AAMSAZ Updates from the E.D. July 2023
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Well, it is really heating up in Arizona! We have started hitting those 100+ temperatures. Snowbirds are long gone and most of us are figuring out where to go for cooler weather. This is a great time to grill, picnic, swim, find shade, or just hang out with family and friends. We have been busy refining our current museum exhibits. We have also spoken with people who have additional historic information for the museum. We will be adding more exhibits to the museum in the next few months. We have been busy! |  |
- We met with Dunbar board member and historian, Barbara Lewis, and AAMSAZ board member and Dunbar consultant, Bill Ponder. We will begin working on a small exhibit featuring Dunbar’s RICH history. BUT if you really want to know more about The Dunbar Pavilion, you really should visit!
- We met and provided a tour for - my sister by another mother - Amy Zuckerman of the Zuckerman Foundation. We send our thanks to the Zuckerman Foundation for their generous gift and support! The are Legacy Founder Donors! Amy said that she had some take-aways from the tour. And that is just what we want our visitors to do and say…“I didn’t know that” and to take some information with them.
- Thank you, Dean AP Duran and the UArizona College of Humanities, for your support and generous gift! We are hopeful as we write grants and keep raising funds to keep AAMSAZ and our newsletter free (no admission fees and no membership needed to support the newsletter). We want the public to continue to visit and learn as we provide information and as a resource to the community.
- We have had over 1,200 visitors since January without having regular volunteer staffing. Thank you to Jenn, Ernestina, Larry, Mingde, and our amazing interns! We also want to thank you, our supporters and visitors, for your patience as we work with UA students to secure regular, open hours rather than visits by appointment only....unless you’re bringing a group.
- As a resource…we have been collaborating and working with The Blac Artist Group, the Westland project, and the Tucson Juneteenth Committee. We are honored to continue our work with Bank of America and the reel clips at The Loft featuring the Making Black America. STAY TUNED…. we are hoping that another Reel is coming in September, once again sponsored by Bank of America, featuring Dr. Skip Gates, that will be presented by AAMSAZ in collaboration with a few other organizations.
I know we have met with several groups and are truly grateful for your support. We, the interns and I, are also grateful to our Executive Board and Advisory Board for always being there for us!
Sincerely,
Beverely Elliott, Executive Director
African American Museum of Southern Arizona (AAMSAZ)
“We are a movement, not just a museum.”
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Black Pilots of America
Bob and I took a trip to Pine Bluff, Arkansas last month and joined in the annual “fly–in” celebration of the Black Pilots of America (BPA). Many of these pilots flew their own planes to the event and participated in taking people for rides. President Brian Worthington greeted everyone and made sure that there was plenty of space for viewing “Operation Skyhook” and enjoying the delicious southern delicacies. We were delighted to enjoy the skills of these fliers at the Pine Bluff Regional Airport “Gider Field” as we saw balloon drops and more. The Bronze Eagles of Texas, Roscoe Draper Chapter from Philadelphia, other cities like Kansas City, were represented. We were invited by none other than one of the Founders of BPA, an Arizonan, Leslie Morris, to attend. Les received his first lesson in 1954 and was ready for his solo flight right out the gate. Les entered the US Air Force Aviation Cadet program and was contacted by the New York Air National Guard to become one of their pilots. Les was a pilot at Williams AFB in Phoenix in 1958 and loved AZ. In 1971 Les started the Summer Flight Academy in Tuskegee, AR teaching and recruiting young African American men and women to fly. Although his travels took him all over the country and in various types of planes, he ultimately settled in Green Valley, AZ in 1994. He also was an instructor of the Lear 60 plane before retiring in 2016.
--- Beverely Elliott, Executive Director
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Social Justice Response Board! |  | Hi! I'm Emma. Through the past few months I have worked at AAMSAZ, I have been focused on exhibit design, writing labels, and making recommendations to the design and layout of the museum. Within the museum, we’ve also recently put together a wall dedicated to Social Justice. This space will house numerous different materials such as printed information and graphs about things such as health disparities and educational gaps within our community. This wall will be ever-changing as we introduce new exhibits about current social justice issues and history. In connection to educational materials and participatory activities, I have recently designed a “Share Your Thoughts” board which will allow visitors to respond to questions such as “What does social justice mean to you?” and “What do you wish there was more awareness about?” We invite all visitors to share their opinions and thoughts and read other responses in turn. Through our Social Justice wall, we hope to cultivate a safe space for open dialogue, continued communication, and the pursuit of equity and equality for all. | |
--- Emma Márquez Peterson
Curatorial Intern
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360-Degree Virtual Tour is Available Now! | |
Hi! I'm Jenny. I've had the honor of working at the museum since January, where I help with website design, video editing, tour schedules, and technical support.
