< 1 min read “A well-known soup kitchen in Southern Arizona, Casa Maria, is entering the housing market. “Casa Maria launched a campaign to try to raise $7 million for 365 units of affordable housing in the city of South Tucson,” says Roxanna Valenzuela, Casa Maria’s Community Organizer. In that effort, Casa Maria purchased El Camino Motel, located off 4th Avenue and I-10 Frontage Road, with plans to turn it into an affordable housing complex.”\ From KGUN9 Article https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/casa-maria-turns-el-camino-motel-into-affordable-housing-complex

3 min read To: City of Tucson Planning Commission Daniel Bursuck, Planning and Development Services Regina Romero, Mayor Lane Santa Cruz, Ward 1 Councilperson Paul Cunningham, Ward 2 Councilperson Karin Uhlich, Ward 3 Councilperson Nikki Lee, Ward 4 Councilperson Richard Fimbres, Ward 5 Councilperson Steve Kozachik, Ward 6 Councilperson Michael Ortega, City Manager   From: Barrio Neighborhood Coalition   The Barrio Neighborhood Coalition (BNC) has been working tirelessly since 2018 to stress to Mayor and Council and City Staff just how important the issues of gentrification, displacement and housing affordability are.  Through our efforts, there is now a Commission on Equitable Housing and

< 1 min read Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Mark the Evangelist parish had a “sandwich squad” that met on the fourth Saturday of every month to make 200 bag lunches that they would deliver to Casa Maria for distribution to the needy.  In addition, St. Mark parishioners would also volunteer at Casa Maria on the 4th Tuesday of the month and the Knights of Columbus would do the same every other month. When the pandemic hit, Fr. John Arnold (pastor at St. Mark) and Paul Guertin visited Brian Flagg to assess the situation at Casa Maria and find out how we could

10 min read by Gene Martinez This is a story that belongs to the women of this community. As men we have a responsibility to use our privilege to show up and support women instead of continuing to dismiss and silence them. I have spoken to several women of the community and have received their consent to present their stories.  I write this in order to provide a voice for the women who are not heard. Since early June, young women in Tucson have been speaking out about sexual violence on Twitter. While some users have been sharing their personal stories, others have

4 min read by Citlali Ramirez Within the past four years, and especially within the past month, the United States has experienced a massive wave of political involvement and education. People are engaging in conversations about police and prison abolition, about systems of government oppression, and a large scope of topics that often go unmentioned. This leaves a lot of revolutionary voters questioning their role in the political spectrum if the same government you are a part of is and has always been working exclusively for the elite. In terms of the presidential election, it can feel very disheartening for leftist political revolutionaries.