“Boston is probably the only major city that if you f*#% with them, they will shut down the whole city …  stop everything … and find you.”

It’s hard not to agree with the sentiment expressed in this tweet by Adam Sandler, a New Englander himself, shortly after last month’s horrific bombings at the Boston Marathon.  

Just as on September 11, 2001, I learned of the explosions while listening to the radio. Not yet knowing the severity of the events, I proceeded to take my 14-month-old son to get his first barbershop haircut. 

That’s when the news worsened. My little boy, sitting on my lap, began to cry uncontrollably. The shop was crowded yet quiet, as everyone held their breath, their hands either on their heads or covering their mouths. Although my baby’s crying was about his haircut, his heavy sobs must have expressed the feeling everyone in the shop was beginning to experience. 

The barber never finished – I had to get home and comfort my little boy. That moment was the beginning of a long and surreal week filled with sorrow, anger and anticipation. What made the Boston bombings so unique, compared to other terror attacks, is that a real-time manhunt ensued, filled with confusion, erroneous reporting and terrible speculations. 

By now, most people have learned of the many heroic acts displayed by everyday people like Carlos Arredondo. The Costa Rica native who was handing out American flags to honor fallen soldiers, including his own son, came to the aid of a man who had both of his legs blown off below the knee. For a long time, I couldn’t get the image of “the man in the cowboy hat” wheeling the injured individual to safety out of my mind.

A few days later, those thoughts were interrupted when I learned of a shooting on the MIT campus minutes before I was going to turn in for the night. I found myself glued to my television and laptop, flipping channels and surfing the web to find out as much information as I could, thinking there might be a connection to Monday’s events. It was bizarre, seeing the now famous events develop in real time. I finally had to go to bed at four a.m.  

That next morning, I reflected about my own place in Boston. Moving here was a culture shock in many ways. As much as I had networked and met many wonderful people, becoming active in two Latino professional organizations, I still felt like a perpetual visitor to a city filled with so much history and culture. Plus, I was a rare Chicano, a pocho lost in Boston. 

But, the week of April 15 changed everything. I began to feel an affinity with a town that I previously thought of as somewhat intimidating, whose residents seemed unfriendly to those not like them. Boston, after all, does have a history marked with racial strife. 

I’m not sure what I would have done had I attended the Marathon that fateful day. Our minds can be filled with “what ifs” in these situations. I like to think that “if” I had been there, I would have run to the aid of my fellow Bostonians.

Prior to moving to Boston with his family, Dan Cortez managed and facilitated the Hispanic Leadership Institute for Valle del Sol. Born in Juarez, Dan grew up in Peoria and graduated from ASU with a B.S. in Business. He previously wrote the column “Pocho Keen” for LPM. Dan and his wife Maria have two sons, Nicolas George and William Daniel. 

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Congressman Raúl Grijalva

When the world thinks about the American West, the Grand Canyon is often the first thing to come to mind. A few issues have clouded the image – immigration battles, Supreme Court cases – but the Canyon and its environs  remain the heart and soul of our region and one of the most iconic landscapes on Earth.

Its economic impact equals its reputation. According to a recent study by Michigan State University for the National Park Service, in 2011, 4.3 million visitors saw the Grand Canyon, generating $467 million in economic activity and supporting 7,361 jobs. In more ways than one, the Canyon really is a critical part of Arizona.

That’s why I was so encouraged last year when President Obama made the historic decision to protect nearly a million acres of federal land adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park for the next 20 years. Unfortunately, that move is under attack and may well be undone.

The Executive Order protecting the Canyon is being challenged by the mining industry in federal court. Just as seriously, the U.S. Forest Service has decided to allow the re-opening of the uranium-producing Canyon Mine in the Kaibab National Forest, just six miles outside the boundary of Grand Canyon National Park. The mine is within the area covered by last year’s withdrawal order. It can re-open because the withdrawal order only prevents new claims; old ones, however out of date, remain binding.

Canyon Mine was shut down in 1996. The Forest Service recently allowed it to re-open based on the 1986 Mining Plan of Operations and Environmental Impact Statement.

You read that right. A mine, shut down almost 20 years ago, is going to be re-opened and operated under an environmental review conducted almost 30 years ago.

