
In This Newsletter:
Quote of the Day
COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
New COVID-19 Weekly Report Available
AZDHS COVID-19 Website
COVID-19 Testing Information
Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!
Stay Connected with Us!
Madison Olson, a senior at Williams High School, received a $500 scholarship from the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth. Our Prevention Council created our annual Child Abuse Prevention Essay contest so that Williams High School Seniors could describe what the community can do to help prevent and respond to child abuse and childhood trauma.
Her winning essay focused on bullying, the lasting impact that bullying can have on individuals throughout their lives and prevention options.
Flagstaff art, science, faith, education, and culture organizations sign a pledge affirming their commitment to the health and safety of patrons, staff, visitors, and residents during the coronavirus pandemic. The pledge is a result of a taskforce spearheaded by leaders from Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, City of Flagstaff, Kinney Construction Services, and Flagstaff Arts Council. The pledge, an introductory video, and a list of supporting organizations is available here.
Coconino County issued a proclamation last evening on June 19 requiring residents and visitors to wear a face covering when not able to physical distance themselves from other persons. The proclamation, effective on Saturday, June 20 at noon, applies to all private lands in the unincorporated areas of the County. The County proclamation does not affect areas within cities or towns in the County or on federal, state or tribal lands.
“Wearing a face covering when around others is one of the single most effective ways to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” said Coconino County Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “Each of us can help to prevent COVID-19 transmission by wearing a face covering when we cannot physically distance from others. Please do your part and model best practices by putting on your face covering when you are out in public and around other people. This is one thing we can do to take care of ourselves and neighbors.”
FLAGSTAFF — Nearly 100 people attended the Flagstaff’s historic Black Community’s 65th Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration on FACEBOOK LIVE! on Saturday, June 20. The event, hosted by Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans, Bernadine Lewis, Khara House, Ricardo Guthrie and Shawn Johnson, was presented by the Coconino County African American Council, in partnership with Flagstaff’s Southside Community Association.
A 20-minute Juneteenth video featuring highlights from past celebrations is available on the Coconino County YouTube page at https://youtu.be/8YMpOcSEjoo
Join in a virtual Juneteenth 2020 Celebration on Saturday, June 20th at 2pm hosted by the Southside Community Association and the Coconino County African-American Advisory Council. We may be physical distanced, but we are connected for equality, liberty and justice for all!
To learn more about this important holiday, click the video below.
Since 2007 Coconino County has been assisting eligible county residents with itsBasic Business Empowerment (BBE) training (www.coconino.az.gov/bbe) and Individual Development Accounts (IDA) match saving grants (www.coconino.az.gov/ida) opportunity. The 9-week, summer 2020 BBE training (session 2) is scheduled to be held 6-9pm, Tuesdays, Aug. 4th through Sept. 29thonly online via a 9-week Zoom Web-based video conferencing format. Coconino County currently contracts facilitation for its BBE training from the Coconino Small Business Development Center which provides additional resources for our BBE participants.
A recent report from Save the Children further proves how location can profoundly affect a child’s prospects in this country, and why it is vital that we continue to Step Up for Our Youth in northern Arizona.
The report, called “The Land of Inopportunity,” is a part of the nonprofit’s annual evaluation of how children are faring around the globe. This year, however, Save the Children added a powerful tool that allows regions to see how they measure up – an online interactive map ranking U.S. counties by how well they prioritized and protect children.
The ranking is determined by four factors that “end” childhood: poor education, malnutrition, teenage pregnancy and early death due to ill health, accident, murder or suicide.
During this pandemic, many are asking for the support needed to care for their tribal communities. Here are a list of links and contacts for anyone who wishes to donate to Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute, and Southern Ute tribes:
Includes list of various tribes seeking donations; www.indigenousmutualaid.org/directory
COCONINO COUNTY — The following statement regarding the death of George Floyd can be attributed to Sandra Diehl, Coconino County Public Defender and Erika Arlington, Coconino County Legal Defender.
“A police officer killed George Floyd. That officer was the spear tip of the American Criminal Justice System. It is easy to say that police brutality has no place in this system. But when a system authorizes law enforcement to use lethal violence against the people over $20 or cigarettes or a toy gun or while they’re asleep in their beds, it is incumbent on those working within that system to examine how their own actions propel the inexorable grind of the machinery of justice. When people of color talk about “systemic racism” they are not just talking about police violence. They are talking about the courts too. Mass incarceration and mass disenfranchisement require prosecutors, judges, and lawyers, including public defenders.
Read the entire media release HERE
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a new wildfire smoke forecast — the first state wildfire smoke forecast of its kind in the country — to provide Arizona communities with early and ongoing information about potential air quality impacts so they can make informed decisions for their health.