Our museum keeps refining itself since its grand opening on January 14, 2023 with over 46 guided tours and 1,200 visitors in the past six months. We attract visitors from various parts of Arizona and across the country. As a non-profit organization, we actively collaborate with community institutions, raise funds, and upgrade our technical equipment to ensure free admission and deliver new exhibitions.
|  | Preparing museum tours is traditional, but it can also be creative and entertaining. We've seen an increase in visitors especially during Black History Month and the Juneteenth Festival activities. To assist large groups/organizations, we've embraced digital advancements by offering 360-degree panoramic video tours. This immersive experience allows viewers to explore the museum virtually, accommodating the needs of major corporations and ensuring an engaging visit. | |
We are working to be relevant and resourceful with a few high-end technology resources requiring professional expertise. We have successfully implemented 360-degree panoramic video tours with the help of our museum staff and volunteer video editing enthusiast, Mingde Li.
This showcases our museum's ability to adapt to modern trends and demonstrates our commitment to participating in a dynamic industry. As we continue to expand, we remain at the forefront of technology, anticipating the future use of AR and VR.
While established museums like the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan have pioneered virtual tours, we hope our panoramic viewing experience can serve as a valuable reference and inspiration for new and small museums. By attracting more visitors and embracing these advancements, we aim to not only effectively convey our displays but also drive our museum towards modernization and automation.
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--- Jenny Li
Digital Preservation Intern
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Our Legacy Founder Donors | | |
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Thank you, our Legacy Founder Investors, and Sponsors
COX, TEP,
Elliott Family Charity, and Zuckerman Family Foundation
For your unwavering support!
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A Bench on the UArizona Campus for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Let’s talk about the Women’s Plaza of Honor on the University of Arizona campus. We hope that you have visited, as it is a truly peaceful place. If you have not visited, stop by or visit online at Women's Plaza of Honor and African American Women’s Arch. Did you know that there’s a bench on the Plaza that honors former Supreme Court Justice RBG? AAMSAZ is launching a campaign to have a bench placed on the Women’s Plaza of Honor in tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first African American woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. Most of us know the questions that she was asked and had to endure in order to be confirmed. Please help us raise the $15,000 for the bench in her honor. Any amount helps and if you want to be a sponsor. Please be sure to note that your donation is for the Ketanji Brown Jackson bench.
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Supporting AAMSAZ
We love hearing from you!
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Gifts in any amount are always welcomed. Please use our easy and secure online giving site.
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Do you have a legacy story or an oral history to share? How about an African American or Black collection that you want to donate to AAMSAZ? Let's connect. Please email us and let us know at AAMuseumofSouthernAZ@gmail.com.
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Email us to join the AAMSAZ newsletter email list.
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Join our team of volunteers!
Join the effort to preserve African American history and culture in Southern Arizona. AAMSAZ welcomes volunteers. No matter what your abilities are, we are committed to finding meaningful ways for you to contribute. Please contact us at AAMuseumofSouthernAZ@gmail.com to learn how you can volunteer and for more information on volunteer training sessions.
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Juneteenth Events and Community Outreach | |
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"Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It's a celebration of progress. "
----(Former President Barack Obama)
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Tucson Juneteenth Festival Committee, Inc. /Kick Off
They are a movement, not a moment!
Thank you, Larry Starks, President of Tucson’s Juneteenth Festival Committee, for collaborating with us at the museum! We were delighted and so excited to have provided a tour for Evelyn “Champagne” King and her Husband, Freddie Fox (Happy Birthday, Freddie), on June 10, 2023. Evelyn was in town to kick off Tucson’s 53rd Annual Juneteenth Festival. Jody, the inspiration for the museum, was present, as well as our intern Jenny and her husband Mingde. We had a great visit!