The story doesn’t stop there. After approving the project, the Forest Service designated the Red Butte area adjacent to the mine as Traditional Cultural Property (TCP), recognizing it as a sacred site of the Havasupai Nation. As a TCP, the area is on the National Register of Historic Places and is under the jurisdiction of the National Historic Preservation Act, which guides the protection of historic and cultural resources, and formalizes consultation with tribal governments.

We don’t know yet what impacts Canyon Mine will have on Red Butte. Because the Forest Service didn’t initiate formal consultation before allowing the mine to re-open, concerns from the Havasupai and other interested stakeholders have been swept under the rug. That’s led, very predictably, to litigation. Now, the Forest Service is spending taxpayers’ money to defend a decision that shouldn’t have been made in the first place.

The unfortunate decision to permit the re-opening of Canyon Mine sends the wrong message about the importance of this precious watershed and the future of the 20-year withdrawal. I’ve introduced a bill, the Grand Canyon Watershed Protection Act, that would make the withdrawal permanent. Until that happens, I encourage federal land management agencies to err on the side of caution when it comes to permitting claims in the withdrawal area.

This area is very ecologically sensitive and is economically irreplaceable for the entire region. The Grand Canyon area already faces plenty of other external challenges, such as upstream pollution sources and too many competing claims on Colorado River water rights. We shouldn’t let short-sighted industry demands make things worse. Updated environmental reviews and diligent stakeholder consultation should be mandatory for any new mining activity, whether it’s six or 6,000 miles from the Grand Canyon.

The previously mentioned lawsuit challenges the withdrawal’s legality; Yount v. Salazar had a recent hearing in the U.S. District Court of Arizona. The ruling is expected in a matter of weeks. The decision will determine the federal government’s ability to make decisions about the fate of taxpayer-owned land. Keep an eye on it.

That we’re even in this position tells me that we need congressional leadership to provide permanent protection for the Grand Canyon Watershed, a network of waterways that provides drinking water to over 25 million Americans. I won’t stop working to protect this area so that future generations can enjoy it, just as I have and hope you will. If we’re not careful, it may not look the same much longer.  

Raúl Grijalva has been the Representative (D-Ariz.) for Congressional District 3 since 2002. He champions pro-environment causes as a member of the Committee on Natural Resources, chair of the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee and co-chair of the National Landscape Conservation System Caucus.

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My perspective on women and mentoring has evolved through the years. The truth is that we know mentoring is effective. According to the American Society of Training and Development, 75 percent of executives point to mentoring as playing a key role in their careers; and 44 percent of CEOs list mentoring programs as one of the three most effective strategies to enhance women’s advancement into senior management.

We also know now that mentoring and/or coaching has become quite popular, and the importance of using mentors throughout your career is finally getting the attention of many women. As a mentee, we can learn from the vast experience of our mentors. Mentors can also help us develop our career management plans. One suggestion is to identify a mentor who is at least two levels above you in your organization and to specifically define the goals of the relationship. Another benefit of having a mentor is that mentors help us improve our accountability and responsibility. As our relationship grows with our mentor, we begin to see the results of our work and our heightened level of confidence will encourage us to strive for achievements we had previously thought were impossible.

A favorite piece of advice that I received was when a colleague, mentor and amiga, Marisel, said, “whenever in need, go to your board of directors, nena!” I say m’ija; she says nena. You know, all the women/men who support your goals and dreams. None of us can say we’ve had just one mentor. Whether we acknowledge them or not, there have been many individuals who have contributed to our growth. At one point, I may have never acknowledged my mom as a mentor because she wasn’t a “career woman.” It wasn’t until later that I realized that she was the mentor that taught me nurturing and was my model for kindness towards others.  

We all have the mentor that expects 120 percent from us, and, though we may at times avoid them, we know that their challenges maximize our potential. Then there’s the mentor that serves as a reflection of the truth. This mentor tells us what we need to improve upon and holds us accountable to ourselves. I recall one mentor in particular who taught me a valuable lesson about leading others. She said, “the work is not important, only the people.” This bit of wisdom has been invaluable. We all have had experiences working with some great leaders and some not-so-great. My intent has always been to emulate those leaders who inspired me to follow, and she was one of them. This mentor genuinely made us feel that we, as individuals, were important to her.

