Saturday Aug 13, 2011
Time: 7 PM
Admission: FREE
Contact Name: Jonathan Holden
Phone: (520) 624-1515

This free, all-ages concert features Yaqui guitar maestro Gabriel Ayala jazz & flamenco Trio, acoustic World Pop from singer-songwriter Rahe & her six-piece band illumiNation, the internationally acclaimed Reveille Men’s Chorus, and Tejano 10-piece dance music from Suerte.

This concert coincides with the monthly 2nd Saturdays Downtown urban fest downtown on Congress St. (6 to 10:30 p.m.).

Visit the Happy Birthday Tucson website www.tucsonsbirthday.org for more information:

This is our second annual concert showcasing Tucson’s unique cultural diversity,” said organizer Richard Elias, Pima County Supervisor, District 5. “We hope this free event will attract families downtown to enjoy great music at the beautiful Fox Tucson Theatre.” The performance is presented by Celebrate Tucson! In collaboration with Tucson Meet Yourself, Community Investment Corporation and 2nd Saturdays Downtown. Made possible by grants from the Pima County Board of Supervisors, The office of the Honorable Richard Elias, Service Employees International Union of Arizona (SEIU Arizona), Community Partnership of Southern Arizona (CPSA), The Pasqua Yaqui Nation, Cox Communications, Providence Service Corporation, the Honorable Regina Romero of the City of Tucson, La Frontera and the Fox Tucson Theatre.

The Gabriel Ayala Trio features Yaqui guitar master Gabriel Ayala, percussionist Greg Curtiss and bassist Gilbert Nagore. Based on a foundation of classical guitar compositions, the trio embraces the passion of Spanish flamenco with jazz improvisation and polyrhythmic world rhythms. Gabriel Ayala’s original repertoire is complemented by material from such diverse musicians as Chick Corea, Paco de Lucia, Vicente Amigo, Erik Satie, and The Eagles. Gabriel Ayala was recognized for musical achievement by former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and nominated by the Native American Music Awards for Best Independent Recording. He has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. and at La Festival Internacional de la Guitarra Academica in Venezuela.

Rahe & illumiNation– Award-winning multilingual vocalist/composer/guitarist Rahe was raised in Spain, Japan and the United States. Her music can best be described as Acoustic World Pop, blending influences from Spain, Brazil, Africa, American Soul and Jazz. Her fresh, original sound includes Rahe on vocals and nylon string acoustic guitar, a saxophone quartet (alto, tenor and 2 baritones) and drums. In February she released her debut CD of all original multilingual material, Out of the Box, which reflects the diversity of her multicultural upbringing and passion for creating music that crosses boundaries, genres, and world cultures.

Reveille Men’s Chorus– Tucson’s internationally recognized men’s chorus is now in its 17th year of changing lives through music. What began in 1995 as a gay men’s community chorus with an array of singers has grown into a community institution of seasoned performers with an added public health focus on HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention. Under the leadership of artistic director, Shawn Cullen, Reveille continues to change lives through music via its community outreach, volunteer work and musical productions filled with humor and heart. Reveille Men’s Chorus is dedicated to musical excellence and performs worldwide to promote human rights, diversity and a world free of AIDS.

Suerte formed in 2009 to play old school Tejano music with a big band sound. This 10-piece orquesta features vocals with two trumpets, saxophone, piano, guitars, bass, percussion and drums. Tejano music originated in 19th century Texas when German, Czech and Polish immigrants introduced waltzes and polkas which blended with the corridas sung by Mexican musicians with guitars, flutes and drums. Suerte is comprised of veteran musicians who have played with groups in our city dating back to the 80′s and 90′s. Today, Tejano music incorporates elements of pop, rock and R&B as Suerte continues the evolution of this infectious border dance music.

To hear District 5 Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias talk about this upcoming birthday event on the Buckmaster radio show, click here. Supervisor Elias’ ancestor was here in the Tucson area since 1775, when the Presidio was first established.

