Category: Education

May 7 — NAU Choral Studies presents Spring Festival of Choirs & Abya Yala in Mesa

MESA — NAU Choral Studies will present Spring Festival of Choirs & “Abya Yala — The Land in Its Fullness,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at First United Methodist Church Mesa, 15 E. First Ave., Mesa.

With the support of the Kitt Fund for Musical Excellence and in collaboration with Latin American Studies, Chilean composer Freddy Vilches and his Matices Latin Ensemble will be in residence for a series of public performances.

May 18 — NAU Global Film Series serves up the world

The Global Engagement and Language Learning (GELL) Center provides a space for NAU students to engage in the study of global languages and cultures in order to promote student success beyond the classroom.

As part of that mission, the GELL Center is bringing the Global Film Series, “Food in Film,” to campus; it explores human interactions and relationships through food and examining the ways we use food to express ourselves as human beings.

All films will be shown in their original languages with English subtitles on various Wednesday nights throughout the semester. Each film will be introduced by a faculty member from the appropriate language department with discussion afterward.

Adults and teens from the campus and community are encouraged to attend these free screenings. Watching foreign language films can be a great way to practice a new language and to learn about other cultures.

May 19 — Coconino County to present Wildfire and Flood Preparedness Event

 A FREE community wildfire and flood awareness event is being hosted by the Coconino County Flood Control District this Friday, May 19 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater, 15 W Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ. Those attending will learn about fire and flood preparedness, connect with local leadership, and learn how to build resilience.

The evening will consist of tabling from local and statewide organizations, a short film on the current state of wildfires in the West, a keynote presentation from Flagstaff author John Vankat on the history of the region’s forest health, and a Q&A with a panel of regional experts from the field of forest management, fire management, emergency response, public health and more.

Through June 17 — Grand Canyon National Park hosts 33rd annual Grand Canyon Star Party

The thirty-third annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held through Saturday, June 17, 2023, on both the South and North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. National parks such as Grand Canyon are protective havens for some of the last remaining dark skies in the United States.  

The event is sponsored by the National Park Service, Grand Canyon Conservancy, the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, and the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix. Numerous telescopes will offer views of planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, as well as double stars, star clusters, nebulae, and distant galaxies. By day, keep an eye out for solar telescopes pointed at the sun. Weather permitting, expect spectacular views of the universe! 

July 28-30 — Heritage Days Returns to the North Rim

Heritage Days will return to the North Rim within Grand Canyon National Park July 28 through July 30, 2023. Each day, Heritage Days programs and demonstrations will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. throughout the North Rim developed area. Heritage Days provide visitors and staff with the opportunity to experience and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the Colorado Plateau, Arizona Strip, and the Grand Canyon area.

Throughout Heritage Days, members from Associated Tribes will offer special programming and demonstrations, ranging from music and dance performances to presentations on their connections to the Grand Canyon. For more information and a complete list of event activities, including times and locations, please inquire at the North Rim Visitor Center.

Aug. 8 — Sedona Arts Center Volunteer Fair & Appreciation next week!

You’re invited to Sedona Arts Center’s Volunteer Event! Learn firsthand about all the exciting opportunities for this coming year and join us as we honor the people who have generously given their time and energy to help our staff put on great events and exhibits!

If you have volunteered this past year, we hope you will join us so that we can Thank Youand show our appreciation! 

If you haven’t had an opportunity to volunteer, we welcome you join us and see what’s new this coming year.  We have several different volunteer opportunities that can suite everyone’s interests, capabilities and time.  You’re welcome to bring friends who may be interested in volunteering as well. The more the merrier!

Aug. 14 — City of Flagstaff hosts event celebrating Indigenous Code Talkers Day

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff will celebrate Indigenous Code Talkers Day with an event on Monday, Aug. 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Aquaplex Community Room (1702 N. Fourth St). Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The event will feature a variety of speakers, including Keynote Speaker Ms. Jamescita Peshlakai, U.S. Army Veteran, Persian Gulf War, former Arizona State Senator, former member of the Arizona House of Representatives, and member of the Navajo Nation. The event will also feature youth ambassadors and the Yoyhoyan Hopi youth dance group, which will provide a cultural share. A pre-event 2K honor walk/run (in-person/hybrid) will be held near the Aquaplex at 8:30 a.m. 

