WE ARE D5 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
November 2023
Hi friends,
This past week, I've been in D.C. lobbying for Pima County and meeting with several of our representatives and federal departments to advocate for our community, but I know that it's a beautiful time back home-- the weather has cooled down and there are so many things to do and see! Check out our D5 Cultural Sites map for some inspiration on places to take any friends or family visiting Tucson to show off our wonderful District! November is Native American Heritage Month and it was an honor to recognize our County employees with tribal affiliations at Pima County's first ever Native American Heritage Celebration this month. We also observed Veteran's Day this month and appreciate our many County employees and residents who have served our country. To those who celebrated Thanksgiving last week, I hope that you had a very happy Thanksgiving with friends and family. We are thankful for our wonderful D5 familia! If you did not partake in Thanksgiving celebrations and instead honored the National Day of Mourning, I hope that you had a reflective day in solidarity with community. As always, we are here to serve our community so please feel free to reach out to our office at district5@pima.gov anytime and follow us on social media to stay updated on what we are up to.
Thanks,
(Para español, haga click en el botón de arriba a la derecha y seleccione el idioma español.)
Washington, D.C. Visit
It was wonderful to have the chance to visit Washington, D.C. to meet with our federal partners and departments. I'm grateful for any opportunity to advocate for our region and ensure our community accesses funding for the amazing work being done by Pima County. I was also glad to help share with lawmakers and agency representatives some of the initiatives and projects that I am most proud of, including the Pima Early Education Program Scholarships (PEEPs) Program, which is tackling the pressing challenge of providing families with high-quality early childhood education. This trip has been a great opportunity to celebrate our County, discuss strategies for moving forward, and ways that our federal government can support our region.
THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 5
YOUTH SPOTLIGHT
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My name is Jesus Salvador Quintero Paz. I am 18 years old and I am a senior attending Pueblo High School. Here I am taking AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP English Lit, Culturally Relevant Courses (CRC) Student Government Economics, AVID, and Spanish Language. When I’m older, I would want to have the option of traveling for my job-- something that has to do with interior design, I love making modifications and putting my creativity to test. My high school goal is to raise my GPA in order to raise my class rank so I can graduate in the top of my class. That way, I would be the first in my family to pursue higher education and graduating. Some facts about me are that I love watching documentaries, shopping, and coloring!
D5 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
VECINOS IN ACTION
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Photo: Courtesy of The Rain Store website
Welcome to one of our newest D5 businesses! The Rain Store, at 3248 E. Grant Road, is the perfect place for you to learn more about rainwater harvesting and how to minimize your water usage. Learn from the store's experts about the supplies, technology, and necessary skills to make sure that your home is helping contribute to a more sustainable and resilient community.
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Photo from the D5 Visit to Primavera
Happy 40th Anniversary to The Primavera Foundation! For decades, Primavera has been serving those in need of housing, food, and resources. From offering hot meals to being the mailing address for hundreds of Tucsonans, Primavera has a long legacy of supporting houseless individuals, vulnerable members of our community, and those struggling to find pathways for success. Thank you and here's to many more years!
POLICY UPDATES
NOVEMBER
WEST Environmental Justice Center Kickoff
Happy to help kick off the opening of the new WEST Environmental Justice Center for the Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 at the Pima County Health Department Abram’s Center with The University of Arizona College of Public Health! Environmental justice is an issue close to my heart and one of the most pressing issues facing the health and future of our community. Thank you to Martha Guzman, Public Administrator for EPA’s Region 9, to everyone who was in attendance, and the many community stakeholders and organizations who joined the event.
PAH 420 Final Community Review
It was a fantastic to join the University of Arizona’s Public and Applied Humanities (PAH 420) Final Community Review of student projects focusing on the murals of the El Pueblo Center! The projects and prototypes for new public engagement strategies at the center were inspiring and creative. Thank you to Dr. Jacqueline Barrios and the other faculty members at The University of Arizona and organizations like Sunnyside Unified School District Foundation for making this possible for the students and the community!
El Vado Basin Park Opening
Lovely to visit Elvira Neighborhood to celebrate the opening of the El Vado Basin Park! This project, headed by Pima County Regional Flood District and the City of Tucson's Tucson Water Storm to Shade program, will capture storm water in retention basins and provide a beautiful space for residents and the community to enjoy. The park has pathways and landscaping— including several species of food-bearing and edible plants!
2nd Annual El Pueblo Community Altar
¡Feliz Día de los Muertos! The community came together again at the El Pueblo Center to create the 2nd Annual Community Altar! This year, the altar was dedicated to the great Father Ricardo Elford and it was beautifully decorated with flowers, photographs, and mementoes to all of the loved ones who have passed but are still in our hearts.
Sahuarita Food Bank & Community Resource Center
Great to spend some time celebrating the volunteers and donors of the Sahuarita Food Bank and Community Resource Center! The Sahuarita Food Bank serves not only the immediate community but the whole region— Marana, Green Valley, Nogales, and Tucson. This is a valuable resource to those in need in Pima County. Thank to Mia Ruiz for the wonderful tour of the facilities and to all for making us feel so welcome!
LightsUP! 2023
It was wonderful to join the Tucson Botanical Gardens at their LightsUp! Festival of Illumination. This is the 2nd Annual holiday light event at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Walk through the themed light areas and be dazzled by over one million lights, dancing sculptures, and awe-inspiring luminaria displays this winter!
Native American Heritage Celebration
This month, Pima County hosted the first ever Native American Heritage Month celebration at the Historic Courthouse, and it was an honor to help commemorate this event! Thank you to the partners who came together to organize this celebration, including the County’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program, the Pima County Public Library, and the Pima County Recorder's Office.
Medicare Is Better Than Ever Tour
It was great to welcome the Protect Our Care “Medicare is Better Than Ever” Tour to Tucson, advertising improvements and changes to Medicare. Open enrollment for Medicare is available until December 7! For more information about the improvements and cost savings to Medicare from the Inflation Reduction Act, visit Medicare.gov, protectourcare.org, or call 1 (800) 633-4227