Cafe 54 is located at 54 E. Pennington (hence their name), just west of Scott Avenue in downtown Tucson. The upcoming Silent Auction (their first annual fundraiser) on December 11 will feature paintings, sculpture, jewelry, and will be from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., coinciding with 2nd Saturdays Downtown. Cafe 54′s phone # is 520-622-1907.

Cafe 54 is an innovative bistro serving “New American Fusion” cuisine in the heart of downtown Tucson. The cafe serves lunch Monday through Friday at 11am to 2 pm in an artsy, urban ambiance with a changing daily menu. Cafe 54 is a non-profit organization with an award-winning training and employment support program serving individuals recovering from mental illness.

Cafe 54 is Supported by the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, Rehabilitation Services Administration and private donations.

Our Mission:

* To assist individuals with mental illnesses become independent, tax-paying citizens.
* To provide trainees with the tools they need to recognize and utilize inherent talents and skills.
* To provide the restaurant community with a pool of reliable employees who have had training and first-hand experience working in a quality restaurant setting.
* To reduce and ultimately eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness by shifting focus from disabilities to abilities.

If you haven’t tried their delicious, innovative menu for lunch, you should stop by the next time you’re downtown. Their food is always fresh, interesting, imaginative, made from scratch daily in their kitchen.

As a frequent diner, I love the jerk chicken salad, their rosemary rolls, their teriyaki salmon (and most other dishes as well). Here’s their description on the jerk chicken salad: “Jerk seasoned chicken breast, mango, pineapple, strawberries and spiced pecans served on mixed greens and dressed with raspberry vinaigrette.” It is all fabulous.

PEOPLE OF COLOR FESTIVAL – SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

Tucson, AZ – The 5th annual People of Color Festival takes place on Saturday, September 11th from 8:00am-1:00pm at the Northwest Neighborhood Center (2160 North 6th Avenue, south of Grant Road).

This festival, focusing on the promotion of health and wellness among African Americans and the medically underserved of Southern Arizona, is sponsored by the Coalition for African American Health and Wellness, and features free entertainment, games, food, health and safety exhibits, workshops, health screenings, activities for kids, and door prizes.

The People of Color Festival supports efforts to reduce health disparities as part of Arizona Healthy People 2020. Our theme: “Wellness, Mind, Body, and Soul,” and our keynote speaker, Dr. Cheryl Ritenbaugh, University of Arizona Professor of Family and Community Medicine, will open the session around 10:00am with her presentation “Complimentary, Alternative, and Traditional Medicines: Systems of Care Focused on Wellness for the Whole Person.” Following her will be panel presentations on Mind, Body, and Soul.

“We’re excited about this year’s event that will bring together resources to help people of color and others who are medically underserved address their well-being and get information and support to become better stewards of their own health and our community’s health,” said Mary F. Stoute, president of the Coalition for African American Health and Wellness.

One of the highlights of the festival will be the presentation of Harriet Tubman Vanguard Awards to seven outstanding and unwavering supporters of community health and wellness:
Community Health Activist: Sheila H. Parker, MPH, DrPH
Community Health Educator: Paul Appleby
Community Health Provider: Nicola Finley, M.D.
Community Health Volunteer: Mary F. Stoute
Community Organization: SAAF (Southern Az Aids Foundation)
Faith-Based Organization: Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
Community Health Policy Advocate: Linda Leatherman

The 2010 People of Color Festival sponsors include Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, La Frontera Center, SAAF, El Rio Community Health Center, Pima County Health Department, Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN), Tucson Southern Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce, and Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.”

About the Coalition for African American Health and Wellness: “Our mission is to promote healthy living and improve the overall quality of life for African Americans and medically underserved people in the Tucson community.”

For more information, visit www.caahw.org or contact Mary F. Stoute, President of the Coalition, at (520) 471-6481 or maryapple@aol.com.

I’ve been to this festival in the past (being a so-called “Person of Color”) and there was lots of helpful health & well-being information for all minority populations.

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