AAMSAZ

January 2025

Happy New Year!

We hope you had a safe and joyful holiday season, and we’re excited to welcome you to a brand-new year filled with growth and, of course, plenty of inspiring moments! As we reflect on the past year, we are so proud of the many friends and businesses we have collaborated with presenting various opportunities to our community. Thank you!

As we begin 2025, we want to wish you all the best as you dive into your New Year’s resolutions—whether they’re big or small—we hope this year brings you health, success, joy, and fulfillment. 



We’re starting the year full of energy and enthusiasm, and we can’t wait to share what we have in store for you!

MLK Day’s Events – In honor of Dr. King’s legacy, we’ll be collaborating and supporting a series of special events throughout MLK Days. 

Here’s a glimpse at some of the exciting events and exhibits for MLK Days ahead:

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Temporary Window Exhibition
• Starting January 5^th, Don’t miss our Dr. King in Tucson exhibit, featuring photos and historical bits from Dr. King’s visit to Tucson, where he inspired many with his message of equality and justice. Thank you, Jacque Barnes Price for sharing her memory of his visit.
• Fireside Chat with Dr. J –
• January 16, 2025! We’re excited to announce that Dr. J, yes, Julius Erving, will be here in just a few weeks for a special talk. See below for more information. Deadline January 10^th
• UAMA – Hank Willis Thomas Retrospective –
• January 18th, we will celebrate the impactful work of Thomas at the UAMA. His art carries powerful messages, and this retrospective is sure to be an unforgettable experience. For more information go to: https://artmuseum.arizona.edu/see-do/exhibitions/2025/01/18/hank-willis-thomas-loverules
• MLK Day of Service - Join the City of Tucson as they Team Up to Clean Up! More to come!
• MLK Walk and Celebration
• January 20^{th - See below}
• MLK Basketball at McKale Center - Donations are accepted!
• January 20^th

^{Stayed tuned for more information on all of the above coming mid January.}

^{Save The Dates!}

Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you at some of the upcoming events as we work together to create a meaningful and vibrant year ahead.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and inspiring New Year!

Volunteers Needed but we have a few of the BEST!

We have been fortunate to be able to work with outstanding volunteers like Jamie Clark and Rose Taulton. One of our interns Will Martin was also a volunteer this semester. Next semester we will have a few new interns along with Will Martin and William Good. We will introduce them to you soon. Also, a big thanks to Jenny Li for her time and effort in everything tours and digital, she makes everything look great!

Thank you to our Board of Directors and our Advisory Board members who have supported us every step of the way!

In Community,

Beverely Elliott, Executive Director

African American Museum of Southern Arizona (AAMSAZ)

We are a movement, not just a museum!

January Holidays — Welcome 2025

National Hobby Month: Find joy in starting or rediscovering a favorite hobby.

National Blood Donor Month: Save lives by donating blood this winter.

Poverty Awareness Month: Advocate for equity and help bring awareness to poverty-related challenges.

January 1st - New Year’s Day and Commitment Day: Celebrate previous achievements and possibilities for the new year!

January 8th - Show and Tell at Work Day: Invite people and coworkers to share what they’ve been working on.  

January 13th - Korean American Day: Celebrate Korean-owned businesses in your community! 

January 13th - National Clean Your Desk Day: Start the week fresh with an organized workspace.

January 18th - National Thesaurus Day: Take a look at the big book marketing.

January 18th - National Use Your Gift Card Day: Don’t forget to use the gift cards you received during the holidays.

January 18th - UAMA: Hank Willis Thomas - LOVERULES.

January 20th - MLK Day of Service: Honor Dr. King’s legacy by giving back to your community.

January 20th - Take a Walk Outdoors Day: Enjoy the fresh air and connect with nature.

January 29th - Chinese New Year: Celebrate the Year of the Snake with wishes for a smooth and prosperous year ahead!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Happy 2nd Anniversary to us! We are filled with excitement and gratitude as we celebrate this milestone of opening our doors 2 years ago, 1/14^th. It’s a time for us to pause, reflect, and give thanks for what you have helped us achieve so far. We’re incredibly proud of the impact we've made in our community and the University, and we look forward to another year of growth, learning, and celebration. Here's to many more successful years ahead!