Aug. 20 — 12th Annual Flagstaff Symphony Guild Home Tour!

How the Home Tour works:
A self-driving tour of some of Flagstaff’s finest homes with live music by symphony musicians at each home. All proceeds support the concerts, education and community outreach programs of the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra.
You’ll walk through five beautiful homes, from historic Downtown Flagstaff to several of the exclusive golf and ranch communities. Each residence showcases unique features and captivating stories, creating an unforgettable journey through Flagstaff’s past and present.
Purchase advance tickets on the event website here. You’ll receive the Tour Program one day before the event at the email account you used to register. Need help? Reply to this email or call Stephanie Stallings at (928) 774-5107.

Sept. 2 — Mayan Winds Coffee Shop in Flagstaff to present First Saturday of Month Lecture and Workshop

FLAGSTAFF — Mayan Winds Coffee Shop in Flagstaff will present First Saturday of Month Lecture and Workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2 at 2144 N. 4th St., Flagstaff.

We will be bagging organic teas, mistick herbs and blessing plants. Please come and have fresh coffee on the house.

Sept. 28 — Pedro Gonzalez Corona to speak on ‘Echoes of Racial Fantasies: The Politics of Mexican Antisemitism’ at NAU

FLAGTAFF — Pedro Gonzalez Corona, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Martin-Springer Institute will be giving a talk titled “Echoes of Racial Fantasies: The Politics of Mexican Antisemitism,” at 7;30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at Liberal Arts 120.

Presented by the Martin-Springer Institute. His current research focuses on Mexican antisemitism and the phenomenon of forced disappearances. He will also teach a course on this topic in spring 2024, HUM 382 Cultures of Disappearance on Mondays from 4-6:30 p.m. for CCS.

Free and open to the public.

Through Sept. 5 — Enroll now for Spring Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) Training

Coconino County’s Summer 2023 Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) business plan development Zoom-based hybrid training will run 6-9pm, Tuesday evenings for 9-weeks, July 11th through September 5th. To join this training, please fully complete and email the BBE application and all other required supporting information. The purpose of this training is to assist development of viable business plans for successful enterprises, addressing the need for planning, one of two main reasons for business failure. BBE training is available to confirmed Coconino County residents. Attached are BBE and match-saving grant flyers and a fillable-PDF BBE application.

Sept. 17 — Sedona Arts Center, MNA to present ‘Moving from Appropriation to Authenticity ‘ at the Museum of Northern Arizona

Sedona Arts Center (SAC) and the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) announce their collaboration to bring a series of panel discussions to the region on the topic of appropriation of Indigenous art and culture with funding provided by Arizona Humanities.

The three panel discussions are scheduled for:
September 17, 2 PM at the MNA; November 5, 2 PM at the MNA; and January 21, 2024, 2 PM at SAC.

This series of panel discussions complements the Arizona Humanities’ mission in several ways. The talks aim to expand the audience’s understanding of what constitutes authentic Indigenous art versus art that has appropriated aspects of Indigenous culture, and to create deeper connections between artist, culture, and community. By contextualizing the role of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board and the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, the boundaries of Indigenous artists’ intellectual property and agency over representation will be explored. By framing each discussion with questions that attendees can adopt in their evaluation of how to engage with Indigenous cultures and art, an enhanced knowledge will foster their ability to appreciate and differentiate authentic representation from appropriation. Panelists will be a diverse complement of Native and non-Native experts, representing a mix of traditional, contemporary, accepted, and challenged perspectives on Indigenous representation.

