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Category: Youth
All-Arizona Team scholarship recipient builds future
What started out as a desire to build a home she could call her own has turned into a career path.
Now that Coconino Community College student Andrea Clayton has received the All-Arizona Academic Scholarship, she will continue her journey toward a bachelor’s degree in Construction Technology Management and, maybe, owning her own business.
“There’s a certain satisfaction in building with my own hands,” Clayton said, adding that she hopes to gain some experience managing projects for a local contractor before trying to strike out owning her own business.
United Way of Northern Arizona — More Than Just School Readiness
When Elevate PreK launched its year-round early childhood education program at Kinsey Elementary School last August, expectations were high.
The three-year pilot program was designed not only to fill the gaps in accessing high-quality preschool education in Flagstaff for lower- and middle-income families; it was a chance to showcase best practices and spur more professional development for all early childhood learning professionals.
In just a few months, however, the program has also become a force for good in the lives of the families of the 18 children who attend Elevate PreK.
Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Feb. 28-March 4, 2022
Outdoor mask zones now lifted throughout the park; masks still required in government buildings and transportation
More updates will be provided soon following DOI and NPS all employee emails this afternoon (Thursday, March 3)
This week, Superintendent Keable has made the decision to remove the outdoor mask zones in the park. This week, the outdoor sandwich board signs have been removed from Grand Canyon Visitor Center Plaza to Mather Point and Hopi Point. The remaining signs in historic district, Desert View Watchtower area, all shuttle bus stops, and entrance stations will be pulled beginning today, March 3. We will be modifying the Superintendent’s Compendium in the coming days to reflect these changes.
STEM Celebration 2022 set for April 30
Share your expertise at the 2022 STEM Celebration!
Saturday, April 30, 2022
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Ft. Tuthill Fairgrounds
I am writing to invite your organization to participate in the 2022 Community STEM Celebration.
This is the 9th year STEM City and its partners have worked to create this unique opportunity for all of Flagstaff to engage with the STEM community (K-12 schools, college and university educational institutions, businesses, government agencies, non-profits, and others).
Hands-on activities, demonstrations and conversations excite participants, expose the community to STEM educational and career opportunities in Flagstaff and celebrate Flagstaff’s designation as “America’s First STEM Community.”
We hope you will be able to participate in this once-a-year celebration of STEM in Flagstaff.
School Superintendent to Interview Candidates for School Governing Board and Seeks Input — Maine Consolidated School District #10
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget has announced the scheduling of interviews for two Governing School Board Member open seats at Maine Consolidated School District #10.
An advisory committee will be assembled consisting of a district resident, district teacher, chapter official, and two current board members to conduct interviews and advise Superintendent Mango-Paget on the appointments.
Sedona Arts Center — 41st Annual Juried Members Show Winners Announced!
Sedona Arts Center’s 41st Annual Juried Members’ Show, our community’s largest and longest-running group exhibition of visual art is now showing through March 31 in our Special Exhibitions Gallery in Uptown Sedona. And it’s free to the public!
Visitors will find everything from painting and watercolor to metal, wood, jewelry, and fiber art. A focus is also placed on drawing, mixed-media, photography and digital art. The Members’ Show is steeped in tradition and remains open to all current Arts Center members, whether seasoned professionals or new and emerging artists.
The show will be open 10AM – 5PM Monday through Saturday, and noon – 5PM on Sunday in our newly renovated Special Exhibit Gallery and Theater.
School Superintendent to Interview Candidates for School Governing Board and Seeks Input — Grand Canyon Unified School District #4
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget has announced the scheduling of interviews for a Governing School Board Member open seat 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 NAU Review — In congressional testimony, President Cruz Rivera shares critical need for increased access to students from historically underserved communities
In congressional testimony, President Cruz Rivera shares critical need for increased access to students from historically underserved communities
In addition to laying out the attainment gaps throughout the U.S.—only 40 out of every 100 white kindergartners are expected to get a bachelor’s degree and that number drops by half for Black children and one-third for Latino and Native American children—Cruz Rivera, himself a product of Hispanic Serving Institutions, offered policy recommendations to increase economic mobility and equitable postsecondary educational value. These include doubling the maximum amount of Pell grants; investing equitably by increasing per-student investments among all Minority Serving Institutions; improving data transparency and investing in P-12 education.