Our Membership Drive is Still Alive

AND 14 More Days to reach our goal of $10,000!

We are almost there!

We are so grateful that we are almost there! Thank you all so much for your time and dedication to us moving the needle forward as we set up new programs and improve on those we have in place.  We truly appreciate you!

Look at how you have helped us grow in the past few years!

Thank you!

I was deeply honored to be recognized as one of the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management’s Outstanding Business Women at their Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things Tea, held on Thursday, December 12th at the Arizona Inn. As a Health Education Major with a master’s in Counseling and Psychology, I was both humbled and truly SURPRISED to be included with such an incredible group of women.

The other honorees were nothing short of inspiring—many had started their own businesses or made significant strides in national companies. As a Co- Founder and executive director of AAMSAZ, I am immensely grateful for the unwavering support I’ve received from the AAMSAZ Board, Advisory Board, my family, and the Tucson community. We all know it takes a village! I’m so appreciative of my nearly 50 years of marriage to an accountant, who has been a constant source of support.

One of the special aspects of the event was the opportunity to connect with the Eller student awardees, who acted as our "table hosts." It was a privilege to meet these young women, who are already making a meaningful impact in their classrooms and communities. They were, without a doubt, the REAL STARS of the event!

Thank you to Meghan Welsh and the Eller team, as well as Dean Karthick Kannan, for organizing such a meaningful program and for your continued support in uplifting and celebrating women in business.

JOIN US FOR AN EVENING

with THE DOCTOR

A Fireside Chat, With Dr. J Thursday, January 16th

Join us as we have an exciting opportunity for our community:

A Fireside Chat with basketball Hall of Famer and legend Julius Winfield Erving II, Famously Known as Dr. J. This event will provide an intimate platform for the community to engage with one of the most iconic figures in the history of professional basketball.

Location:

Palo Verde High Magnet School

1302 S Avenida Vega,

Tucson, AZ 85710

Date & Time:

Thursday, January 16th

VIP Reception: 4:30 PM

Program: 6:00 PM

Marketing and or Sponsorships are Available for this Community Event Featuring

Dr. J – Julius W. Erving II

Join us for a Night with The Doctor

2025 Vendor & Booth Application for Tucson MLK Celebration

Date: Monday, January 20, 2025  

Join the Celebration!

The Tucson MLK Celebration Committee invites vendors and organizations to participate in this historic and inspiring community event. Showcase your goods, services, or mission while honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Details and Application Coming Soon!

Stay Tuned for a list of Upcoming Events during

MLK Holiday Days and

Black History Month!

The State of Black Arizona

On Saturday, December 10, 2024, we were honored to be included in the celebration of the graduates from the African American Leadership Institute (AALI) program. This program is lead by CEO of The State of Black Arizona, Teniqua Broughton. Their theme was focused on Emotional Intelligence. The title sponsor was none other than the African American Legacy Fund (AALF) of the Southern Arizona Community Foundation. We are happy to say, AALF has also been instrumental in supporting AAMSAZ. Thank you AALF and the Southern Arizona Community Foundation!

Congratulations Graduates!

This year the Southern Arizona graduates were:

• Brandon Walker, Long Realty

• Erisha Green, The Haven

• Treya Allen, UA/Pima Community College

• RaShaunda Ridle, YWCA Southern Arizona

• Abby Nagbe, YWCA Southern Arizona

• Kadian McIntosh, University of Arizona

Tucson Jazz Festival 2025

Scan the QR or click the link for more information:

https://tucsonjazzfestival.org/

Date: January 20, 2025

Location:

McKale Center/University of Arizona

Admission  $6 for Students / Adults $10...one fee-six games!

Come on out and spend the day!

Games Starting at 9:00 AM

AIA Passes will be accepted at the event.

National Day of Racial Healing: A Call for Unity and Collective Action

"Stolen Moments": Jazz and American History

“Stolen Moments” goes beyond the music. It reveals the fascinating interplay between jazz and 20th-century American culture. “Stolen Moments” gives a vibrant window into American history and an appreciation of the power of music to unify, inspire, and change the world.

