Category: Youth

Page CCC Student to become flight paramedic in future

She is dedicated to schoolwork and family. 

Coconino Community College student Shayla Haskan, who hails from the Navajo Nation, is currently taking classes at the Page campus. After volunteering with EMS services on the Navajo Nation, she decided to get her EMT certificate to help on her Emergency Medical Services career path, with the end goal of becoming a flight paramedic. 

Shayla drives a total of two and a half hours to attend class and another two and a half hours home after the course is over. “Driving the ambulance from 12 pm to midnight prepared me for driving late at night,” she said.

Coconino County African Diaspora Advisory Council (ADAC) presents Black History Month Essay and Art Contest for all students. See upcoming events here

The Coconino County African Diaspora Advisory Council (ADAC) to present Black History Month Essay and Art Contest for all students.

See upcoming Black History Month events through Feb. 11 here

See upcoming Black History Month events through Feb. 28 here

ADAC partners with Goodnight Flagstaff and readers from the LBE CommUnity Project to offer special Saturday storytime readings with folk and fairy tales from the African Diaspora. Click here

First-Generation student to become therapist

She’s a student who enjoys learning.

Coconino Community College student Anna Brown, has decided to continue her education and get her Associate of Arts degree here at CCC. After she gets her degree, she plans to transfer to a four-year college, where she will major in Psychology and minor in Spanish. 

“I hope to be a therapist,” Brown said during the interview at the Lone Tree Campus. “Specifically focusing on eating disorders and treatment.”

The first of her family to pursue a college degree, Brown decided to come back to school after taking a couple of years off. She is taking her general education courses to complete her degree, along with some psychology electives. 

United Way of Northern Arizona — (Video) The Programs You Support

There is so much your donation supports when you Step Up and donate to United Way of Northern Arizona.

Like QCKids, the program featured in the video above. Families who have children with disabilities often have difficulty finding care that will prepare their children for kindergarten. The problem is compounded for low-income families, many of whom have difficulty finding affordable, quality child care at all.

QCKids provides a program for children from infancy to 6 years with a focus on identifying and addressing cognitive, physical, social, intellectual and emotional disabilities in order to support learning at a young age to help them better prepare for their future.

Patrice Horstman — Coconino County District 1 Newsletter — February 2022

4 February 2022

Hello from Supervisor Horstman
Winter Snow Play
Highway 180 Health and Safety
American Rescue Plan Allocations
COVID-19 Omicron Variant
COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing
Museum Flood Area Warning System
Renewable Energy Ordinance Virtual Open House
Upcoming NACo Legislative Conference
Introducing Chris Newell, District Director
Contact Us

Coconino County Parks and Recreation Grants & Operations Update

The Arizona State Parks Board has selected Coconino Parks and Recreation as a recipient of a 2022 American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Grant, in the amount of $923,306 for the Fort Tuthill Improvement Project.

This project will provide greater outdoor recreation opportunities to park visitors by improving two parking lot surfaces at Fort Tuthill County Park, installing a new sewer line from the campground, and improving a walkway to the outdoor amphitheater.

“With Fort Tuthill County Park seeing increased visitor use throughout the year, the park’s infrastructure is being tasked like never before. We are thankful for the Arizona State Parks ARPA Grant award because important infrastructure like parking lots and a campground sewer line connection will allow visitors to benefit from these improvements now and in years to come,” said Cynthia Nemeth, Parks and Recreation Director.

For more information on this, please visit American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Grant.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Unusual Suspects

So, I know this girl. She is twelve years old. She lives in a loving home. She made friends with neighborhood kids. Kids who had lived through much turbulence and instability on their road to adolescence. One day, this girl decided not to go to school and instead spent her day at the mall without the intent of returning home that night. When three in the afternoon rolls around, this girl is not home. Her mom starts wondering where she is. Mom calls the girl’s phone- no answer. She called the bus barn to see if her child was on the bus, but the driver had left for the day. So, mom waits. After a short period, mom starts calling around friends’ houses. No one had seen or heard from the girl.

By 6 p.m., mom calls the police to share her daughter is missing. 

The NAU Review — Educating Indigenous health care providers, a love letter to the periodic table and who is Julie Mueller?

How NAU is reducing health inequities among Indigenous populations

One of the most effective ways to address health disparities among Indigenous people is by ensuring the health care providers serving a community are offering culturally informed services and programs. For a long time, however, that need was ignored. A few years ago, after being regularly confronted with this deficit, professors in the Center for Health Equity Research created a track in the master’s of public health program that focused on Indigenous health.