CCC students awarded All-Arizona Academic Scholarship
Two Coconino Community College students have been recognized for the esteemed 2022 All-Arizona Academic Team Scholarship.
The scholarship provides free tuition for 60 credit hours at the recipient’s choice of one of the three state universities – Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.
This year, Frank Stucjus and Andrea Clayton received the news from CCC that they were selected for the All-Arizona Academic Team.
“It means I don’t have to worry about the tuition coming out of the money we use to pay bills,” Stucjus said. “There is no question now that I’m going to stick it out to the end.”
Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Supporting peace, thriving resilient communities
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
“We imagine a world where every person lives in peace and is supported by a thriving, resilient community,” — Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
As recent world events show, those words ring true now more than ever, not only in Coconino County but around the globe.
How can you help globally?
Here is a list by a former high-ranking State Department employee who lives in Kyiv of how you can directly support humanitarian relief in Ukraine.
Voices of Children addresses the psychological effect of armed conflict on children. Founded in 2015 in response to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Voices of Children provides art therapy, mobile psychologists, and individualized support to traumatized children. Individuals can donate through bank transfer, credit/debit card, or Apple Pay or via voices.org.ua/en/donat.
The International Rescue Committee has a long history of providing resources to refugees fleeing countries facing humanitarian crisis. Its leaders have responded to the situation in Ukraine by meeting with organizations in Poland and Ukraine to provide whatever assistance is needed. You can make a donation via its website. While the organization will accept donations of any size, it states on the site that a monthly donation of $108 will provide eight families with temporary shelter.
CARE is an international humanitarian organization that has set up an emergency Ukrainian Crisis Fund with the goal of providing immediate support for 4 million people.
Read More
Discover Flagstaff — David Rothenberg & Iva Bittova, Coconino Center for the Arts on March 3 and more events
The Interference Series presents an evening of music of the past, present, and future.7:30 p.m.
Flagstaff Festival of Science — Legendary Egyptologist Will Bring ‘Pyramids to The Peaks’ at 2022 Festival of Science
The 2022 Flagstaff Festival of Science will reveal “Pyramids to The Peaks” on September 23- October 2, 2022 in Flagstaff, Arizona. World-renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, Ph.D., will begin the free, 10-day adventure with a compelling presentation sharing his passion for archeological discovery in the fascinating world of pharaohs and Egyptian gods.
Incredible discoveries by Dr. Hawass include the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders at Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies at Bahariya Oasis. One of his most significant research efforts was the Egyptian Mummy Project, which used modern forensic techniques such as CT and DNA analysis to answer questions about royal mummies, including King Tutankhamun’s family, and solves the murder mystery of Ramesses III.
Art Workshops and more at Sedona Arts Center!
Creative Flagstaff — This Thursday: Clarinetist David Rothenberg with Violinist Iva Bittová at CCA
Join us at CCA for this show!
The Interference Series presents David Rothenberg (clarinet/woodwinds) and Iva Bittová (violin/voice). Philosopher and improvisor Rothenberg returns to Flagstaff with the phenomenal and multi-faceted Czech singer/instrumentalist Bittová for an evening of music past, present, and future. This concert is supported in part by the Richard Wood Professorship in Teaching of Philosophy.
Grand Canyon National Park announces backcountry camping fee increase
Effective July 1, 2022, Grand Canyon National Park will increase the cost of overnight backcountry permits. Grand Canyon began charging for overnight backcountry permits in 1997 and last modified backcountry fees in 2015.
The cost recovery charge for overnight backcountry permits will increase for all permits that begin on or after July 1, 2022. The charge of $10 per backcountry permit remains the same; the nightly per person fee will be increased from $8 per person to $12 per person or stock animal camping below the rim in designated backcountry camping areas. This increase does not affect camping fees at Mather, Desert View, or the North Rim campgrounds.
Bilingual report — Gina Santi Photography Images of the Month – February 2022
Antonio García was quietly fishing in Tijuana, Mexico, near the part of the wall in the United States-Mexico border that extends into the Pacific Ocean. He was deported to Mexico years ago after having lived in the United States for decades without permission, leaving behind children, spouse, siblings, and grandchildren. Today he made his way to the fence to see his wife and two children who are meeting him on the San Diego side of the rust-colored steel boundary marker.