Sept. 19 — Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) to present Targeted Sector Analysis Webinar

The last in a series of webinars on “Forging the Future,” the recently released 5-year strategic plan for northern Arizona’s economy, will be held on Tuesday, September 19 at 10 am.

Based on an economic roadmap developed for ECoNA by Elliott D. Pollack & Co. and IO, Inc., this webinar will focus on the plan’s targeted sector analysis.

Please join us for this informative session as we work together on pursuing greater economic vitality for northern Arizona. You can attend the webinar using this link.

Oct. 11 — Screening of recently completed documentary of Chilean singer songwriter Nano Stern at NAU

FLAGSTAFF — Award-winning Chilean singer-songwriter Nano Stern is coming to Northern Arizona University!

A Screening of the recently completed documentary of Chilean singer songwriter Nano Stern “We’ll be Singing by September (Cuando canta el Gallo),” (in Spanish with English subtitles) will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11 Communications Room 119 at NAU.

This event is in conjunction with a performance on Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm in Kitt Recital Hall.

Stern will be present on Zoom for the Q & A after the film. he Q & A will feature Stern in English

Oct. 11 — NAU Ethnic Studies Program to present opening reception for Artist in Residence: Theodore A. Harris

FLAGSTAFF — NAU Ethnic Studies Program will present the opening reception for Artist in Residence: Theodore Harris from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11 in the IMQ Office in the University Union Fieldhouse at Northern Arizona University.

Registration not required.

Theodore A. Harris was born in 1966 in New York City and raised in Philadelphia. He is a collagist, poet, curator, and essayist on the intersection of art and politics. He has participated in residences at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center (New Orleans); 40th Street A-I-R (Philadelphia); Hammonds House Museum and Resource Center of African American Art (Atlanta, GA); and International Festival of Arts and Ideas (New Haven, CT). He is the founding director of The Institute for Advanced Study in Black Aesthetics.

Oct. 13 — Chilean singer songwriter Nano Stern plays Victor Sara in free concert at NAU

FLAGSTAFF — Chilean singer songwriter Nano Stern will play a free concert, “Nano Stern Sings Victor Jara” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct 13 at the Kite Recital Hall at Northern Arizona University.

Free and open to the public.

As the world commemorates 50 years since the coup d’état in Chile, Nano Stern revisits the songs of legendary folk singer Víctor Jara, who personifies the spirit of the day through his timeless music and poetry. With austere virtuosity, Stern gives new breath to this immortal repertoire.

Oct. 18 — City of Flagstaff hosts public meeting for the Butler-Fourth Improvements project

FLAGSTAFF —The City of Flagstaff is hosting a public meeting for the Butler-Fourth Improvements project on Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Aquaplex (1702 N Fourth St). Members of the public are invited to learn about the project, its expected impacts, and to ask questions and offer comments on preliminary design.

The Butler-Fourth Improvements project consists of widening present-day Butler Avenue from Little America to Sinagua Heights Subdivision and widening present-day Fourth Street from Warm Springs Trail/Sparrow Avenue to the upcoming Canyon Del Rio development south of Butler Avenue.

Through Oct. 28 — 19th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival

Twenty-six renowned plein air artists from across the country will capture Sedona’s extraordinary landscapes during Sedona Arts Center’s 19th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival, October 20-28. The week-long event features artist demonstrations, paint outs, lectures, juried art competitions and more. All events are free and open to the public. 
 
“Our Plein Air Festival is a premier destination event and Sedona Arts Center’s signature fall event,” said Julie Richard, CEO of Sedona Arts Center. “Everyone is invited—residents, visitors and art lovers of all ages—to observe professional artists in action painting this wondrous place outdoors or “en plein air.”

Oct. 29 — The Literacy Center — Come Wine Taste for a Cause! This Sunday

Join us for a fundraising celebration of literacy filled with wine education, food, and fun! Tickets are $55 to enjoy 8 tastings from around the world! VIP tickets are available for an additional $10 and include 4 more tastings and two free raffle entries! Live music and refreshments will also be provided.