February Updates from Creative Flagstaff

Creative Flagstaff’s flagship grant program is now open for applications. This grant program supports nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups who have missions dedicated to producing, presenting, teaching, or serving the arts; cultural equity, preservation, or awareness; and/or presenting science programming to the public. Last year, $305,000 was awarded to 31 Flagstaff nonprofits.

NAU, FUSD experts collaborate to develop innovative computer science curriculum for Native American elementary students

Native Americans are one of the least represented populations in the field of computer science. Moreover, Native American participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM fields) at the college level continues to be severely limited, resulting in a fraction of Native Americans earning bachelor’s degrees in STEM and computer science. Education researchers have found that a lack of rigorous preparation in mathematics and computational thinking, beginning as early as elementary and middle school, are major factors in this underrepresentation.

Assistant professor Morgan Vigil-Hayes of NAU’s School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems was awarded $275,944 by the National Science Foundation for a two-year project entitled “Towards Culturally Responsive and Computationally Rich Problem Based Learning for K-5 Students.” The project’s goal is to develop solutions to this problem, beginning right here in the Flagstaff community.

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library — Happening at Your Library Happening at Your Library 2/7/22

View this email in your browser February 7th, 2022 Come connect with your community Featured Resource Adult & All-Ages Events Youth Events Book Clubs To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, please call 928-213-2331 (Downtown Library) or…

CCC student aims to keep national parks safe as an EMT

She wants to help people when they need it most.

Coconino Community College student Edmonia Martinez, who works as the down lake supervisor for interpretation at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, is currently taking classes at the CCC Page Center to help her achieve her goal of getting her Emergency Medical Technician certification.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Martinez said during her interview at the Page Center. “It’s just good to have those skills in case we run into people that are in trouble.”

Bilingual report — Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) launches homeowner assistance fund awareness campaign

The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) (on Jan. 31) launched an advertising campaign to spread the word that financial help is available to struggling Arizona homeowners through the state’s Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). The print, radio, digital, and social media ads, in English and Spanish, will concentrate in rural Arizona and encourage homeowners facing foreclosure to apply for assistance.

“The HAF is open to eligible homeowners statewide and the word has spread in many urban areas about the program,” ADOH Director Tom Simplot said. “This ad campaign aims to reach those rural communities where there may be low-income homeowners in need and there are limited other resources available to keep them in their homes.”

The NAU Review — Rebuilding after wildfires, predicting infectious diseases, Humans of Flagstaff and Notes from the President

The West sees destructive wildfires every year—yet it hadn’t seen anything like California’s Camp Fire. Three months after the most destructive wildfire in recent history, wildfire sociologist Catrin Edgeley went to the devastated town of Paradise to learn how residents and town leaders were recovering. What she found was that, even with the frequency of fires, many cities and towns found themselves navigating unfamiliar territory as they attempted to rebuild. In her research, Edgeley didn’t just want to know how people and towns recovered; she wanted to know how lessons learned in one disaster could be individualized and applied to other fires—lessons that are increasingly important in Arizona as climate change leads to longer, more severe fire seasons.

Superintendent of Schools Seeking Applicants for Maine Consolidated School District Board

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for two vacant seats on the Maine Consolidated School District #10 Governing Board.

Applicants must reside in the school district and be registered to vote in Arizona. Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.

Interested applicants can download an application online and email to cmango-paget@coconino.az.gov or fax to (928) 526-1469. All applications must have a live signature and be mailed to 2384 N. Steves Boulevard, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 by March 2, 2022. 

United Way of Northern Arizona — Retired, But Still Stepping Up

Many supporters of United Way of Northern Arizona and its mission first learned about UWNA through a workplace campaign. After hearing about the work UWNA does, they chose to make a donation, often through an automatic payroll deduction.

We are grateful many choose to continue their support after they retire from the workforce.

People like Susanna Maxwell and Barry Lutz, a couple who began giving to UWNA more than three decades ago through workplace campaigns at Northern Arizona University. Although they both retired in 2010, that hasn’t slowed down their support.