• School show: Stolen Moments: American History, through the Lens of Jazz
• Details: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 10 AM at the Fox Tucson Theatre
• Event page: https://foxtucson.com/event/stolen-moments/
• Grades: 4^th and up
• Brief summary: Immerse students in the electrifying world of jazz! Both captivating and informative, the show’s combination of a live jazz quintet, spoken word, and video projection takes students on a journey through American history and how it was shaped by jazz. It’s a story of breaking down barriers, celebrating diversity, and pushing artistic boundaries.
• Video:  https://vimeo.com/71840056?share=copy
• $8/ticket, whether student or teacher/chaperone.
• For school groups only, including homeschool groups.

Let's get ready for 2025!

Thanks to everyone who submitted recommendations and voted on the poll for our 2025 list of books. Six is hard to narrow down! We forewent a couple of popular books, including James and The Message, solely because of the large number of holds. But we have a great list for next year! Here are our final books:

• If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
• Brooms by Jasmine Walls
• Where Do We Go From Here? By Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Cool. Awkward. Black. By Karen Strong et al
• Black Women Will Save the World by April Ryan
• The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron

Final dates will be posted soon!

Save the Date!

Scheduled guest speaker: Charles Young, local descendant, and Buffalo Soldier

re-enactor.

The event will take place at the Nogales City Hall Plaza, 777 N Grand Ave, Nogales

Each winter....Yes, it is coming! That’s when Tucson transforms into a dazzling hub for gem enthusiasts, jewelry lovers, mineral collectors, and fossil fans during the world-renowned 

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase!

 This year, more than 65,000 visitors from around the world will flock to Tucson, for an immersive experience that spans three weeks. Tucson's Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Showcase is coming back to town February 1 - February 16, 2025. 

Visit Tucson will be producing, in partnership with Madden Media, the Official Gem Guide for 2025.The Guide will be formatted in a handy pocket size pamphlet that will include a quick reference map and chart to help visitors easily find shows and vendors.

There are over 40 gem show locations scattered across the city, and the showcase offers an opportunity to buy, sell, and trade rare and mesmerizing gems, minerals, and fossils. Whether you're a seasoned collector or a curious newcomer, there's something for everyone !

Planning to visit Tucson? Mark your calendar for this not-to-be-missed event. Alongside the main shows, you'll find related events, educational talks, great food, and even a Free day at the Gem & Mineral Museum; founder Mr. Alan Norville - Thank you Mr. Norville and an AAMSAZ donor, and director Violette Wolf have organized a wonderful place to learn and enjoy pure beauty! It's the perfect chance to explore Tucson's vibrant gem and mineral scene while enjoying the city's warm hospitality.

Don’t miss out on this extraordinary extravaganza.

On Jan. 1, 1863, the President of the United States issued one of the most important executive orders in American history: Proclamation 95, more commonly known as the Emancipation Proclamation. Though the Emancipation Proclamation is not usually invoked as an example of labor regulation, it is among the most important such measures in American history. The proclamation—and, later, the 13th Amendment—constrained slaveholders’ economic liberties in order to offer basic freedoms to enslaved workers.

Note:

On plantations, slaves were typically classified by the type of work they performed. The most common categories were "field slaves," who worked in the fields (cotton, tobacco, etc.), and "house slaves," who worked within the master's household (tending to children, cooking, cleaning, etc.), attending to domestic duties. In addition to these roles, some plantations also loaned out skilled slaves, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, and drivers, who were responsible for specialized tasks essential to the plantation's operation.

Our Legacy Founder Investors

Our Legacy Founder Investors (LFI)

COX,

TEP,

Elliott Family Charity,

Zuckerman Family Foundation,

Tucson Foundation

Thank you for your

unwavering support! 

Our Website:

AAMSAZ.org

Join our team of volunteers!

Join the effort to preserve African American history and culture in Southern Arizona. AAMSAZ welcomes volunteers. Background checks will be conducted. We are committed to finding meaningful ways for you to contribute. Please contact us at AAMuseumofSouthernAZ@gmail.com to learn how you can volunteer.

General Admission to the museum is free. 

Please consider Making a Donation in any amount. Thank you!

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