The event will take place this Sunday October 29th from 2 – 4 Pm at Serendipity.

Through Oct. 31 — NAU Ethnic Studies Program to present Art Exhibit ‘The Capitol Vetoed and Other Works’ by Artist Theodore A. Harris

FLAGSTAFF —The NAU Ethnic Studies Program will present the Art Exhibit “The Capitol Vetoed and Other Works” by Artist Theodore A. Harris through Oct. 31 in the IMQ Office in the University Union Fieldhouse at Northern Arizona University.

Nov. 2, 3 — Panel, film screening of ‘DREAMers called Home is Somewhere Else’ to be held at the Coconino Center for the Arts

FLAGSTAFF — Thursday Nov 2 at 6:30 pm at the Coconino Center for the Arts, there will be a Humanitarian activist panel:

This is an incredible panel, featuring four of the most extraordinary activists in AZ.  You can read brief bios of them here: here: https://coconinoarts.org/event/humanitarian-activist-panel-discussion/ It’s going to be a very inspirational evening!

Friday Nov 3 at 6:30 pm Coconino Center for the Arts, there will be a screening of a new animated film about DREAMers called Home is Somewhere Else, and we’ll have the director Carlos Hagerman, present for discussion. You can see a trailer of the film here:

Through Nov. 14 — Enroll Now for Coconino County’s Fall ’23 BBE business plan development, 9-wk, hybrid in-person and/or online Zoom-training

Coconino County’s Fall 2023 BBE business plan development Zoom-based hybrid training will run 6-9pm, Tuesday evenings, September 19th through November 14th. To enroll in this training, please reply attaching a fully completed BBE application and all other required supporting information. The purpose of this training is to assist development of viable business plans leading to enterprise success. Lack of planning is one of two main reasons for business failure. BBE training is available to confirmed Coconino County residents. Attached are a fillable-PDF BBE application flyers for BBE and our match-saving grant opportunity.

Dec. 7 — Bilingual report — City of Flagstaff hosts informational meeting on water rate study

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff is hosting a virtual informational meeting about the current drinking water, wastewater, and reclaimed water rate study on Thursday, Dec. 7 from 5:30-7 p.m. The meeting will be accessible both virtually and by telephone. Members of the public are invited to attend to learn more about the rate study and to ask questions. The meeting will consist of an informational presentation, followed by time for questions and answers.

To attend the meeting online, please register at bit.ly/ratestudy. Members of the public may also attend the meeting by phone by calling 888-400-1932 for English or 888-400-9342 for Spanish at the time and date of the meeting. All attendees, whether attending online or by phone, will have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments. Spanish interpretation will be available at the meeting.

Dec. 13 — Flagstaff College to present ‘High-Altitude Agriculture!’ Zoom oresentations

Growing food at 7,000 ft with limited water resources is no mean trick. And yet, it is being done by R. Charlie Shultz. Shultz has been a pioneer in the field of integrating fish and plants for more than 20 years. He is Academic Director in the School of Trades, Technology, Sustainability, and Professional Studies at Santa Fe Community College where he teaches Controlled Environment Agriculture.  

Continuing — Coconino County offers ‘Save then Spend More’ Program

For individuals looking to start or expand a small business, the Save then Spend More program may be the hand-up you need. This program helps small business owners and those wanting to start a small business access two match grant dollars. Generally, the process is as follows:

Continuing — Coconino County offers $ave2Learn Post-Secondary Education and Business Start-up/Expansion Match Saving Grants

For more information, visit: www.coconino.az.gov/ida

Or, contact IDA Recruitment (ida@coconino.az.gov),
Program Manager Scott Neuman (679-7463; sneuman@coconino.az.gov), or Program Manager III Diana Abele (679-7214; dabele@coconino.az.gov).

United Way of Northern Arizona — Celebrating a Community (and UWNA) Champion

It was with tremendous sadness that we heard last week of the passing of Dr. Bert McKinnon, who epitomized the commitment to community and volunteer service that makes northern Arizona such a remarkable place.