The NAU Review — Celebrating Black History Month, recognizing CEIAS diversity efforts and Team Rubicon

NAU is hosting a variety of events to celebrate Black history this month. These are opportunities for all of the NAU community to learn about diverse cultural traditions and honor and celebrate the contributions African Americans have made to society while raising awareness of their struggles of the past and present.
Read the story

African Diaspora Advisory Council Announces Black History Month Essay and Art Contest

The Coconino County African Diaspora Advisory Council (ADAC) is now accepting entries for the Black History Month Essay and Art Contest.

The contest is open to all students in Coconino County. Submissions will center around the theme of Black Health and Wellness and must be received by February 20, 2022.

“This is our tenth year holding the essay contest, and our first adding the art contest. It’s a joy to see how our young people will engage with the theme. The theme this year is ‘Black Health and Wellness,’ so we are inviting students the option to engage through recognition and celebration of that theme and Black healthcare heroes and heroines. We greatly look forward to seeing what the students of Coconino County have to say in words and art,” said Khara House Chair of ADAC.

CCC — The Comet — ‘A quick word from the President’ and more news

Thirty years ago, Coconino Community College was born.

The birth was a two-step process: First, voters had to decide if they wanted to form a community college district; second, they had to decide to fund the district with property taxes.

Both measures passed, and CCC was born to serve the residents of Coconino County.

However, that is not the end of the story – only the beginning. A challenge came about with the formation of the college that has grown as the college has grown over time. The percentage of property taxes to help run the college is, by far, the lowest offered to any community college district in the state of Arizona. Initially, the college was able to overcome that challenge with the assistance of state funding and fees from tuition. In the last 30 years, the state funding has diminished considerably. Members of the governing board and the college communities have met the challenge of that initial underfunding with incredible efforts to do “more with less.”

Before she left office, state Sen. Sylvia Allen, after seeing the amazing stories of success being experienced by CCC students, decided to take forward an amendment to state law in 2018 that would allow community colleges to ask the voters to decide if they would support an increase to their primary property tax rate in order to bring the college somewhat closer to parity with other community colleges in the state. The governing board has decided now is the time to ask (see related story).

In a special election on May 17, voters will consider an increase to their primary property tax rate. If the voters approve, the tax rate will still be below all the other community colleges; however, it will provide an opportunity to meet many of the demands for career and technical programs and short-term training requested by business and industry throughout Coconino County.

Onward! Náás! Adelante!

Colleen Smith, PhD

Sedona Arts Center — SAC February News – Celebrate Sedona rescheduled

Due to impending weather, we cancelled Celebrate Sedona originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 2.  BUT we have a new date – Wednesday, February 9 – same time (4-6PM) in our parking lot. 
 
This Celebrate Sedona was programmed to coincide with Vision & Sound: An African American Experience which opened on January 28 and will run until February 25 here in Sedona. An Additional exhibit will run until April 4 in Goodyear.
 
Vision & Sound is unique in a number of ways.  First, we are partnering with the City of Goodyear and the City of Glendale – both of whom will be hosting events and exhibits throughout the month.  Second, Sedona Arts Center is holding several artist talks and demonstrations here that celebrate black artists and culture.  And finally, the work in both exhibits – here and in Goodyear – all tell a story.  It is not art for art’s sake but art that provokes, celebrates and inspires the viewer to think more deeply about the history of our country, its cultures and its people.

Phantom Ranch Wastewater Treatment Plant Repairs Begin

Beginning Feb. 8, 2022, the first phase of short-term repairs and upgrades to the Phantom Ranch Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) will begin. Work is anticipated to be completed by December 2022 and includes two phases of hauling equipment via helicopters. The first phase is anticipated to go through March, and the second phase is expected to resume in September.

Inner canyon trail users in the vicinity of Phantom Ranch may experience temporary delays of up to 15 minutes, and noise and dust from equipment and helicopters. The contractor, GSE/Coventina Water, LLC, will have limited use of a heavy-lift helicopter (Chinook) to haul supplies and equipment. Visitors should follow directions from National Park Service (NPS) staff and construction crew workers as needed in the work zones to maintain safety.

Grand Canyon National Park Announces 2023 Noncommercial River Trip Lottery Period

Grand Canyon National Park, located in northern Arizona, encompasses 277 miles (446 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. One of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world, Grand Canyon is unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.