Designed to support, and in cooperation with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) wildfire air resource advisors and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (AZDFFM) staff, ADEQ’s air quality meteorologists will provide a wildfire smoke forecast when Arizona wildfires have the potential for extended air quality impacts to communities as determined in coordination with federal and state land managers.
Join us on Facebook Friday, June 19th at 4:00pm for a free Studio Tour with Stuart Shils. He’ll be interviewed by Chuck Spence, Vice President of our Board of Directors. We will be looking at how Stuart’s work has evolved from the past into the present and discussing the unique content that he brings to his popular workshops. Stuart will be teaching a virtual workshop “Re-framing the Ordinary” July 17th and 18th. (see below under Online Classes)
CCC&Y has created Mindfulness for Professionals and Parents, an hour-long free webinar that highlights the importance mindfulness holds for both individuals and for those we are working with. Participants said:
“I felt better immediately at the beginning of the training!”
“Mindfulness is an important part of daily operations! We need to remember to take time for ourselves. I love the acronyms and will share with my NAU students!!!!”
“I found the training to be very relevant at this time in our lives.”
CCC&Y has multiple reasons for focusing on mindfulness as a strategy in our community. We know the benefits it has for overall mental and physical health. We know that it is a useful strategy to help with both substance abuse prevention and child abuse prevention. Further, as Ruth King notes,
“When we are unconscious of how we affect each other, we are more likely to cause harm. However, when nonharming is at the forefront of our awareness, it becomes an anchor, a way of reminding us, moment to moment, to pay attention- to live mindfully.”
In an effort to address how we treat each other and ourselves we invite you to explore more on this topic. Let’s all work toward healing together!
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.
Recent acts of violence against Black people have left us sad and angry. We recognize that these high-profile events are the latest in the long history of brutality against people of color in our nation. We must all be part of the solution to stop the killing, marginalization, and repression based solely on the color of a person’s skin.
Black lives matter. It’s not enough for us to make a statement about what we believe. We must use our platform in the world to take action.
In This Newsletter:
A Note from Supervisor Archuleta
Quote of the Day
Coconino County Sheriff Orders Evacuation of Jacob Lake
COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
New COVID-19 Weekly Report Available
AZDHS COVID-19 Website
COVID-19 Testing Information
Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!
Stay Connected with Us!
All playgrounds, basketball courts, ramadas (including picnic tables and barbecue grills), and restroom facilities managed by Coconino County Parks & Recreation remain closed at this time.
We encourage you to engage in responsible physical and social distancing when recreating outdoors. Parks, natural areas, and trails managed by Coconino County are open for public enjoyment; this excludes Louise Yellowman County Park.
At the United Way of Northern Arizona, we Step Up for Our Youth because we believe in the power and potential they have. Recent events, however, have shown how far we need to go to create a world in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect, enjoys a level playing field, and receives equal justice under the law.
A mix of racism, prejudice and privilege threatens future generations unless it is dealt with now. In this, as in so many things, children will learn from what we choose to do – or the actions we fail to take. To Live United, we need to act on the values we hold dear by helping our youth understand what racism is and how to combat it. In this way, we ensure a better and more equal future for our community and our children.
We are getting closer to launching our Saturday morning conversation via FB live. The title will be: Let’s Talk Salud, Dinero y Amor, and we will test a bilingual approach. As of now, this talk will start at 7 am, and will feature community members, leaders, and experts. The graphic for this offering is not ready; do find attached those being used for the other three virtual offerings. Very much looking forward to this conversation. Participants will be able to engage by providing comments and questions. We are working on preparing a phone number for those who want to join by phone.
Our radio show this week addressed Seguro Social: Jubilación Temprana (1). Don’t miss our new weekly series on nutrition and wellness.
In This Newsletter:
Quote of the Day
Coconino County enacts Stage Two Fire Restrictions
Take precautions to protect yourself from wildfire smoke
CCC to Host “Virtual” Fourth of July Parade
COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
New COVID-19 Weekly Report Available
AZDHS COVID-19 Website
COVID-19 Testing Information
Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!
Stay Connected with Us!
Dear Supporter of Art, Science, and Culture,
As you may know, funding for the arts in Arizona is in jeopardy. Without action, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will lose the majority of its funding this year. We are asking Governor Doug Ducey to allocate funding from the State’s CARES Act funding. The artists of Arizona are changemakers and the Commission has been doing amazing work over the past several years to advance cultural equity and to ensure that the voices of artists of color are supported.
Our executive director sent the this letter to Governor Ducey in response to the defunding of Arizona Commission on the Arts and in support of Arizona Citizens for the Arts’ request to allocate money from the State’s CARES Act funding.