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Juneteenth HCD Celebration | |
We always enjoy community and partnerships. We were honored to be invited to the Juneteenth celebration on Tuesday, June 13, hosted by the City of Tucson's Housing and Community Development Department (HCD). Museum interns Emma, Melora, and Jenny represented the museum at this event. Thank you, Emma, for the great presentation for AAMSAZ! Alos, thank you, Ernesto Portillo, for the invitation to showcase the mission and purpose of AAMSAZ at the event. We appreciate Ann Chanecka, the interim director of HCD, for delivering a wonderful opening speech and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero for her inspiring remarks. Your dedication to the African American community and the official recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday contribute to our country's progress for future generations. | |
During the event, Dr. Tani Sanchez enlightened us with both heartbreaking and incredibly joyous facts about the experiences of African Americans. Her book The Meals and Memoirs, is a collection of African American stories and recipes from Southern Arizonans (including our ED Beverely Elliott). The book is Available on Amazon.com. You will love it and use it! Visit our website to watch the Oral History of Dr. Sanchez and learn more about her important contributions to our understanding of African American history. | |
Pop-up museum with GEICO
On June 14th, museum advisory board member, Tina Jonson, and interns (Emma, Melora, and Jenny) presented and introduced a pop-up museum for Geico associates to visit during their breaks and lunches. We value this partnership opportunity and look forward to future collaborations. GEICO's FastPitch campaign allows all associates to propose ideas that benefit the local community. We are thrilled to have been included in the "GEICO Fast Pitch Program." We want to express our gratitude to Veron Chapple and Michael Espino for inviting us to participate. Additionally, we would like to thank Larry Starks, the president of the Tucson Juneteenth Festival, for delivering a remarkable presentation on the history of Juneteenth in Tucson.
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The Quincie Douglas Center's Juneteenth Celebration | |
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The Quincie Douglas Center held a Juneteenth celebration recognizing and honoring four Tucson communities where 85% of the African American population used to live: South Park, Sugarhill, A Mountain, and Lakeside Park. The Center’s Director, Jerry Nealy, and staff also recognized four outstanding African American leaders who lived in those communities and made major contributions to the African American community while living there.
The honored icons were Quincie Douglas, Donna Liggins, Chuck Ford, and Fred Archer. Community members at the celebration included Mayor Regina Romero, Barbea Williams - Performance Company (BWPC), Council Member Richard Fimbres, the GSAAC (Greater Southern Arizona Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers), and Richard and Doreen Davis (daughter of Mrs. Quincie Douglas).
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Juneteenth Event at The Loft
To celebrate Juneteenth, we partnered with Bank of America, The Loft Cinema, and Larry Starks, director of the Tucson Juneteenth Festival, to bring to Tucson a showing of “Making Black America: Through the Grapevine”. This documentary was created in partnership with Dr. Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Stacey L. Holman, Shayla Harris, and PBS.
The Loft, a local and cherished theater here in Tucson, was crowded that Thursday night, June 15, 2023, for a viewing of this documentary! This event was unique in that the documentary was split into shorter clips. After playing a clip, a panel of historians and community leaders were given the opportunity to speak about what the clip we watched and what the footage meant to them personally and to the Southern Arizona community. The event was emceed by Ron Burton, a well-known former city employee for many decades.
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The 53rd Tucson Juneteenth Festival at Kino Park
On June 17th, our museum was happy to have been a part of the annual Juneteenth Festival in Tucson. Our booth featured information about a few of the exhibits we are currently showing, tour scheduling, a newsletter sign-up sheet, contact information, our wonderful interns, Jenny, Emma, and Melora, and our amazing executive director Beverely and Board Chair Bob Elliott.
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It was a highlight to be included amongst so many other organizations and corporations who are adamant about making the presence of Tucson’s Black community heard, seen, and stronger. From delicious food selections, trivia, and free COVID tests, everyone was there to help celebrate African American history, especially the contributions of African American in Tucson and the landmark celebration of freedom more commonly known as Juneteenth. | |
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Once again, thank you to Larry Starks for allowing us to participate in such an important festival celebrating African American people everywhere and the struggles they have faced. We will be there next year for more fun!
--- Melora Hutcheson
Fundraiser Intern
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Beyond Legacy: Justice & Action in the 21st Century
Juneteenth Celebration with
DR. BERNICE KING and PROF. ILYASAH SHABAZZ
at the University of Arizona
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On June 19, 2023, the University of Arizona celebrated Juneteenth at Centennial Hall. The event, attended by a diverse audience of students, faculty, staff, and community members, was an electrifying evening. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, and Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, honored the university with their perspectives of legacy. Moderated by Denise Trimble-Smith, the director of Justice Initiatives at UArizona, the discussion explored the profound significance of Juneteenth and the enduring legacies of their remarkable family but especially their mothers. It emphasized the pivotal role of women in driving meaningful social change. | |
Also present at the event were Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, and University of Arizona President, Dr. Robert Robbins. Thank you, Beyond Juneteenth Committee, for organizing this incredible event. Their efforts contribute to the ongoing celebration and honoring of African American history. | |
Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services:
Attend local meetings, volunteer, and be connected!
