Crafting Tomorrow's Built Environment: A Community Conversation on Regional Land-Use

 More than 350 Tucsonans gathered in Dec. 2008 for a Community Conversation on Land-use that emphasized the need for trust and regional thinking among local jurisdictions. Featuring leaders from the region’s jurisdictions, the “conversation” spurred talk of cooperatively coming together to create a regional plan on water and growth. “We need to have the water issue resolved,” said Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, while Pima County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Elias emphasized the need to be concerned about the quality of growth, and Oro Valley Mayor Paul Loomis insisted planning is key to establishing a community’s character. The idea of a “values-based vision” for our region was born at this event, and a number of groups are meeting to determine the next steps, based on the values of our citizens, that will help shape our region. 

Community Conversation on Early  Childhood Education 

More than 400 Southern Arizonans attended the Community Conversation on Early Childhood Education May 20, 2008 at the Tucson Convention Center.

"If we don't get early childhood education right," said Peter Likins, chairman of the Tucson Regional Town Hall, in opening comments, "then we can't get anything right."

"This community forum is quite remarkable," said speaker Jane Henderson, a board member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. "I haven't seen anything like this." 

The fourth in a series of Town Hall follow-up meetings, the "conversation" was sponsored by United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, the Tucson Regional Town Hall, Southern Arizona Leadership Council and First Things First. 

The Tucson Community Conversation on Arts & Culture on March 12, 2008, attracted 150 participants who wanted to assure that Tucson's arts community thrives. There is "a great spirit of cooperation in this room, and a tremendous amount of passion," said Roberto Bedoya, the Tucson Pima Arts Council executive director. Read news stories and editorials about the Conversation on Arts & Culture here.

The Tucson Region Literacy Initiative, sponsored by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, attracted nearly 125 Tucsonans on Nov. 13, 2007, to discuss creating a culture of literacy. Participants were told by Foundation CEO Steve Alley that illiteracy is not just an educational issue, but a community issue. “And it takes a community solution,” he added. Read the Tucson Citizen news story here.

The Tucson Community Conversation on Water

on Oct. 26, 2007 attracted nearly 300 participants to spend virtually an entire day discussing water. The “conversation” began with informational presentations on water policy and management in Southern Arizona, but then the forum quickly moved into considering the relationship between water and growth. Experts generally agreed that Tucson has sufficient water to perhaps double its population, but there was a caution that the possibility of a decades-long drought is alarming. Read news stories and editorials about the Conversation on Water here.

Other follow-up meetings are in the planning stages. Information will be posted as the meetings are formalized.

Tucson Values Teachers launches in Southern Arizona

Nearly 500 people attended the launching of Tucson Values Teachers on Oct. 1, 2008 at the State of Education: A Community Conversation on K-12 Education.

The event featured presentations by Gov. Janet Napolitano and Peter Smith, head of the Phoenix Mars Mission.

“Aside from parents, teachers are the top indicator of student success,” said Napolitano. “Community-driven programs such as Tucson Values Teachers help ensure that  Arizona’s children are given the opportunity to learn from the most well-trained, best-prepared teachers in the nation.”

Tucson Values Teachers is an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the critical role teachers play in the cultural, social and economic health of the region. A partnership among the region’s government, business and education communities, Tucson Values Teachers aims to enhance the standing of the teaching profession and attract, retain and support the very best teachers for every public school classroom.

For more information, log onto www.tucsonvaluesteachers.org