We are also asking our supporters to take action to let Governor Ducey know Arizonans believe funding for the arts in Arizona is vital to our states well being.
Historical trauma impacts so many of our community members and it is a topic that is not always openly discussed and well understood in mainstream society. Further, it is often not considered when designing helping programs, systems or overall prevention programming and worse when placing judgements against groups of people.
Each culture, each individual has their own story to tell, their own traditions, spiritual and cultural practices and so many have had those life components disrupted due to historical events and ongoing injustices.
During a webinar presentation held on June 9, 2020, culturalist and historic trauma specialist Iya Affo provided web viewers a brief overview of historic trauma to help inform community members, professionals and leaders about the creation and impacts of these traumas.
Affo is the founder of Heal Historic Trauma and with Phoenix Rising in Residence (AZ).
This Week’s Virtual Highlights
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.
Join us on Facebook Friday, June 19th at 4:00pm for a free Studio Tour with Stuart Shils. He’ll be interviewed by Chuck Spence, Vice President of our Board of Directors. We will be looking at how Stuart’s work has evolved from the past into the present and discussing the unique content that he brings to his popular workshops. Stuart will be teaching a virtual workshop “Re-framing the Ordinary” July 17th and 18th. Watch for more information coming soon here and on our website.
Dear friends of Flagstaff’s future,
The work of Friends of Flagstaff’s Future is directed toward achieving a
“sustainable, just, and thriving community.” But until people of color, indigenous
people, and undocumented people in our community know they are safe,
protected, and valued, we will fall short of this goal.
The death of George Floyd makes it clear that it is not enough to condemn
racism. And it is not enough to condemn police violence and the many crushing
forms that discrimination takes. We must hold ourselves accountable for what
happens to people of color, native peoples, and undocumented people in our
community. And we must pay attention to all the ways in which discrimination has
taken hold and all the ways it plays out in the life of our community.
Friends of Flagstaff’s Future commits itself to participating in meaningful change
to dismantle racism in our community. As we monitor issues related to
development, planning, land and resource use, and the local economy, we will
listen closely to the guidance given by people of color, native peoples, and
members of our immigrant community. Now, more than ever, we will ensure that
justice and equity—and the dismantling of the legacy of racism and white
supremacy—is an orienting principle of our organization.
Racism is a pandemic. Each of us can be an antidote, counteracting the poison
of racism. True sustainability and community vitality depend on it.
Let’s create the change we want to be and push for better conditions for all!
The Board of Friends of Flagstaff’s Future
Coconino County Parks and Recreation is modifying the 71st Coconino County Fair due to COVID-19 concerns.
This decision was reached after months of deliberation, research and consultation with local health officials and the Board of Supervisors. Several county fairs in Arizona have cancelled their events this year due to COVID-19 safety concerns.
During the June 2 meeting, the Board of Supervisors supported a modified event that will incorporate measures to focus on 4-H youth member exhibits, the livestock auction, and online or virtual ways to engage the community in lieu of an in-person event at Fort Tuthill County Park. The safety and health of attendees, exhibitors and staff are very important to the County, as is continued support to area youth with their 4-H and livestock projects.
From NAU students and others protesting around Flagstaff, to statements from officials condemning the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and the nationwide/worldwide protests this past week.
The Northern Arizona community has also come out to make their voices heard.
Send an email to fmoraga@amigosnaz.com to make your voice heard.
This Week’s Virtual Highlights
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.
What a season! Up high, the Peaks are cleared of snow welcoming the coming summer sun; down below, the fruit trees are blossom-filled and mountain irises are quietly opening their wings. Nature’s breath, thank goodness, is as close and intimate as ever.
Still, social isolation is hard. There’s just no good substitute for gathering in a coffee shop or sharing a meal with friends. The need to be in a common space with one another is so strong that it feels like a magnetic force.
But physical distancing doesn’t have to mean social distancing! Below are some links to local projects of mutual aid and solidarity in action, as well as ideas from other communities.
Let’s create the change we want to be! Stay healthy!
The Board of Friends of Flagstaff’s Future
It is not easy to write this message. I, just like many of you, have found myself filled with many emotions ranging from deep sadness to raw anger. Many of us around the Nation are trying to find our voice, our place- ideas for how we can make a positive impact. CCC&Y has a long history of advocating for and working toward justice and equity for our community.
I was scheduled to present the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) / resiliency training live this week for a school district. I was re-struck, while speaking with these educators, by how relevant the work of CCC&Y is- even during current times. I felt gratitude for this connection and all of you who further this work.