HECHO January Newsletter — Featured Guest Blog with Coconino County Supervisor for District 2 Jeronimo Vasquez — Building the Community We’d Like to See in Coconino County

In December, Coconino County Supervisor for District 2, Jeronimo Vasquez, shared his story with us about how connections to the outdoors can empower our communities and instill a legacy of stewardship. He writes: “The time I spent outdoors left a profound impact on me, instilling a legacy of stewardship that I hope to pass on to my children, and to my community.”

To read this blog post, click here.

Latino Outdoors — Yo Cuento: Cascadas y Conchas

LO Portland hiked the Tamanawas Falls on January 2, 2022 to ring in the new year. While hiking the falls, located within Mount Hood National Forest, the group stopped and snapped this picture.

LO Leader Kassy Delgado reflected on the hike afterwards “Enjoying conchas, tamales, and dulces while admiring a wintery waterfall, what a wonderful way of welcoming 2022!”

Conchas y Cascadas for the new year? Que maravillosa!

New changes coming Jan. 28 to the Flagstaff Mall COVID-19 vaccination site

New changes are coming Jan. 28 to the Flagstaff Mall COVID-19 vaccination site.

Adults 18+ and Children 5-17: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. -5 p.m.

Please note a change in ages beginning on Friday’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Flagstaff Mall. Both adults and children may be vaccinated beginning at 11 am. If you have a vaccine card please bring it with you.

No appointment is needed. A guardian must accompany a child receiving the vaccine. Masks are required at the vaccine site. Pfizer Booster doses are available for all eligible individuals 12 years and older. Moderna and J&J Booster doses are available for 18+.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Jan. 24-28, 2022 — ‘Safer Federal Workforce Update’ and more news

We’ve gotten new guidance this week from the Safer Federal Workforce Taskforce pertaining to vaccinations for federal employees. This information is the result of legal challenges related to COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

The new guidance instructs us to take no action to enforce or implement the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. All the other guidance on protocols related to masking, distancing, travel, testing, and quarantine—remains in effect.

Did you ever wonder who makes up the Safer Federal Workforce Taskforce? This group is led by the White House COVID-19 Response Team, the General Services Administration (GSA), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Task Force members include: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Protective Service (FPS), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the United States Secret Service (USSS). For more information, visit: https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/.

The NAU Review — ‘For the love of STEM’ and more news

Is kindergarten too young for students to get excited about STEM? No way, says assistant professor Morgan Vigil-Hayes, who is partnering with FUSD to develop a curriculum to get K-5 Native American students doing fun learning activities that focus on math and computational thinking.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y presents ‘Mindful Moments’ for staff, schools and community

Need help in the new year?

CCC&Y has created “Mindful Moments” for staff, schools and community. 

Schedule a facilitated mindful moment before staff meetings, class time, family events or any gathering.

Findlay receives 2021 Distinguished Service Award from CCC

Despite a global pandemic, he and his staff were instrumental in getting Coconino Community College’s Automotive Technician program running.

That’s why Robby Findlay, director of operations for the Findlay Automotive Group, has been selected as the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Service Award at CCC.

 “What an unbelievable honor,” he said. “I know how much the college has done for the community, and it’s such an honor CCC is commending me and our auto group.”

Sedona Arts Center — Vision & Sound: An African American Experience

Vision & Sound creates an educational experience and environment that broadens the understanding and appreciation of African American art, music, film, and literary works for multigenerational and multicultural audiences. We strive to build supportive relationships to encourage cultural equity throughout Arizona and beyond – recognizing that professional American artists of African descent are too often overlooked.

CCC student worker sees Law Degree in future

She’s focused on work, school, and family.

Coconino Community College student Nizhoni Nez lives in Page with her family while she works at CCC and takes courses to accomplish her plan of getting her Political Science degree.

“My plans with that degree are to get into the NAU pre-law program and hopefully work towards a degree in law,” Nez said during the interview at the CCC Page Center. “It’s something I’ve always talked about with my father.”

She was worried about coming back to school after a leap year, she said, but due to hard work and the great communication she has with her teachers, she is doing great in her classes.

The NAU Review — How to intern on Easter Island, how trees survive drought and what is beautyism?

NAU is offering a new study abroad program starting this summer—one that will take students out of the classroom and challenge them to interact with the world in new ways. South America NAU will allow students of all majors to do community outreach, interact with different cultures and do hands-on work in climate change, sustainable tourism, anthropology and other big questions of our day. 
 
Students—interested in studying abroad? Find the program that meets your personal, educational and financial needs at Education Abroad.