Latino Outdoors — Yo Cuento: Zapatos para la nieve
“Coming here to the nature helps me, it gives me energy. When I’m coming here and I see my family coming here, they come back a little bit happier and I think that’s part of the healing process for us. When we are in the cities, we are always doing activities, running, school, work. Here is a time to relax, it’s a time for us to be able to appreciate what we have around us. It’s a time to spend time with ourselves and lately we don’t have a lot of that time. So make the time, go outdoors.” – Ángeles Arroyo, LO outing participant.
This past month, Latino Outdoors Los Angeles and Los Padres ForestWatch teamed up to take Latinx families on a snowshoe hike to Mt. Pinos in the Angeles National Forest.
CDC Updates COVID-19 Metrics to Determine Community Risk Levels
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced new metrics to guide COVID-19 mitigation practices.
The new metrics will continue to consider caseloads to determine community risk level and will also incorporate the impacts on the healthcare system as indicators to determine appropriate prevention measures for each county. According to the CDC, counties in Low and Medium can consider going without masks in public indoor settings. In High, the CDC recommends masks in all public indoor settings, including schools.
Community garden plot applications open for the 2022 growing season
Members of the public are invited to submit applications for community garden plots starting on Tuesday, March 1. Garden plots are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis, with priority being given to returning gardeners who submit an application by April 1.
Community garden plots are available for rent at three locations; the Bonito Location at 527 W Elm Avenue, the Izabel Location at 2300 N Izabel Street and the Southside Location at 900 S O’Leary Street.
Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library — Happening at Your Library 2/28/22
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Hosting Governing Board Informational Sessions March 8-15
The public is invited to attend local School District Governing Board informational sessions.
The informational sessions, hosted by Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget, will allow time for interested candidates to ask questions and complete required documents. Sessions are free and no appointment is required.
Volunteers needed for Feb. 28 Point in Time Count (PIT)
Due to winter weather, the annual Point in Time (PIT) Count has been rescheduled to Feb 24, 25, & 28 throughout the City of Flagstaff from its original dates of Feb 23-25. Volunteers are needed for Monday, Feb 28!
Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Feb. 21-25, 2022
This week, the AMPO team discussed the process the park will follow to reopen NPS buildings that are currently closed, or partially closed, due to the pandemic and the status of the park outdoor mask zone areas.
The team talked about the lifting of mask mandates at several bordering states including California, New Mexico, and Nevada. With those restrictions being lifted, park managers are considering how to make mask restriction changes in the outdoor areas of the park that are currently identified as mask zones. These masking requirements were put in place through the Superintendent’s Compendium. Most of you have seen the sandwich board signs along the rim trail near the El Tovar, at Desert View and Mather Point alerting visitors to the requirement to wear a mask in these areas.
When changes are made, we will let staff know through our weekly calls and this newsletter, Changes will officially be implemented through the Superintendent’s Compendium. These steps will also include updated information for our visitors.
Discover Flagstaff — ‘Luna,’ NAU Studio Theatre Feb. 24-27 and more events
NAU Theatre presents “Luna,” a play by Ramon Esquivel. Thurs.- Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 2 p.m.
Sedona Arts Center — Call for Artists!!
– Application Deadline: March 15, 2022
The Tailgate Paint Out is a new 3-day event that will be held from June 3-5, 2022. Sedona Arts Center will invite up to 30 artists to Sedona for a paint out and sale.
The Tailgate Paint Out is a first-of-its-kind event and is supported by a group of very experienced and enthusiastic staff and volunteers. Sedona is a sublime environment with stunning beauty, and the Sedona Arts Center has roots going back 60+ years to the founding of Sedona. If you have never been to, or painted in Sedona, this is a great opportunity to get to know our incredible scenery, sell work and be eligible for great prize money! We are focusing this event on artists that have never been to one of our events in the past or are emerging artists. Tailgate Paint Out is supported by a grant from the AZ Office of Tourism.