As mothers, wives, partners, sisters and employees, we all need many mentors. Some contribute to the development of our career; some remind us to go to Mass or pray, be grateful or spiritual; the fit ones say eat right and exercise; others say spend more time with your son … he’ll grow up so quick! If we all take a minute to look around, we begin to acknowledge the talents and gifts of those around us. We soon realize that we can learn from them and, from my perspective, this makes them my mentor.  

We need to reach forward and also reach back. There are so many young women who can learn from our experiences, not only as women, but as Latinas. Mentoring helps youth stay in school, provides companionship, guidance and helps youth build their self-esteem. There are so many opportunities for us to contribute to a young person’s life. If you’re already a mentor, encourage those around you to mentor as well, and, if you’re not a mentor, then consider seeking opportunities to serve on someone’s “board of directors.” 

Monica Castañeda is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Glendale Community College. She’s a native of El Paso, Texas, and has resided in the Valley since 1985. She holds a B.A. from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. She’s passionate about serving students and strongly believes in the empowerment that higher education provides.

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Having grown up in the Valley and attended Saint Mary’s High School, I look back and reflect on the influence and inspiration I received from the Franciscan Fathers who taught there and had a strong presence on campus. We learned that living a life that included service to others was just what you did. I knew I was helping to build a stronger community and helping those who needed the support of others. What I did not expect were the numerous benefits volunteering would give back to me in the years to come.

When someone decides to give of their personal time, it is generally with the hope of improving the lives of others. What studies about volunteering have shown, however, are the numerous physical and emotional benefits one receives in return. 

Four years ago, I joined the board of the Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council. My hope was to use my professional skills to impact the girls in our community. While I am able to do that, what I’ve come to appreciate are the rewards I’ve received in return. These include feeling more connected to my community, feeling a strong sense of purpose with the work being done, building friendships, and gaining new skills outside the realm of my professional life.

Simultaneously, I served as a Girl Scout troop leader for my daughter. What a great opportunity it has been to be a coach, sales manager (during cookie season) and an overall mentor for the girls. And, just as the Franciscans taught me that our life needs to include service to others, my daughter has learned that same valuable lesson through Girl Scouting. In the years to come, when she sits on a community board, my hope is that she will also enjoy the rewards of giving.

According to the Girl Scout Research Institute, learning to volunteer at a young age helps develop self-esteem, self-confidence and new friendships, which can be a buffer against the stresses of life. The study also shows that adult females who had been Girl Scouts showed a higher probability of positive life outcomes than those who had not. These outcomes included higher educational achievement, greater self-esteem and deeper levels of engagement with their community.

Volunteering as an older adult also has many rewards. As a financial planner, I strongly encourage clients preparing to retire to consider some kind of volunteer work. As our social roles change, a devastating shift in one’s sense of purpose can occur. Volunteer activities can help to build or strengthen social ties to prevent a sense of isolation. And helping others leads to a sense of greater self-worth and trust.

Over the past two decades, a growing number of studies show the health benefits of volunteering. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, those who give of their time are less likely to suffer from illness later in life. These benefits go beyond what can be received through medical care. The United States Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that states with higher volunteer rates also have lower rates of mortality and incidences of heart disease. 

There are so many good reasons to volunteer no matter your age. Thomas H. Sander, executive director of the Saguaro Seminar at Harvard University said, “Civic engagement and volunteering is the new hybrid health club for the 21^st century that’s free to join.” So, as you ponder those intentions for 2013 to eat well and exercise, also consider the numerous benefits you gain from giving your time.

However your inspiration began, be it a Franciscan Father or your Girl Scout experience, you can continue to take care of yourself by caring for others.

Lupe Arambula Camargo is an investment advisor with Perspective Financial Services, LLC. She currently serves on the boards of the Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council and the Friends of the Tempe Public Library.

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Soup, oatmeal, tuna and more: With each item of food that more than 70 volunteers pack into 1,300 Weekend Hunger Backpack bags prepared once a month on Saturday mornings, Valley of the Sun United Way takes steps closer to its goal of ending hunger in Maricopa County.

Cindy Stifanos is among the assembly line of good will that meets monthly, on a mission to teach her four youngest children a lesson about paying it forward, as part of United Way’s WeekEnd Hunger Backpack program. 