Coconino County School Superintendent to Host 2022 Spelling Bee

The 2022 Coconino County Spelling Bee, hosted by the Coconino County Superintendent of Schools and Education Service Agency, will take place on Saturday, February 5, at 10:00 a.m. in the Mini Auditorium at Coconino High School, 2801 N. Izabel St, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004.

To promote safety, the following practices will be observed throughout the duration of the Spelling Bee: 

-Only two (2) guests per participant will be admitted. 

-All participants and guests will need to maintain a social distance of six (6) feet. Seating will be spaced accordingly. 

NAU News — Planetary astronomer Cristina Thomas named 2022 Emerging Scholar for trailblazing research and mentorship

Assistant professor Cristina Thomas of Northern Arizona University has been named an Emerging Scholar by the leading education magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education in its Jan. 20 issue. The publication annually recognizes an interdisciplinary group of early-career minority scholars who represent the best of U.S. academia.

“An accomplished planetary astronomer, Latina scientist and mentor, Dr. Thomas serves as a shining role model for our community. She is blazing the trail for our diverse student population to embrace research and explore the boundless universe,” said NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera.

The NAU Review — Recognizing Cristina Thomas’ leadership, GSG president Rebecca Seeger and a program to find students’ talents

President Cruz Rivera gives a video update on the United Way of Northern Arizona campaign and discusses his week, which included meetings with students and council members, MLK Day celebrations and reflections and his work with the Arizona Senate.

Flagstaff Festival of Science — Meet a Local Scientist: Planetary Scientist Lucas McClure🔭🪐

An emerging star in the field of planetary science, Lucas McClure is a graduate student in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science at Northern Arizona University, with a Bachelor of Science in Physics with an astronomy concentration from the University of Tennessee.

United Way of Northern Arizona — How Do We Make 2022 Even Better?

When we look at the outcomes, the past year was a powerful reminder of all that we can do when we work together.

Because you Stepped Up for Our Community either as a donor, an advocate or a volunteer, we collectively did more than ever before to advance:

Early childhood education
Positive youth development
Basic services that strengthened our social safety net.

But that leaves us with a very important question:

How can we make 2022 even better?

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Jan. 17-21, 2022

NPS Mask Policy reminders

The current National Park Service mask policy, which follows the CDC recommendation is that everyone wear a mask that is over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status in the following settings:
In all NPS buildings and in congregate office settings; the only exception is when you are alone in a private, walled and closed door space;
Crowded outdoor spaces identified in the Grand Canyon Superintendent’s Compendium (pages 5-6), and
In all forms of enclosed public transportation, which includes Grand Canyon shuttle buses, and all government vehicles and aircraft.

What qualifies as a mask according to the NPS and CDC are masks that have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric, completely cover your nose and mouth, fit snugly against the sides of your face and don’t have gaps, and have a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask. For the latest information on types of masks and respirators, please visit the CDC’s website here.

District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez — District 2 Newsletter 7th Edition — Happy New Year and best wishes for a great 2022!

In this edition…

Message from Sup. Vasquez
Siren Instillation in Museum Flood Area
Museum Flood Area Crisis Response Funding
Sheriff’s Office Tour
Redistricting Update
Services and Programs
And more!
Message from Supervisor Vasquez

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y celebrates 50th anniversary with variety of programs to support families, community members

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary of service in Northern Arizona, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth stands ready in 2022 to help connect families and community members with a number of options, including free educational resources, training programs for our partners and members, monthly virtual youth open mic sessions, city resource guides, calendars of upcoming family events and a variety of programs offered by our more than 100 individual and nonprofit members.

CCHHS Urges Precautions as COVID-19 Variants Result in Increased Community Transmission

Coconino County is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.

If attending an indoor, in-person gathering, masks should be worn.   

As COVID-19 transmission increases, Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) advises evaluating the need for large gatherings and postponing in-person meetings/gatherings/events, when possible, until community transmission declines.

CCHHS recommends the following precautions to minimize COVID-19 risk, keep children in school, and our economy open:  

School Superintendent to Interview Candidates for Grand Canyon Unified School District #4 Governing Board and Seeks Input

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget has announced the scheduling of interviews for the Governing School Board Member open seats at Grand Canyon Unified School District #4.

An advisory committee will be assembled consisting of a district resident, district teacher, and two current board members to conduct interviews and advise Superintendent Mango-Paget on the appointments.

