District 2
Services and Programs
And more!
Flagstaff and Coconino County adopted the Flagstaff Regional Plan in 2014 and it’s time to start the conversation about what is in store for our community between 2025 and 2045. The Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045 Update process is just getting started. Visit the project website athttp://www.flagstaff.az.gov/regionalplan2045 to watch a snapshot video or to learn more about the process. You can participate right now by taking a survey on your vision for the Flagstaff Region on the Flagstaff Community Forum or by visiting our booth at the Earth Day Celebration this Saturday at Bushmaster Park from 11 am to 2 pm.
10 ways to celebrate Mother Earth
Taking care of this planet means potentially reducing the impacts of climate change, including catastrophic wildfires like the one outside Flagstaff today. Earth Day is tomorrow, and one of the best ways to make sure you are celebrating all year long is by adopting small, consistent changes that can become a part of your everyday life. From learning the ins and outs of recycling and how to conserve energy, here is a list of small, easy ways to give back to the world that gives us so much.
There is still time to register for CCC&Y’s “Mindful Positioning — Seeking Change & Healing” virtual workshop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 27.
International child welfare expert Kevin Campbell will host the event. Register here.
More than ever- we need to unite with diverse community members in a process designed to gain answers and input. A step in our Self-Healing Communities work.
With funding support by Vitalyst Health Foundation and the Department of Child Safety Prevention Councils
For more information, contact: coalition@coconinokids.org
Read More
From the beginning to the experienced student, this one-day class in oil or acrylic will guide and teach students how to approach the painting process with confidence, while exploring the basics of value-pattern, composition and color. Students may work from life and/or photos. Instructor demonstrations and lots of individual attention provided.
We just kicked off our biggest season yet with kids hitting the trails for the spring session. We still have some open spots in these groups: High School, Middle School girls, and 3-5th grade advanced skills. This is the last week to register before it closes for the season.
Click here to register
The City of Flagstaff’s Sustainability Office invites community members to a celebration of Earth Day 2022. The festivities are scheduled for Saturday, April 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bushmaster Park (3150 N Alta Vista Dr).
This year’s Earth Day event will be one to remember, featuring informational booths, food vendors, live bands, do it yourself activities, a sustainability scavenger hunt and free workshops on home electrification, rainwater harvesting and composting in Flagstaff. For detailed event information please visit https://flagstaff.az.gov/1439/Earth-Day.
On Friday, April 22nd, communities around the world will celebrate the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day. This year’s theme is “Invest In Our Planet.” Coconino County, in partnership with Friends of Coconino County Parks, the City of Flagstaff, Flagstaff Parks, Recreation, and Open Space, and the U.S. Forest Service are partnering to facilitate three cleanup events throughout the community.
We certainly are hoping for April showers to bring May flowers and provide much needed moisture to Coconino County. April is also the month we celebrate Earth Day. Since 1970, April 22nd marks the day that is referred to as the birth of the modern environmental movement. This year’s theme is “Invest in our Planet” and in keeping with that theme and the importance of us all working together to build a healthier and more sustainable planet, Coconino County has a number of “Earth Month” events including litter cleanups, climate action and renewable energy programs. Go to http://www.coconino.az.gov/2884/Earth-Day-Schedule for more information.
Earth Day is next week and there’s no better way to celebrate than participating in a local event. Join Coconino County, the City of Flagstaff, Friends of Coconino County Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service for a volunteer cleanup and an activity afterwards in honor of Earth Day 2022. All cleanups start at 10 a.m. and include a fun outdoor activity. Register at the Sign-Up Genius Links below.
Can’t make it? Invest in yourself and your community by getting outside and making a difference on your own. Tag a picture with #NAZEarthDay22 to be a part of the celebration.
Wed., April 20 cleanup at Highway 180 (Peak View) https://tinyurl.com/et7jdajj
Thurs., April 21 cleanup at Fort Tuthill County Park https://tinyurl.com/yc7t6ykn
Fri., April 22 cleanup at Ashurst Lake
https://tinyurl.com/2s4pmk5v
Grand Canyon and Tusayan April vaccine events
The Coconino County Health and Human Services Mobile Vaccination team will hold its next mobile vaccination event for Grand Canyon and Tusayan on Monday, April 25. The Grand Canyon event will be held at the Rec Center from 9-11 a.m. (see full flyer here) and the Tusayan event will be held at the Tusayan Fire Station from 1-3 p.m (see full flyer here).
As a reminder, the FDA and CDC have approved a second booster dose for individuals who are age 50 or older. They recommend the booster be given 4 months after your first booster.
NPS employees are authorized to take administrative leave up to 4 hours (and 8 hours if traveling) for COVID vaccines, including vaccine booster doses. You may also use this leave to support family members receiving COVID vaccines or booster doses.
President Cruz Rivera honored 48 Gold Axe winners, five President’s Prize recipients and nine Distinguished Seniors for their hard work and commitment to their educations and their careers at NAU. “These students have shown incredible resilience and determination to arrive at this point in their academic and personal journeys, and they all have achieved a tremendous amount to excel in their studies and give back in such meaningful ways,” he told the crowd on Tuesday night. The recipients of the President’s Prize, which is the highest award for undergraduates at NAU, are Maylee Acosta, Matthew Billings, Clarreese Greene, Ariana Kelley and Rachell Krell.
Earth Day Celebration, Ardrey Auditorium. A unique concert focused on the importance of everyone’s role in protecting our environment. 7:30 p.m.
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth has unveiled a free training webinar for parents, caregivers and all community members as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
This quick overview video is a great starting place for parents, caregivers and community members brand new to topics such as brain development, adverse childhood experiences, resilience and mindfulness. It is a great jumping off place to go deeper in knowledge and support through the rest of our library of webinars.
With thousands of views across our various topics, we are sure there is something for all community members and professionals. Whether you are seeking the best info for your family, your community or a program you work for, get a taste for our research supported prevention and community work.
A very special thank you to all of our partners who help get this information out to our community!
Comments from those who have already seen the training.
“loved the acknowledgment that we can all recognize stressors are high right now”
“realized this was my first mindful breath of the day”
“feels supportive and a great jump off point to learn more”
For more information, contact: coalition@coconinokids.org
The Sedona Arts Center has donated artwork on display for this special fundraiser including birdhouses, bird-themed sculpture, jewelry, paintings and more in our Special Exhibition Gallery for previewing and bidding on Silent Auction items.
Everything has been made especially for this fundraising event that is replacing Loving Bowls for this year.
Southwest Decision Resources, the City of Flagstaff (Parks Recreation Open Space and Events Division), and Wheat Design Group have announced it is conducting a survey through April for the Thorpe Park Annex.
The community survey will continue generating great ideas and continue problem solving.
Click here to take part in the survey.
AZMOM NORTH (Arizona Dental Mission of Mercy) is calling for volunteers for its Summer 2022 Patient Dental Clinic on June 17-18, 2022 at Fort Tuthill Commercial Building, Flagstaff.
Join us this summer with hundreds of other volunteers helping treat patients in under-served populations that need our help in providing dental care.
This is your chance to participate in the largest dental charity in Arizona.
We had an issue with the member discount codes earlier this week, but it should all be sorted now. Use code VA22 to unlock tickets AND receive a 10% discount on your tickets! Tickets will go on sale to the general public tomorrow, Friday, April 7th. Your 10% discount will still apply after tomorrow. If you have any issues purchasing tickets, please call Sarah at 928-779-7159.
This year’s Viola Awards are recognizing 41 finalists across 10 categories. See the full list of finalists on our website. Winners will be announced during the main ceremony on April 30th.
Purchasing a ticket to the main ceremony includes admission to the afterparty which will feature our four Excellence in Music finalists: iiwaa, Tré Orona & Tsoh Tso, WinterHaven, & Tha ‘Yoties.
The Flagstaff Blues and Brews event-organizers/owner announced on April 6 a community partnership with the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation (FUSDF). Through a portion of the festivals proceeds, it will benefit the music programs in the Flagstaff Public School District (FUSD) and inspire kids through music.
FUSDF enhances the educational experience of students in the district, with the help and support of alumni and community resources and funding. Since 2016, the FUSD Foundation has raised over $74,000, to directly help FUSD and impacting the lives of thousands of students.
