Econexiones

Nick interviews Jordan Sene, Program Assistant with Arizona State University's Project Cities. Also a graduate of Borderlands Restoration Network's Earth Care Youth (BECY) Institute, Jordan has a wealth of knowledge about communities in southern Arizona. In a holistic conversation about sustainability, the two discussed: how it is trans-disciplinary and encompasses all aspects of our lives; why it is so hard to talk about, sometimes; Jordan's own perspective as a youth activist; and the importance of a community-centered approach in her work.

Slow progress is still progress. And the end of analysis is in sight for TCP! Much more soon...

Karlyn Bradley returns to TUCC and is joined by Valerie Sipp (Living Streets Alliance, Association of Fundraising Professionals) for a very special double-header episode! Part of Arizona Serve's 2021 Guest Speaker Series, Karlyn and Val discuss whiteness in all its forms, with a special emphasis on its role in the environmental movement. Our live audience (!) even got to sneak in a few questions in the second half of the discussion. Want to know more/support their work? Of course you do! Karlyn's email and Venmo: [email protected], @dawntray1224. Val's email and Venmo: [email protected], @Valerie-Sipp (with artwork by Arizona Serve's very own Allison Doty)

Nick and Luis jam after the Tucson Climate Project's Preliminary Report Release, which you can watch here (https://vimeo.com/538767391). Have feedback for us? Take this short survey (https://forms.gle/gfreTnDafx4GPbg16). Want to know more? Read our Project Guidebook, as always (https://tinyurl.com/ybytn7c5). GRATITUDE FOR YOU ALL!

In which Nick and Mary Ann Capehart, permaculturist and Instructional Specialist w/WaterWise, nerd out on water—water rights, water use, water tables, water pollution, average rainfall, drought, groundwater, drawdown, drilling (deeper and deeper) wells, the plight of many small farms and rural landowners ... whew! It's all there in our hour-long deep dive. If you'd like to learn more about the University of Arizona's Cooperative Extension, you can visit WaterWise's website or even visit them in Bisbee once their programming resumes.

Vianey Olivarria (and CHISPA AZ) have had a busy few months keeping up with current events. She sits down with Nick to give him a thumbnail sketch of her work in March of 2021, one (unbelievable) year on from the start of the pandemic. Her team is doing it all—fighting for cleaner air, lower utility bills, access to public lands, development of urban green spaces, and policies that benefit the Latinx community overall. Vianey also shares some of her thoughts about combatting green gentrification, her experiences as a woman of color in the outdoors, and (because it's Women's History Month!) some of her own role models and mentors that have made her work possible.

Your questions about TCP, answered.

Access the TCP Project Guidebook here.

[email protected]

[email protected]

03:20 Refresh my memory. What is TCP?

06:19 Who's on your team?

08:07 What does TCP have to do with TUCC? Are they the same thing?

09:50 TCP has changed a lot since I first heard about it. How did you conduct your research?

14:28 What will data analysis look like?

19:42 When will the report be ready?

22:33 Where is TCP's list of participants? Can I see it?

26:10 Who has access to my data?

27:28 How long will I be able to edit my notes?

29:03 Will I get a copy of your report?

32:27 How will the report be distributed?

33:34 Will you (Nick) be following up with anyone, and if so, when?

34:37 When can I expect updates on TCP?

35:31 By the way … I thought I heard you (Nick) mention something about using TCP as part of your master's thesis at Prescott College. Is this true?

40:16 Where is TCP's social media? Website? etc.

43:06 What is the future of the Tucson Climate Project?

47:30 What is the future of the Tucson Climate Chats?

51:04 What does your (Nick's) future look like? How long will you be in Tucson?

58:25 I still have questions! What can I do?

It's been a while since TUCC has been south of the US/Mexico border, so Javier Alberto takes us to Socaaix (Punta Chueca) in what is now Sonora, Mexico to visit the Comcáac. Color Tierra, a Hermosillo-based NGO, along with CENKO, is working with the Comcáac Nation to address systemic shortages in water and fresh produce. Among other things, they're planning to install rooftop water-harvesting systems and structures a Warka Tower in the community, and are running a GoFundMe (a crowdfunding campaign!) to help make this a reality. For more on Color Tierra, you can check their Facebook, Instagram (@colortierrahmo) or send them a message at: [email protected]

TUCC's first group chat, featuring the voices of three amazing humans: Angel Breault (Ironwood Tree Experience), Sita Stanfield (Friends of Saguaro National Park) and Treven Hooker (Arizona Trail Association). While Nick dorks out on papers he's read at Prescott College—including the dissertation penned by his professor, Dr. Mary Jackson—Angel, Sita and Treven unpack; debating problems with the term 'adventure,' how to make sense of the human/nature divide, the ways in which colonialism changes our perception of place, and what they hope their students might learn from all of this.

Divestment from fossil fuels... is a thing! Now more than ever, as Frances ("Franny") Carol Slater and Nicholas ("Nico") David Matthews, current students at the U of A and members of UAZ Divest, can attest. So what's up with the student-led push to make this happen? What are Franny, Nico, and others asking of the University of Arizona Foundation? Why do we sometimes forget that capitalism (and colonialism) are directly tied to the climate crisis? If you're looking for two young activists to set the tone and be the example for others, look no further. Tweet them at @uazdivest or take a look at their letter to the Foundation here. There are plenty of ways to get involved and carry this work forward elsewhere.