If you have not done so already, I would invite you to visit our webinar on ACES. It will help you to gain personal insight into what happens to people, what we do to people and how society can choose to make trauma worse or better for folks. That insight then becomes sharable.
As I pass the one year mark as Director here at MNA, I look back on a memorable and sometimes challenging year. From the Museum Fire last year to a Pandemic in 2020, our staff, volunteers and members have demonstrated resilience, imagination, flexibility and their passion for MNA. After many weeks working from home, some of the museum staff are now gradually and gratefully returning to their offices, after undergoing training to further enhance their safety while at work. From increased cleaning and socially distanced meetings to wearing masks when together, we are adjusting to new ways of working safely. We will be equally cautious reopening to the public. We are currently planning so that you can come and experience the museum in a safe and enjoyable way. To see some of the changes we are putting in place, I invite you to join the virtual tour of the museum on June 18, as we continue to bring the museum to you, until you can come to us. I look forward to that day. It is the people of MNA, all of you included, who make this museum the remarkable place it is. Thank you for being a part of MNA, and for helping to make my first year here such an enjoyable and rewarding time.
Governor Doug Ducey issued a statewide Declaration of Emergency, including putting in place a curfew starting at 8:00 p.m. May 31, 2020. The curfew is in effect from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. and shall expire on Monday, June 8, at 5:00 a.m. unless further extended. The text of the order is available here.
The Sedona Arts Center will be re-opening its Fine Art Gallery and live in-person classes to the public in early June with a Covid-19 protocol of: ongoing sanitation, social distancing, following government guidelines, and wearing face masks in our indoor public spaces. June 5th is the opening day for our Fine Art Gallery come see the exhibition from 10am – 5pm!
Charlotte Willin appeared on the computer screen via a Zoom video conference with her Coconino Community College advisor Mitch Driebe.
Willin, a student at Northern Arizona University, wants to knock out Physiology & Anatomy 2 during the summer while she is at home in Long Beach, Calif. Her goal is to become an Occupational Therapist.
“I didn’t want to forget anything,” Willin said to Driebe.
Her reason for taking the five-week session at Coconino Community College: It ‘s very affordable.
Willin joins hundreds of other students filling out their class rosters for summer and fall “virtually” with advisors at CCC. The college began offering the service following the campus closures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Facilities across Arizona have reopened or are in the process of making reopening plans following the expiration of the Arizona stay-at-home order. The State of Arizona announced that criteria for entering Phase 1 of the phased reopening approach outlined in the Guidelines for Opening Up America Again have been met. The guidelines, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state that a downward trajectory of documented COVID-19 cases within a 14-day period is one criterion for entering Phase I.
Color. Form. Aesthetics.
To him, art is a conversation between the artist and the world – an assertion he repeats to his students. And they appreciate him for it.
Art Faculty Jeff Roth has been selected as the 2020-21 Coconino Community College Part-Time Faculty of the Year. Roth, who has been with CCC for three years, teaches Art Appreciation, Drawing 1, Life Drawing 1, Life Drawing 2, Digital Photography 1 and Mural Painting.
The Economic Policy Institute is administering a survey that is designed to measure business sentiment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts of local and state government pandemic restrictions on local businesses. It is the first survey to provide rolling data specific to northern Arizona.
Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) is participating in the Arizona COVID-19 Testing Blitz on Saturday, May 30.
This is the fourth Testing Blitz hosted by CCHHS as part of the statewide initiative which aims to test up to 60,000 Arizonans for COVID-19.
Testing will be held at Coconino County Health and Human Services, 2625 N. King Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Drive through testing and walk up testing will be available.
Throughout this crisis, we have celebrated essential workers – those brave souls who have faced the threat of coronavirus on an almost daily basis so that everyone else could safely stay at home practicing social distancing to stem the pandemic.
But what happens to essential workers with small children? Who is there to take care of their sons or daughters while they were busy taking care of the rest of us.
Due to COVID-19, more than 80 percent of licensed child care centers in Flagstaff were forced to close. Those that remained open had to operate far below capacity, collecting less revenue while simultaneously facing greater operational expenses.
That is why the United Way of Northern Arizona recently provided grants through its COVID-19 Fund to both the Flagstaff Family YMCA and the Association for Supportive Child Care (ASCC).
As we head into the long Memorial Day weekend, I want to honor all of the men and women who have selflessly served our country and who have sacrificed their lives for our rights, freedoms, and liberties. Their sacrifice is not forgotten, and we are endlessly grateful for their service.
I encourage you to take this weekend to enjoy our beautiful spring weather (within safety limits). I want to thank you all for continuing to practice COVID-19 safety practices. I know this has not been an easy feat, but your commitment to our community during this time is crucial in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring the health and safety of all of our residents.