Creative Flagstaff, formerly Flagstaff Arts Council, the City’s nonprofit art, science, and culture agency seeks applicants to serve as board members. Applicants will fill seats previously filled by long-time board members that have terms ending June 30, 2022.
Diversifying stakeholders, community groups, experience, and expertise represented by the Board of Directors is an important part of Creative Flagstaff’s strategic plan adopted in June 2021.
Over the coming couple of years, the Board anticipates recruiting members that provide leadership experience in nonprofit governance, philanthropy, arts, education, sciences, public policy, and programming from diverse lived experiences including BIPOC and creative professionals.
Arizona Gives Day is an annual giving movement uniting nonprofits, big and small, new and established, to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Arizona through online giving. The event helps raise awareness about the critical role Arizona nonprofits play in our communities and inspires people to give generously creating a thriving and stronger Arizona for all.Pledge an Arizona Gives Day gift now at
www.azgives.org/sedonaartscenter
This April, join the NAU community in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Month. IMQ and other organizations will host a variety of events to celebrate and recognize these cultures on campus. With the increase in violence toward Asian and Pacific Islander people, it is especially important to honor and celebrate these countries and cultures.
In 2020, federal fire agencies spent a whopping $2.2 billion—that’s billion with a “B”—fighting fires. That number has increased tenfold in the last few decades. For Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week, take a look at NAU’s diverse efforts to increase forest health, improve firefighting capabilities, help communities become more resilient and rebuild after a fire and better understand fire behavior.
Tuweep day-use civic engagement period ends April 6
Last week the park initiated civic engagement to solicit comments on implementation of a proposed day-use reservation system at Tuweep, including all park areas within Toroweap Valley and the Kanab Plateau. A $2 ticket fee per vehicle is proposed and would be available through recreation.gov.
On busy, high visitation days, especially during the weekends, up to 50+ vehicles often travel into Tuweep around the same time of day, causing road congestion, long waits to access the Toroweap overlook, overcrowding in popular locations, impacts to property, and excessive noise. As a result, the overall visitor experience has deteriorated, and sensitive natural and cultural resources have been damaged.
Dear Arizona House of Representatives Members,
As organizations and individuals that support and advocate for the wellbeing of children and families in Arizona and nationally, we write to oppose SB1399. If passed, this bill will be harmful to children and families involved with Arizona’s child welfare system.
Arizona is experiencing a shortage of licensed foster homes for children in foster care. Limiting who can become a foster parent by permitting taxpayer-funded foster care licensing agencies to discriminate is not in the best interest of Arizona children. “There are currently 3,255 homes, an 11% drop compared with this time last year and down 33% from the recent high-water mark of 4,875 homes in 2017.” Arizona does not have a shortage of nonprofit agencies, it has a shortage of families seeking to foster. A law that permits agencies to turn qualified and willing families away for reasons that have nothing to do with their ability to parent does not encourage or support efforts to recruit and license more families.
First Friday ArtWalk, Downtown Flagstaff. One of Northern Arizona’s premier arts events in historic downtown Flagstaff. 6 p.m.
Join us for ArtWalk this Friday, April 1st! We are kicking off the month with several exciting activities.
Stop by Heritage Square from 5-8 pm to pick up your ArtWalk map from our info booth. While you’re there you can vote in the Through My Eyes: Diversity in My Community Art Contest, pick up some delicious food from Shift FLG who will be serving a special menu in honor of their 6 year anniversary, and listen to NPA’s Advanced Jazz Band, the winners of the CCA Youth Arts Battle of Bands.
We hope to see you there!
With warmer weather and bright sunshine, it feels like we are experiencing the Spring season’s promise of renewal. I feel that too when I walk through the museum and see people enjoying the exhibitions. Looking ahead at the new exhibitions opening and the many in-person activities planned, it’s a time of rebirth within the museum as well.
April 2 will be a very exciting day. It’s the first day to see the newest exhibition, Baje Whitethorne Sr.: Náátsʼíilid/Rainbow Light, which celebrates an artist whose importance stretches far beyond the canvas, touching many lives. That Saturday is also Slow Art Day, when MNA joins with museums around the world in inviting people to slow down and look. Neuroscience has confirmed what ancient artists always knew: we see only a tiny fraction of what is around us. To widen the lens and allow more in, we must slow down.
“It’s been such a blessing being in this show! Being back in the theatre and going to rehearsals is like a breath of fresh air,”said actor Paige Latendresse who plays Annelle.
The heartfelt comedy has lots of laughs. It also has a very a touching ending that might have you in tears. At intermission, ushers have joked they should be walking through the aisles with boxes of tissues.
Steel Magnolias runs March 25 to April 17. Tickets are available online and at the box office.
It’s Not Too Late…this is your chance to be involved in our Annual STEM Celebration!!!
Sign Up Now to be a STEM Exhibitor at an Outdoor Science Fair and a Day of Fun for All!!!
In the pursuit of understanding the unknown, Audrey Martin, Corrosion Metallurgical Engineer at W. L. Gore & Associates, chronicles the story of taking opportunities, and the tough questions needing answers along the way. Audrey’s work spans both engineering and science, where she works in research and development (R&D) and supports product development for medical implants used to save and improve lives in patients. Audrey’s work is to ensure that these products are corrosion-resistant and safe for patients to use for long amounts of time. Corrosion, the gradual destruction of materials through interaction with the environment, is all around us and affects our lives every day from the products we use to the cars we drive.
The Tailgate Paint Out is a first-of-its-kind event and is supported by a group of very experienced and enthusiastic staff and volunteers. Sedona is a sublime environment with stunning beauty, and the Sedona Arts Center has roots going back 60+ years to the founding of Sedona. If you have never been to, or painted in Sedona, this is a great opportunity to get to know our incredible scenery, sell work and be eligible for great prize money! We are focusing this event on artists that have never been to one of our events in the past or are emerging artists. Tailgate Paint Out is supported by a grant from the AZ Office of Tourism.
COCONINO COUNTY — Cesar Chavez Day was declared a federal holiday by President Obama on March 31, 2014 to honor Cesar Chavez, a Latino American leader in civil rights and the labor movement.
This year, the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) is partnering with @nauflagstaff to commemorate his legacy through community service.
Upcoming events include:
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 27 — NAU Tennis Match & Food Drive
• 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 28 — COVID-19 Latina/o Research Team Panel
• 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 — Feature Film: Cesar Chavez (2014)
• 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 30 — Guest Speaker: Dr. Mike Amezcua – “Making Mexican Chicago: From Postwar Settlement to the Age of Gentrification”
• 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31 — Documentaty Film: Dolores (2018).
The Northern Arizona Book Festival is excited to announce its return in conventional fashion with virtual components for a world still gripped by uncertainty. The festival will run Friday, April 1st through Sunday, April 10th with live, in-person events and dual modality sessions via Zoom, YouTube, and Facebook Live.
Arizona and Grand Canyon Community Statistics
As of March 17, Coconino County community transmission remains moderate, and the community level is low. In Arizona, 13 of the 15 counties have low community levels.
Total cases for the week of March 10-16 is 5,153, which is an average of 736 cases per day for the seven-day rolling average for the week. No new cases have been reported this week within Grand Canyon National Park or in the 86023 zip code.
Coconino County reports the Grand Canyon community is 73.1% fully vaccinated as of March 18.
See Youth Arts: Progress & Potential before is closes on April 2nd!
Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Saturday; 11 am – 5 pm
Coconino Center for the Arts’ 2022 Youth Art Exhibition celebrates the outstanding progress and unbounded potential of local youth artists in Flagstaff and the regional community. This year, 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 significant progress in the students’ artistic learning; risk-taking, trying new materials and techniques; and strong potential for continued artmaking.
Youth recently talked to a CEO of a youth-serving organization who is onboarding several new employees. He was pleased to know that CCC&Y had resources to ensure all staff could be trained in trauma-informed practices. We shared our list of on-demand webinars, and our CEO partner is now ensuring they are incorporated into the onboarding protocol.
With Child Abuse Prevention Month approaching in April, CCC&Y would love to support you to ensure all staff have the tools they need to become trauma-informed. CCC&Y has on-demand webinars on our website www.coconinokids.org. In addition, training topics can be provided to your organization on a day and time that work for the staff. Training is conducted either virtually or in person and is tailored to meet the needs of specific groups within Coconino County.