The story of Stifanos’ kids is far too common, but highlights the reason why we are asking community members to join and show their commitment to End Hunger by taking a simple pledge online at vsuw.org. Taking the Pledge to End Hunger, is a simple but impactful way to play a role in ending hunger in our Valley – it does not involve a donation of money, but is simply an effort to demonstrate community support for our goal to end hunger, learn more and be a voice for this issue. As a bonus, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation will donate $1 for each pledge of support, up to $100,000.

Three of Stifanos’ youngest children are adopted and know all too well what it was like to try to keep up their studies while their stomachs grumbled. It’s not easy, being unsure of when you will eat next, or to have to decide whether you should eat the meal in front of you or try to set some aside for later, they explained – this is why they wanted to help other kids.

“This could happen to anyone,” Stifanos said. “There are so many children that go without, when they don’t have to – anything my family can do to help, we will. When kids are hungry, they can’t focus on anything else.”

United Way’s WeekEnd Hunger Backpack program is   helping local school children get through weekends by providing students who qualify with easy to prepare meals and ensuring they arrive at school Monday ready to learn – rather than hungry.

A recent review of USDA data revealed a startling statistic – 82,000 households in Maricopa County face chronic hunger.  We and our partners know that we can’t sit by and allow that kind of hunger in our community to continue to pervade our educational system and impact our most vulnerable populations. 

Our goal and our promise is to eliminate one third of chronic hunger in Maricopa County by 2016. That’s 27,000 fewer households not knowing where their next meal is coming from – children, seniors, pregnant mothers and hard-working single parents. We know we can do it – especially with the support demonstrated by our Pledge to End Hunger.  

Central High School teacher Tammy Nagel has seen the damage hunger can have on education.

“As a teacher 22 years, I have never seen so much hunger among students,” she said. “If you are hungry, you can’t work or learn.”

Sign up to volunteer or to take the pledge and tell a friend. Anyone can Be the One to Unite to End Hunger – visit vsuw.org.

Amy Schwabenlender is vice president of community impact for Valley of the Sun United Way.

When I first got to Woodmere, New York, there were a lot of trees down and a lot of water damage. I saw a lot of personal property on the sidewalks. At first, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Then, when we got to Rockaway, one of the hardest-hit areas, it was worse than I expected. The damage was just unbelievable.   

People would come up to us and thank us and start telling us their stories. That was the hardest part. The damage was widespread on the island, and I will never forget the one gentlemen who told us that we were the first people he had seen in the seven days since the storm – the first people to help start restoring power. He came down and shook everybody’s hand and told everybody “thank you.” 

We met this other man whose restaurant burned down; his residence had been on the third floor. He was out with a shovel cleaning stuff out and yet he came over and offered us water and food. You can’t help but let those things change you.

Whether we were digging a hole, setting the pole, putting the primary up or just running services, we knew that we were bringing somebody that much closer to getting power and getting some kind of normalcy back in their life. Then, when the nor’easter hit and the snow came, I thought, “How are they going to live like this with no electricity and no heat in the house?” But they managed. We really do take for granted the things we have.

We heard stories about what people did for each other. One guy I talked to told me the flood waters were six feet deep; he and a lady’s son rescued her from the house on a surfboard. Another neighbor went to a house where there was a newborn; he held the baby above the water and took the whole family to his house. 

One thing that really got me was the number of tourists taking pictures. I just thought to myself, “Why don’t you put down the camera and pick up a damn shovel?” I just couldn’t believe people were taking pictures and just walking by. If somebody needs something, give them a hand, even if it’s just a sandwich. It may not be much, but it means something.  

When I volunteered, I knew I’d miss my cousin Amy’s wedding. I felt bad about it, but I could see that my small loss was nothing compared to the losses the storm victims were experiencing. If anything like this happened to any of my family, I hope that others would respond the same way.

I decided to go because it’s the way I was raised – always help out when you can. My dad is the type of guy who would hold benefits when someone got hurt in order to help them pay their bills. My mom has always been that way, too. When someone needs help, you help them.

I work out of SRP’s Tempe maintenance yard and everybody there wanted to go. I work with a bunch of guys who are tough but, when you are faced with something like this, you see a different side. There are a lot of caring people with whom I’m lucky to work.

This experience made me realize how a natural disaster can affect you and possibly take a family member away. When I left, I didn’t tell a lot of my cousins that I was going. When they found out, I got a lot of calls. They wanted to check on me. All of my cousins called two or three times to find out when I was coming home. It gives you a different perspective on things.