Bert and his family came to Flagstaff in the early 1980s and he is perhaps best known as one of the co-founders of Flagstaff Bone & Joint.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — [Video] Looking Back on 2022

The past year had its challenges for businesses locally and nationwide – from inflation to labor shortages to continued supply chain disruptions. Yet we still saw progress in northern Arizona, from the opening of businesses and facilities to plans for future growth in Flagstaff, Camp Verde, Sedona, and Winslow.

Among the highlights this year were:

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: December 26-30, 2022

New Year’s Eve fundraising event for 8th Grade Washington D.C. Field Trip 

Grand Canyon Community Rec Center is hosting a New Year’s Eve Fundraiser Party to support the Grand Canyon Middle School D.C. Trip!

Live band, Juniper Hill, starts at 9:30 p.m. Pre-admission tickets and 50/50 raffle tickets available for purchase at the Grand Canyon Recreation Center. More information on the event can be found in the attached flyer here. 

January 2023 at the Museum of Northern Arizona

Message from Mary –
I hope you are enjoying the holiday season and are keeping safe and warm in the beautiful winter snow here in Flagstaff. As the new year approaches, I am filled with anticipation for what 2023 will bring and am hopeful it will offer energizing and inspiring times for us all.

Here at MNA we’re excited to be heading into the new year with a wonderful new exhibition – Vast Lands, Inner Visions: The Art of Joella Jean Mahoney – and lots of great ideas for 2023. We worked hard in 2022 to complete a new plan for MNA, and we will begin implementing it in earnest is 2023. You can find more information about that here: https://musnaz.org/about/strategic-plan/

Sedona Arts Center — ‘Tis the season for year-end-giving

The arts are fundamental to our lives – whether we always realize it or not. They foster civil discourse, understanding, and critical thinking – as well as fostering creativity, empathy and joy. The arts bring great economic benefit to our community through cultural tourism, education and connection.

There are so many reasons to support the arts – not least of all are the personal relationships built through our organizations. While we are back in person conducting events and programs, impacts from the pandemic are still felt.

We at Sedona Arts Center are definitely still feeling the effects.

District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman — Happy Holidays December 2022

In This Issue

Greeting From Supervisor Horstman
City of Flagstaff Detention Basin Tour
Board Approve Applications for FEMA Grants for Flood Mitigation Projects
Coconino County Features Emergency Management (Video)
BOS Approves $5 Million of ARPA Funding for Community Projects
United Way of Northern Arizona, Thanks Our Community Volunteers
The Heart of Democracy: County Certifies Elections
Pathways To Communities Offers A Way Forward
Flagstaff Community Stuffed the Bus
Coconino Couty Celebrates the Holidays!
Winter Parking Ordinance
County Employee ” Dex” Honored
Welcome to Michael Jackiewicz Director of Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJJC)
Community Events and Resources
Contact Us

Happy Holidays from your friends at Sedona Arts Center!

Here at Sedona Arts Center we just wanted to say thank you for your commitment to our local nonprofit and all that we do.

As we move into a new year, we wish you moments of peace and connections with family and friends, the warmth of memories from holidays past, and hope for a better future.

Thanks to our amazing donors, supporters, and fantastic patrons like you, we have been able to continue sharing the arts and arts education over the last 64 years, and we thank you!

May you have a wonderful holiday season
and a safe and happy new year!

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Dec. 19-23, 2022

Weekly Call Updates

For the next two weeks, all employee calls as well as stakeholder/community calls will be canceled in observance of the holidays.

We will start the New Year with a new weekly call format beginning on January 11, 2023. There will be just one call each week, on Wednesday at 11 a.m. for both NPS employees and community members.

Wednesday all employee and community call from the Superintendent’s Office:

TIME: 11 a.m. Arizona Time

CALL IN: 877-491-6221

PARTICIPANT CODE: 7074828#

If you would like a calendar invite sent by email with this information, please email the public affairs office at grca_public_affairs@nps.gov.