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If you are interested in volunteering, learning more, and working to support our Arizona Veterans, please connect with the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services. Their director, Dana Allmond, a supporter of our museum, is dedicated to ensuring our AZ Veterans have the support they need and deserve. Although our Veterans have bravely served to protect our country, many of them are in need of additional care. Through the work of volunteers and outside donations, the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services can provide help. | |
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Contact Dana Allmond at (602) 234-8415 or dallmond@azdvs.gov
If you would like ADVS featured at a future event or meeting, go here.
For further information and resources, go to BeConnectedAz.org or 866-4AZ-VETS.
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Supporting the Mission of Preserving HISTORY! | |
 |  | The City of Tucson, through a Certified Local Government Grant, is collaborating with WestLand Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. to conduct a city-wide survey of historic properties associated with Tucson’s African American community. The first phase of the two-phase project is currently underway. The intent of the first phase is to provide an inventory and database of Tucson’s surviving properties (buildings, structures, sites, and landscapes) built prior to 1978 that are associated with our African American Community. The inventory will serve as an informational and management tool to identify and preserve Tucson’s African American resources as well as provide a strategy to prioritize and identify areas for further study. If you have information about Tucson’s African American historic properties or have any questions about WestLand’s data gathering and research, contact either Jennifer Levstik at jlevstik@westlandresources.com or Kathryn McKinney at kmckinney@westlandresources.com.
AAMSAZ is excited that we are achieving our vision of being a resource to the community. We truly need preservationists so that the buildings here in the community are preserved. Thank you, Larry Starks, Richard Davis, Annie Sykes, Moniqua Lane, and others, for allowing the museum to connect you with preserving our community. Let’s SAVE this IMPORTANT History!
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B.L.A.C. Blue Lotus Artists' Collective (B.L.A.C.) is creating a artist database. B.L.A.C. is located in downtown Tucson, AZ, and is issuing a call for Black artists working in any media to build a database for their 2023 - 2024 exhibition schedule. If interested, submit a resume and/or artist statement, contact information, and up to ten images of artwork with identification to: info@bluelotusartistscollective.com. | |
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Deadline: August 31, 2023
Blue Lotus Artists' Collective (B.L.A.C.)
15 E. Pennington Street
Tucson, AZ 85701
www.bluelotusartistscollective.com/
Instagram: @blac_tucson
Phone: 520-400-4701
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B.L.A.C. is a non-profit exhibition space dedicated to supporting and uplifting Black artists. In 2022, a group of artists and arts advocates assembled to discuss ways to address the obvious underrepresentation of Black artists in museums and galleries in the U.S. Ultimately, they determined to address the issue firsthand by creating B.L.A.C. as an artists’ collective. Like the Blue Lotus, Black artists have arisen from sometimes harsh and inhospitable environments to thrive, create and bring beauty and wonder to the world. | |
Thank you, UArizona College of Humanities | |
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We are truly grateful for the support from Dean AP Durand and the College of Humanities. We have worked over the past year with Africana Studies, Dr. Tani Sanchez, Dr. Bryan Carter, Dr. Praise Zenenga, and Dr. Bayo Ijagbemi. Thank you for your support of our mission.
UArizona College of Humanities students learn essential skills with a human perspective to navigate the workforce of the future. Why select this major:
- Solve the grand challenges of a rapidly changing world
- Engage and collaborate local and international communities
- Enhance communication and work ethics with people from diverse backgrounds
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Affordable Housing for Seniors 62+ | |
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Unfair housing and inadequate housing have long been social justice issues affecting communities of color. Kimberly Pierce from Silverwood Casitas Property and Family Housing Resources has announced that the HUD 202 senior affordable housing community, Silverwood Casitas, at 2022 Silverbell near Grant Road, will start accepting applications for their waitlist on July 5, 2023. Eligible applicants must have one household member that is at least 62 years of age and the total household income must be below 50% of the area median income for the location. Other requirements for eligibility can be found in the application packet on their website, or contact swcasitas@fhrinc.net
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The Month of July is Grill and Chill Month!
Also, July recognizes National Minority Health Month.
| Ask your children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces, or nephews – to read a book. It’s been a while since school has been out for the summer break. Hopefully, their school supplied them with a recommended reading list. But if not….buy a book or get a free library card to borrow a book for a child. | | | |
Sign Up for Tours and Visits
Tours or visits to the African American Museum of Southern Arizona are currently by appointment only
Wednesday through Saturday
10 AM – 4 PM.
Schedule a tour or visit by signing up online. Please check our schedule and sign up using the AAMSAZ
website sign-up page!
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General Admission to the museum is free.
Please consider Making a Donation in any amount. Thank you!
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Please know that we do not share or distribute emails that we receive. | |
Find AAMSAZ on Facebook and Twitter. Use #aamsaz and #aams_AZ on your social media posts. | | | | |