Days after Hurricane Sandy pounded the East Coast and left 1.1 million people without power and heat, a a harsh and frigid nor’easter storm arrived. Utility workers like Art Canizales with the Salt River Project (SRP) headed into the disaster zone. The 47-year-old journeyman lineman from Globe-Miami spent 16 hours a day for two weeks restoring electricity – and a bit of hope – to thousands on Long Island whose lives were turned upside down.

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Photo courtesy of AZCF

“Mi casa es tu casa” is one of the best-known Spanish phrases, or dichos, among Latinos. It may sound corny to some, but I believe it embodies the core beliefs of Latinos. 

Having grown up in a small, rural community in Honduras, I have vivid memories of strangers sharing our home and dinner table because they needed a place to stay for a night or two. I’m sure many of us can relate to that experience, especially when the visitor is a relative, like a tío or abuela. I do not know a Spanish word or phrase for “overstaying your welcome.” Providing food and shelter to those in need is deeply ingrained in us at an early age.

Responses to a 2002 Community Foundation of Silicon Valley survey on giving and volunteering among Latinos repeatedly included the words, “familia, fe, comunidad” (family, faith, community). Family ties, religious traditions and a sense of community were cited as driving factors in volunteerism and philanthropy. 

The same survey showed that Latinos do not see themselves as “philanthropists,” but Hispanics in Silicon Valley give, on average, 3.9 percent of their annual household income to charity, on par with Caucasians (3.8 percent) and double that of Asians (1.8 percent).

Henry A. J. Ramos, who has done extensive research on Latino philanthropy in the U.S., says Latino cultures have a rich and deep history, dating back the 1500s, of informal charity and social giving through family and kin networks. Ramos also found that Latino donors in the U.S. give in informal ways, and usually in small amounts, to religious organizations (especially the Catholic Church but also to evangelical Protestant orders), family members in need, and independent mutualista societies providing charitable services to Latino communities.

Ramos says organized philanthropy, as practiced in the U.S., remains an emerging concept among Latinos because they come from nations where government and churches, rather than private and nonprofit organizations, have traditionally played central roles in mitigating social inequalities.

According to the most recent U.S. Census, Latinos have become the most populous minority group in the country, representing 16 percent of the population. In 2008, the Census Bureau projected that ethnic and racial minorities will become the majority in the U.S. by 2050, and that about one in three residents will be Latino. 

According to a Nielsen report published in May, Hispanic buying power is now worth $1 trillion and is expected to grow another 50 percent in the next five years; Latino households earning more than $50,000 annually is projected to grow at a faster rate than the total number of households; and Latinos have one of the fastest small-business start-up rates of any population segment in the country.

Pew Hispanic Center data show that Hispanics are the largest minority group on the nation’s college campuses, a milestone first achieved last year. In addition to enrollment gains, the number of associate’s and bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics has also reached new highs.

Latinos are also acquiring positions of power and prestige, from the Supreme Court to the halls of Congress, getting elected and appointed to leadership positions across the country.

Given the culture and beliefs of Latinos, coupled with these gains in education and upward mobility, it makes sense to engage Latinos in strategic philanthropy. I believe increased participation in organized philanthropy can help to accelerate Latino engagement and influence in mainstream civic life. 

Locally, I am proud to report the launch of “Latinos Unidos,” an initiative of the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) to engage Latinos in strategic philanthropy. The goal is to create a model of philanthropy that fosters the giving of talent, time and resources that build on the many assets and inherent strengths of the Latino community. Another promising model is ACF’s two-year-old Latina Giving Circle, which brings together Latinas from different backgrounds to pool resources in support of select causes. The group has decided to support nonprofits in health care, education, immigration and leadership.

“Dan, darán, dicen las campanas” was a favorite saying of my grandfather, Valentín Dominguez, referring to his belief that, if you give, someone will give back in return. I also believe that we, Latinos, are givers by nature. Now more than ever, we have the opportunity to establish a legado (legacy) for future generations.

Tony Banegas is a philanthropic advisor with the Arizona Community Foundation. He is also the Honorary Consul of Honduras in Arizona. He can be reached at: tbanegas@azfoundation.org

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Kurt Sheppard, courtesy of Valle del Sol

Since the day we opened our doors in 1970, Valle del Sol has grown to become one of Arizona’s largest nonprofit organizations. Every year, we help thousands of people through behavioral health, human services and leadership development programs.