Have a happy and safe holiday season!

-Grand Canyon Office of Communications

Coconino County Parks and Recreation Completes Upgrades to Pond at Archuleta County Park

The improvements allowed for enlarging the pond space and adding a boardwalk, which makes the pond easier to access and enjoy, and an ultraviolet light system to reduce algae, so the pond will have improved visibility beneath the water’s surface.

Thanks to a heritage grant from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), upgrades to the pond at Elizabeth “Liz” C. Archuleta County Park are complete and it is now open to the public. The grant allowed Coconino County Parks and Recreation to make the necessary improvements to create a place for the public to visit and watch wildlife. The original pond was small, contained considerable algae, and was difficult for the public to access. 

United Way of Northern Arizona — ‘You Can Give with Confidence’

When you make a donation to a nonprofit, you want to feel confident that your gift is being properly used by an organization that takes its fiscal responsibility seriously.

That’s why we are so pleased to announce that, for the fourth year in a row, Charity Navigator has given United Way of Northern Arizona a 4-star rating, this year with a score of 96%. This means UWNA exceeds or meets best practices and industry standards for nonprofits. Only 13 United Way organizations of our size have achieved this high a rating.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Dec. 12-16, 2022

Volunteer to support the Grand Canyon Community this holiday season! 

On Tuesday, Dec. 20, Delaware North will be having a wrapping party to wrap the angel tree gifts from 1-5 p.m. in Yavapai Lodge atrium. All angels on the DNC Angel Tree have been adopted this year and donations should be dropped off before this Friday, Dec. 16 to the General Store. More information on this event can be found in the attached flyer here. 

On Wednesday, Dec. 21, Delaware North will be making food boxes in the Canyon Village Market Deli starting at 3 p.m.  The food boxes will accompany the angel tree gifts to each family. More information on this event can be found in the attached flyer here. 

Both events are open to the community and participation is highly encouraged! 

The NAU Review — Celebrating our graduates, Notes from the President and the Early Learning and Development Center

More than 2,400 students have applied to graduate this semester; they will be celebrated in two ceremonies at the Skydome on Dec. 16. Learn about parking, traffic, the clear bag policy and how you can get updates on commencement.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — As CCC&Y’s e-newsletter takes a break, we want to wish you a very happy holiday season

As we conclude 2022, a year in which we celebrated our 50th anniversary, we want to wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a very happy 2023.

CCC&Y’s weekly e-newsletter will be taking the rest of the year off, but will return on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.

If you need a little help during this hectic holiday season, please be sure to visit our many free online webinars to help ease some of the stress — CCC&Y presents free webinars on understanding how emotions impact adult and child relationships

Bilingual report — Gina Santi Photography Images of the Month – December 2022

The hogan is the fundamental, traditional dwelling of the Navajo people of Arizona and New Mexico. It is a single-room roughly circular abode, with an east-facing access that encloses a central fireplace or wood stove set below a central smoke ventilation hole. It is built usually of logs and mud, with a domed roof. Historically, it has been not only a place to live but also a place of considerable spiritual significance. The hogan can be male (cone-shaped) or female (round or six-sided, as in the image).

In Navajo culture, every new Hogan must be ritually consecrated after it is built. This consecration is done by first touching the four main posts of the hogan, which symbolize the four cardinal points, and then scattering cornmeal or corn pollen all around the inside in a clockwise direction. This blessing is meant to make the hogan strong enough to safeguard the family from physical or spiritual injure. Other ceremonies, including healing ones, are also held in hogans. For these reasons, even if a Navajo family doesn’t live in a hogan, they would make sure there was at least one nearby.

The NAU Review — A graduate’s journey, affordable and fun holiday craft, playing to learn with Brian Stone

When life throws you unexpected challenges, the only way forward is through. Graduate student Altoveda Tortice has embodied this moral throughout her master’s program while working full-time, raising a family and dealing with loss. Tortice first graduated from NAU in 2007 with a degree in psychology. Now, 13 years later, she’s ready to graduate again, this time with a degree in human relations and a goal of helping other students reach their educational goals.