The Superintendent is also seeking public input regarding the appointment of the Governing Board Member open seats at Grand Canyon Unified School District #4. Please contact the Superintendent with input (comments) at cmango-paget@coconino.az.gov, beginning January 18 – January 28, 2022.

Environment for the Americas (EFTA)’s Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP) seeking applicant for Grand Canyon

Environment for the Americas (EFTA)’s Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP) seeking an applicant for a biology assistant for the National Park Service at the Grand Canyon.

The application period for the 2022 internship positions is open until January 23, 2022.

Remember, as a Mosaics intern, you will be required to:

Work in the park for a minimum of 11 weeks
Attend a Leadership and Career Workshop in the beginning of August
Attend program webinars
Submit written blogs
Participate enthusiastically in all of the project activities!

The NAU Review — Top 10 moments of Fall 2021, MLK Day and Investing in Indigenous Youth

The fall semester was exciting—it was President Cruz Rivera’s first at NAU and the first in-person semester for our Class of 2025 and Class of 2026, our researchers made groundbreaking discoveries, we expanded our world-class faculty, celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Native American Cultural Center, cheered as NAU Cross Country won its fifth title and NAU Football beat the Arizona Wildcats, and so much more. Phew! President Cruz Rivera talks about his favorite memories of the fall—including the best moment so far at NAU. Can he do it in less than four minutes? 

The NAU Review — ‘A call to action: ‘Awakening from the Dream’ and more news

On Monday, NAU will honor the life and mission of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who dedicated his life to the nonviolent but unending march for civil rights. The day’s events include a celebration, a march and a day of service to support the Flagstaff community. Volunteers can participate in a day “on” with opportunities at the Flagstaff Family Food Center, Hope Cottage, the Sunshine Rescue Mission and the Murdoch Center.

CCHHS Urges Precautions as COVID-19 Variants Result in Increased Community Transmission

Coconino County is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.

If attending an indoor, in-person gathering, masks should be worn.   

As COVID-19 transmission increases, Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) advises evaluating the need for large gatherings and postponing in-person meetings/gatherings/events, when possible, until community transmission declines.

CCHHS recommends the following precautions to minimize COVID-19 risk, keep children in school, and our economy open:  

CCC student sees ‘big data’ in future

She’s all about “big data” and family.

Coconino Community College student Johanna Hawley moved to Flagstaff from her home on the Navajo Nation in order to get the education she needs to satisfy her goal of getting a Computer Science degree and being a data analyst.

“I want to be able to provide for my parents and family,” Hawley said in between classes at the Lone Tree Campus. “My goal is to have my parents retire and me be the breadwinner.”

United Way of Northern Arizona — (Video) A message from NAU President Cruz Rivera

There’s no doubt that Northern Arizona University plays a huge role in our community. In addition to being Flagstaff’s largest employer, it is the home of thousands of students who live, work and study here.

NAU is also a major player in local philanthropic efforts, including its annual workplace campaign to support United Way of Northern Arizona.

This year, NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera successfully challenged the university’s community to boost its contributions to UWNA, increasing their campaign goal from $25,000 to $35,000.

“NAU stepped up for community and for that I’m grateful,” he said.

Because NAU met the new goal, President Cruz Rivera authorized another $10,000 donation from the Office of the President, making NAU’s total contribution this year $45,000.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y members to receive discount for Historical Trauma Specialist Certification LEVEL 2 online training on March 1, 2

Historical Trauma Specialist Certification LEVEL 2 online training will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 1 (MST) and 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 (MST).

Members of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth will receive 20 percent off both trainings. For members to receive the promo code, contact CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie at virginia@coconinokids.org

The sessions are presented by Iya Affo, a Culturalist and Historical Trauma Specialist. 

Discounts are also available for those CCC&Y members who have not taken Historical Trauma Specialist Certification LEVEL 1, that focuses on intergenerational trauma and the impact of Epigenetics, cultural dispossession, segregation & displacement of BIPOC.

Site specific adjustments and mask recommendations at City facilities in response to COVID-19 surge

During the January 11 Council meeting, the City Council approved the City of Flagstaff’s Re-entry Team recommendation to remain in Phase 3 of the City’s Re-entry Plan, with site-specific adjustments made to the Aquaplex pool, City libraries and the Jay Lively Activity Center/ Ice Arena. The Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center will be closed temporarily. All other City operations remain unchanged.

Site-specific immediate adjustments include: