The Tucson community and University of Arizona are having a joint Take Back the Night event on Tuesday, April 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Two marches start at the MLK Student Center (for campus students/staff/faculty) and from Time Market (community members) to converge upon Geronimo Plaza (southeast corner of Euclid/University Blvd.) for speakers, a resource fair, as well as dance and performance artists, singers, and the opportunity for survivors to share their stories.

This year’s event features keynote speaker UA adjunct faculty member Dr. Frank Galarte, and performances by Boys R Us, Esperanza Dance Project, UA Pride Alliance.

The Take Back the Night movement “unifies community by educating and inspiring them to speak out against sexual violence”. More info: 520-626-1829, 520-327-1171, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TBTN.Tucson

More in the press release published here at Tucsoncitizen.com earlier in March (click here). Info on sponsor SACASA, Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, www.sacasa.org.

Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, a member of Arizona’s Children Association family of agencies, is a non-profit organization that offers a full range of services to victims of sexual assault in Pima County and throughout Southern Arizona. It is SACASA’s mission to reduce the trauma and incidence of sexual assault by providing treatment and promoting prevention of sexual abuse, incest, molestation and rape. We provide a safe place for survivors to gain strength, learn coping skills, and develop trusting, caring relationships.

Stop rape. Speak out against sexual violence. Support survivors.

THE CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON PRESENTS:
A Healthy Habits Community-Wide Health Fair

DATE: Saturday, January 21, 2012
TIME: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Bike/Walk/Run begins at 8:30 AM)
LOCATION: The Arizona’s Children Association Campus, 2700 South 8th Avenue

The City of South Tucson will be hosting its first Healthy Habits Community Fair on Saturday, January 21, 2012! Studies increasingly suggest that health disparities among children and families disproportionately affect lower-income, traditionally-underserved, and high-minority population communities, and the City of South Tucson is home to many in these subgroups. While it is truly unfortunate that the City is no exception to such a fact, this does not mean that its citizens are helpless to do anything about reversing negative trends through prevention and action. In helping to prompt such a turnaround, it is incumbent upon its civic and community leaders to come together in the spirit of collaboration in order to spark a community-wide effort to inform and educate our neighbors, and initiate changes in personal habits that reflect a more healthy and active lifestyle.

The City of South Tucson is proud to partner with its co-sponsors ReActivate New & Used Activewear, the Arizona’s Children Association, Pima County Health Department, Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, and Tucson Youth Development who helped make this event possible; and is excited to announce that the following organizations will be providing information, demonstrations, and tips on how to lead a more active lifestyle: Pima County Public Library, Pima County Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety, the House of Neighborly Service, the John Valenzuela Youth Center, Mission View Elementary & Ochoa Community Magnet Schools, University of Arizona/Pima County Cooperative Extension, the University of Arizona REACH Program, University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health – Canyon Ranch Center, University of Arizona Mexican American Studies, Pima Community College, Primavera Foundation, Tucson Indian Center, the American Cancer Society, the Cortiva Institute, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, Ha:san Preparatory Leadership School, Healthy Choice Arizona, the Healthy O’odham Promotion Program, Kool Smiles, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Simon Med Imaging, Soreo Select, Tucson Health Coaches, the South Tucson Community Garden Network, NextCare Urgent Care, St Elizabeth’s Health Center, Pima Kids Connection, and HOPE Inc.

We have teamed up with these community groups to bring awareness to the South Tucson area by promoting and encouraging healthy habits in an effort to combat and inform families about chronic illnesses including obesity, stroke, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. Come out and join your friends, family and neighbors for a FREE day-long event focusing on nutrition, women’s health, healthy food preparation, diabetes prevention and information, first aid, self-gardening, pilates/yoga/massage, dental care, exercise, weight management, health-related professions, sports activities, and bicycling. Also join us for a fun bike/walk/run, dedication of the new Mission View Playgrounds, raffle prizes, giveaways, and more!

“Get out! Get Moving! Get Healthy!”

For more information, contact South Tucson Mayor Jennifer Eckstrom at (520) 792-2424, or Lydia Kennedy, owner of ReActivate New & Used Activewear at (520) 325-4295.

I’ve written about the ReActivate store before (click here), located at 2782 N. Campbell Ave. They are having their first year anniversary celebration on Saturday Feb. 4.

All I had to do to blog today was copy (in its entirely) the press release from the statewide Arizona Children’s Association.

“Arizona’s Children Association invites you to bring your organization, office or family together to celebrate the holidays with a “Gift of Hope” for children and families in your community who need your help. Our ‘needs’ list is long and includes the wishes of children from birth to 18 years, and requests from their parents for groceries and grocery gift certificates.

The families we work with do not receive any other help during the holiday season. Individuals, groups and families are needed to participate and bring hope to the vulnerable children and families we serve.

There are many ways to participate:

~ Support an individual child or entire family. Purchase groceries and/or grant the gift wishes of the children in one or more families.

~ Put up a giving tree in your office or organization. Arizona’s Children will provide ornaments with the wishes of children on them and your employees/ members may choose an individual from the tree.

~ Conduct a toy drive. Collect new toys and items for children and we’ll pick them up and distribute them to the children and families we serve. Toys are needed for children of all ages.

To give a “Gift of Hope” this holiday season, contact Miguel Quezada at 520.622.7611 ext.1311, email mquezada@arizonaschildren.org or visit www.arizonaschildren.org/giftsofhope.htm.

Arizona’s Children Association was originally founded in 1912, as Arizona Children’s Home Association, to care for homeless, neglected and dependent children. For more than 97 years the agency has stayed true to its mission of Protecting Children and Preserving Families, serving more than 45,000 children and their families in all 15 counties in the state each year. Please visit the Arizona’s Children website at www.arizonaschildren.org.”

Note: I know these gifts (groceries, toys, wishes) are needed and much appreciated, having served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) at Pima County Juvenile Court for abused/neglected children, and also on the state Foster Care Review Board.

Please give the gift of hope.