Before Beverely embarked on her journey to establish the African American Museum of Southern Arizona, she dedicated her heart and soul to education as a High School Counselor in the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) for over 20 years. During her tenure, she not only educated but also inspired, cared for, and nurtured countless students, leaving an indelible mark on their lives.

On October 26th, 2023, the Educational Enrichment Foundation (EEF) honored Beverely as the recipient of the Ray Davis Lifetime Humanitarian Award at the Tucson Convention Center. The event was attended by almost 400 people who came together to celebrate her extraordinary contributions to our community. Together, the attendees generously donated over $160,000 to the EEF to address the needs of students in TUSD. This heartwarming act of generosity reinforces our shared commitment to educational excellence.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all who attended and encourage those who weren’t able to participate to consider contributing to the EEF, TUSD, and AAMSAZ. Your support is vital to advancing the mission of education, cultural preservation, and community development.

Today, as we all witnessed, Beverely continues her unwavering commitment to our community. She is not a curator, historian, or docent; she has dedicated herself to our museum as a Volunteer Executive Director, working more than double-digit hours every day, including weekends. She is making an incredible gift to Tucson and the Arizona community. It’s challenging for me to find words that do justice to her, but she truly deserves all the accolades. She is creating a beacon of knowledge and culture in the form of the African American Museum. It’s always a pleasure and honor to work with her!

Sincerely,

Jenny Li, Digital Curator