Due to the Winter Weather Advisory, Flagstaff Unified School District schools will be on a two-hour delayed start on Dec. 12

Due to the Winter Weather Advisory for this evening and tomorrow morning, all Flagstaff Unified School District schools will be on a two-hour delayed start tomorrow, December 12. The weather conditions will be re-evaluated tomorrow morning and further communication will be sent out, if needed. More information available at www.fusd1.org

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Dec. 5-9, 2022

Throughout December, Grand Canyon National Park is featured alongside three other national parks in the East Room at none other than the The White House. The East Room décor reflects the communion we find in nature. As part of the fireplace mantel displays, visitors see four iconic National Parks from around our country represented: The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Shenandoah National Park. 

As the largest room in the White House, the East Room has hosted public receptions, ceremonies, bill signings, and other memorable occasions. More information on 2022 White House decorations can be found here. 

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — TGen Grows with Diagnostic Lab

Among the many changes that came out of the era of Covid-19 was the dramatic growth of one of the pillars of our local biosciences sector, the TGen Pathogen and Microbiome Division, better known as TGen North.

TGen North was on the front lines very early on in the crisis, using genomics to analyze the structure of the coronavirus and develop one of the first tests to detect it. The pandemic also prompted the nonprofit to build its own CLIA-certified diagnostics lab. (CLIA, which stands for Clinical Lab Improvement Amendments, is the federal certification needed before a lab can accept human samples for diagnostic testing.)

“That allowed us to test patient samples and return the results to patients and clinicians, which we hadn’t done before,” said Dave Engelthaler, PhD, the director of TGen North. “It had been a long-term goal for us to develop a diagnostics lab, but there’s nothing like an emergency to put things into place.”

The NAU Review — Non-traditional grad finds passion in special ed, exploring the icy surface of Europa and Santa rides the bus

Lorie Lee never imagined she’d make it to university; she is now graduating with two degrees, having won the prestigious President’s Prize. A mother of three and non-traditional student, her inspiring tale begins earlier than her first day at NAU. As a child, Lee experienced poverty, a mother with substance abuse issues and a father unwilling to care for her. Through the support of her friends and teachers, Lee found a love and passion for education and excelled academically. Married and raising three children with special needs, Lee enrolled at NAU’s North Valley campus and is earning a bachelor’s degree in both elementary education and special education.

Bilingual report — Coconino County Signs Letter to Congress to Pass Behavioral and Mental Health Policies

Led by the National Association of Counties (NACo), a bipartisan group of nearly 150 county elected officials urged congressional leaders to pass key behavioral and mental health policies before the end of the year.

In a letter to congressional leaders, the county officials wrote, “As a key intergovernmental partner, we urge you to work towards the passage of a bipartisan behavioral health package that enhances our ability to provide comprehensive behavioral health services in all settings, strengthens the behavioral health workforce and increases resident access to services.”

“In alliance with counties across the United States, this letter to our nation’s leadership details our shared goals of ensuring resources are provided to address the behavioral and mental health needs of residents,” stated Coconino County Board of Supervisors Chair Patrice Horstman. “I encourage everyone to read the letter sent to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, to learn more about the national policies we support.”

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y presents free webinars on understanding how emotions impact adult and child relationships

With the hectic holiday season in full swing, CCC&Y shares this free online opportunity to ease some of the daily stress during this busy time of year.
Motivated by a long wait list for behavioral health services, and aware of challenging adult and child emotions causing behavior difficulties, Bethany Camp put this two part training together for CCC&Y to help meeting a wide-spread community need.

First we learn to understand our emotions and then we can understand and respond to the big emotional responses of children.

Watch Webinar – Managing Adult Emotional Responses, Part One

Watch Webinar – Helping Children Manage Their Emotions, Part Two

These videos are meant to help support our community. Having the tools to take care of ourselves and respond to children, is a great resource.