AJO REGIONAL FOOD PARTNERSHIP
Lead Organization: International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA)
Ajo is currently defined as a “food desert.” Fresh fruits and vegetables are not grown locally and must be brought in from Phoenix. There is a severe problem of obesity and diabetes in the nearby western communities of the Tohono O'odham Nation which was nonexistent in the 1960’s when the local diet was based on traditional locally grown foods. Economic development in Ajo has been limited since the mine closed. The Ajo Regional Food Partnership, through a diverse collaboration of groups (Hia C-ed O’odham Alliance, Tohono O’odham Cutural Center & Museum, Desert Senita Community Health Center, Ajo Unified School District, Ajo Community Food Bank, Ajo Community Garden Consortium, UA Pima Cooperative Extension, Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation, Ajo Botanical Company, Pima County Health Department, and Ajo Community Supported Agriculture), intends to address these issues resulting in a sustainable local food system, new community awareness and engagement in making healthy food choices, restoring their rich cultural foods heritage, and developing new food-based economic opportunities for community residents. This means that food would be grown, distributed and processed locally with robust educational support not only for the growers, distributors and processors, but also for the whole community. The result will be improved community health and an enhanced local economy.
Impact
- Transforms Ajo from a food desert to a desert oasis
- Integrates Ajo and Tohono O’odham food, economic development, health and obesity initiatives Involves all elements of the food system and engages entire community leadership
- Growing - Ajo Grows
- Processing - Ajo Cooks
- Distributing - Ajo Eats
- Teaching/Learning Ajo Learns
CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATIONLead Organization: The Primavera Foundation
The City of South Tucson has a rich culture and close-knit multigenerational families but also many challenges. It is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Tucson, with high unemployment and distressed homes. Primavera has been working with the local government to address the poor quality of housing stock in the community and involved a group of local teens from the John Valenzuela Youth Center to carry out a South Tucson Neighborhood Revitalization Survey. With the involvement of other organizations working in the community, such as the South Tucson Prevention Coalition, ASU School of Social Work, Arizona Children’s Association, House of Neighborly Services, PRO Neighborhoods, Southside Presbyterian Church,and the City of South Tucson, this project plans to strengthen, expand, connect, and integrate community assets by partnering to create a neighborhood of choice within the City of South Tucson.
Impact
- Transforms a community with high unemployment, poverty and distressed homes into a city filled with new energy efficient housing, community gardens, active youth and senior groups, and economic development possibilities
- Creates a sustainable, integrated neighborhood community development approach involving government, nonprofits, schools, health organizations, businesses and residents
E.L.D.E.R. PROJECT: EMPOWERED LEADERS DIRECTING ELDER RESOURCES
Lead Organization: United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona
The demographics of our community are clear: twenty-one percent of Pima County population is age 60+ and the fastest growing segment is 85+. We are an aging community and our older adults want to remain attached to their communities - contributing as they are able and successfully aging in place. In response, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Southern Arizona, Catalina In-Home Services, Inc., Pima Council on Aging, Interfaith Community Services, a community volunteer, and the UA Arizona Center on Aging will join with other partners to challenge the current paradigm by creating a vision of community revitalization and elder empowerment. By identifying aging resources, expanding partnerships and building aging advocacy E.L.D.E.R. will create a replicable neighborhood-based pilot project. They will “engage and empower the older adults across Tucson to create the ideal community in which to live and grow old gracefully.” Through consumer choice in aging services and support, affordable and diverse housing options, transportation and mobility, and community self-care support, the E.L.D.E.R. Project will result in better quality of life and improved health and wellness for older adults, and social cohesion for our community as a whole, achieving a “community for all ages.”
Impact
- Transforms older adults into valuable community assets Builds neighborhood infrastructure to support older adults to age in their homes
- Creates connections across systems and integrates services to support older adults