Sedona Arts Center — Final Event! Vision & Sound: An African American Experience
Friday, February 25, 2022, 5-6:30pm – FREE
Virtual Closing Event Streaming LIVE on: VisionandSound.org
Streaming Live from the ASU Center for the Study of Race & Democracy
Featuring Dr. Lois Brown, Director of the ASU Center for the Study of Race & Democracy and Dr Joel Martin, President of Positively Powerful Triad West, Inc. and the participating artists in Vision & Sound: An African American Experience 2022.
United Way of Northern Arizona — Mike Kelly Elected UWNA Board Chairman
To fulfill its mission of Improving lives by mobilizing communities, United Way of Northern Arizona has always depended on its volunteer Board of Directors to direct our efforts. While never an easy job, over the last few years it has been even more challenging as the pandemic and other crises created a huge demand for services in the community.
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
Discounts are also available for those CCC&Y members who have not taken the required Historical Trauma Specialist Certification LEVEL 1 online training, that focuses on intergenerational trauma and the impact of Epigenetics, cultural dispossession, segregation & displacement of BIPOC.
Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library — Happening at Your Library 2/22/22
CCC gets community input on future workforce training opportunities for Williams
OSHA 10, CPR and First-Aid certifications. Skills in the trades that are useful for building maintenance. Customer service, and, of course, hotel and restaurant management certifications.
Over the course of two days last week, Williams residents voiced their workforce training needs to Continuing Education and Workforce Training leaders at Coconino Community College as part of a partnership with the City of Williams. The events, “Connect & Ignite,” were meant to give CCC information on creating and offering future training opportunities for the city’s workforce, particularly in the hospitality and service industries.
Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Feb. 14-18, 2022
Changes in testing at the Grand Canyon Clinic
The Clinic has modified their COVID-19 testing procedures and now will be offering curbside appointments Mondays and Fridays from 2-3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Patients will now need to be seen by a provider for these appointments. Insurance is accepted, and no one will be turned away if they don’t have insurance and can’t afford testing. Individuals will will be billed for a provider visit. It is also important to remember that North Country has a sliding fee scale for the uninsured.
Patients are encouraged to call ahead and get on the curbside appointment list as soon as possible. Patients can also walk in and see a provider at any other time to be evaluated for COVID.
Services Now Available for Students and Families Impacted by COVID-19
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools, Cheryl Mango-Paget, announced (Feb. 15) kindergarten through 12th grade students and families impacted by COVID-19 can now request wraparound support services, such as groceries, lodging, and laundry.
Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y board approves legislative priorities for 2022
The board of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth has approved a series of Legislative Priorities for 2022
The policies cover education, family heath care, foster care, juvenile justice, kinship care.
CCC&Y is a non-partisan organization who supports educated, engaged and participatory communities.
Superintendent of Schools Seeking Applicants for Grand Canyon School District Governing Board
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking an applicant for a vacant seat on the Grand Canyon Unified School District #4 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.
The NAU Review — How NAU is increasing access to higher ed, Mighty Max and his donated heart
Last week, NAU announced an admissions pilot program that will broaden access for higher education in Arizona. By aligning with current high school course offerings, this program will eliminate barriers that undermine the college-going aspirations of highly talented, diverse students throughout the state, giving them a clear pathway to attainment and supporting the state’s prosperity.
20 Under 40 Nominations Needed!
The Arizona Daily Sun and the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce have partnered to recognize local business and professional leaders who have achieved success and excelled in their field before the age of 40.
We are now accepting nominations for the 20 Under 40 Class of 2022! We’re looking for people who have demonstrated leadership, initiative and dedication in pursuing their careers or growth of their business as well as the growth and development of our community.
Latino Outdoors — Yo Cuento: Bajo Los Redwoods
In 2021, Latino Outdoors leaders from around the United States gathered along California’s north coast for our annual leadership campout following a year of physical distance. Bajos Los Redwoods provides insight into our experience in community and connection.
Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library — Happening at Your Library 2/14/22
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
Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: February 7-11, 2022
he Coconino County Health and Human Service’s mobile vaccine team will be providing COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses on Friday, February 11 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Williams Senior Center.
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.
Discover Flagstaff — Universe Peoples and The Harvest live at the Museum Club on Feb. 4 and more events
An unforgettable night of music at the Grand Ol’Opry of Flagstaff… The Museum Club. 8 p.m.
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