On September 14th, we were excited that Ex. Dir. Beverely (AAMSAZ) collaborated with Mission Garden, Geico, TUSD’s Booth Fickett K8 (Ms. Parish, Ms.Bray and Jeff Sawyer), The UA School Gardens Workshop, and The Tucson Chapter of the Links, Incorporated to develop a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and the Arts and Math) education program.

This program engaged 4th and 5th-grade students in a unique learning experience. 

As part of this program, the museum provided terra cotta pots for the children to decorate, promoting creativity and the arts. Students also learned practical math skills by measuring the circumference and diameter of their pots.

Thanks to the U of A School Garden Program, students received an Almanac to enhance their understanding of science. Additionally, Geico generously provided SWAG items, including water bottles and sunglasses, allowing students to explore the science of hydration.

The program introduced students to the science of companion planting, emphasizing the importance of diverse plant interactions in gardening.

To further enrich their experience, students toured the gardens and learned about their historic significance, integrating technology into their learning journey.

The program included a cooking and tasting demonstration, where students had the opportunity to savor the herbs and vegetables they had planted.

Thank you Dr. Jason R. Jurjevich of the University of Arizona.

We were honored to have played a small part in this grant.

The importance of housing equity cannot be overstated, as it lies at the heart of various social and economic challenges facing the United States. This issue is closely tied to historical and ongoing systemic racism, and it has far-reaching implications for individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

Why housing equity is crucial:

• Historical Context: Housing inequity has deep historical roots in the United States. Policies such as redlining, racial covenants, and discriminatory lending practices were systematically used to segregate communities and deny housing opportunities to people of color. These practices have had long-lasting effects, perpetuating racial disparities in wealth, education, and overall well-being.
• Along with economic stability, educational stability, access to health care, community development, and more!

The Award Presentation with
Cox Communications

The Award Presentation with
Cox Communications

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For more information and to make your contribution,

please visit EEF’s website at https://www.eeftucson.org/events

AAMSAZ Receives Sponsorship from OneAZ Credit Union

Funding Tucson African American Children’s Swim Lessons

The AAMSAZ funds will go toward swim lessons by certified U of A teachers, swim essentials such as towels, goggles, swimsuits, flip flops, and a swim bag for African American children in the Tucson Community. There is a need: Fatality rates from drowning for African American children are staggering. Historically, African American children have not been taught to swim. Among the ages 5 to 19, African Americans drown in pools at a rate 5.5 times that of whites. When all age groups and venues are combined, the ratio is 3.2 to 1.0. That means that for every 100 white children who drown, 320 black children drown.  

Researchers at USA Swimming and the University of Memphis found that 70% of African American people cannot swim at all, while for Caucasians, it is 31%. This program will serve the Tucson African American community, in particular African American children. We will serve 50 to 75 children (ages 4 – 18). If you know of African American children in our community in the age range above, please have them contact aamuseumofsouthernaz@gmail.com