As CEO of Valle del Sol, I see firsthand everyday why it’s important for Latinos to have access to health care services. This is why we wholeheartedly support efforts that increase the number of Latinos who have both health insurance and access to quality health services. This scenario would not only be good for Latinos; it would also be good for the entire state.

Before explaining further why expanding the number of Latinos with health insurance is so necessary, let me be clear that I’m not condemning past decisions. We have just gone through one of the most trying economic periods in U.S. history. In order to weather the storm, tough decisions were made. As we move forward, I agree with the idea of investing in both business and business opportunities in Arizona. I strongly believe the best way to keep people off public programs is to create jobs that pay them a livable wage. The question then becomes, “What do we do with all the people who are now living below the poverty level, or the working poor who cannot afford health insurance?”

Let’s take a closer look at what this question means. In Arizona, a family of four that earns just $23,050 a year is considered living in poverty. In addition, an individual making $11,170 a year is also at the poverty level. Health insurance and access to health care services are scarce commodities for these people. Almost all of the people who come to Valle del Sol for help fall into this category, and over 60 percent of them are Latino. 

It’s also important to understand how the vast majority of people who are living in poverty currently get health care. In general, when they get sick, this population tends to go to the emergency room for treatment. Their health issues can range from anything from an earache to more serious health problems, such as complications from diabetes.

Because many in this population are uninsured, the care received at the hospital comes from either tax dollars or falls under the uncompensated health care category. As a result, health care costs and insurance premiums increase. Having access to health insurance will eliminate these individuals’ need to visit emergency rooms, which tends to be costlier than being served by a primary care physician. 

People living at or below the poverty level tend to get a lot of so-called “sick care.” Many cannot afford preventive care, so they wait until they are ill before seeking treatment. If they have health insurance, they can proactively focus on prevention, which will save money. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” 

This situation is even truer for people with behavioral health issues and living in poverty, who unfortunately die 20 to 25 years younger, because they are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases. Sadly, statistics for Latinos are not any better. For example, Latinos who have diabetes are more apt to suffer from kidney disease and require foot amputations. And, twice as many Latinas get cervical cancer than non-Latina white women. These startling statistics underscore the need for preventive health care. 

Increasing the number of Latinos who have health insurance will have a positive impact on our state, because it would also bring both money and jobs to Arizona. Additionally, other segments of the economy will reap the financial benefits of supporting the infrastructure and staff that are providing health care services. 

By allowing more people to have this access, Latinos can begin to think proactively about their health and get proper care along the way, not just when a costly medical crisis takes place. It’s a good decision for our people and for our state.  

Kurt Sheppard is Valle del Sol’s Chief Executive Officer. Kurt served for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Master of Organizational Management and finished the Global Leadership Certificate Program at Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management in 2002. In 2008, he graduated from the Executive Program in Corporate Strategy at the University of Chicago. Kurt is a Virginia P. Piper Fellow and his Air Force decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

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The arts bridge different cultures and generations. The arts can embody the values of the cultures of all our communities; they encompass the human spirit: how we celebrate, share traditions, what it means to be family, and how we mourn.

The arts dramatically improve students’ educational experience and potential for success.The arts are serious academic subjects that teach analysis, experimentation, self-esteem, teamwork and problem solving. The arts help students reach their goals, keep kids in school and prepare them for the jobs of the future. Our kids need to know that Louis Armstrong was not the first man on the moon and that Celia Cruz is not Tom’s sister.

 The arts have a significant economic impact on communities large and small. A mayor knows that when the local theater is open on Main Street, the nearby restaurants are full. Arts festivals bring tourists who spend money in our communities. A national study released in June by Americans for the Arts reports that arts and culture nonprofits are a $135 billion industry in America, generating 4.1 million full-time equivalent jobs and $22.3 billion in government tax revenues. In Arizona, the nonprofit industry has an impact of over $500 million dollars.

The arts lift up our basic human needs and values, our culture and our traditions. Right after the 9/11 attacks, members of Congress gathered on the steps of the Capitol, not to argue and debate, but to sing. The arts are our vehicle for collective celebration and togetherness. The arts are a powerful tool in a civil, respectful, innovative, creative and economically productive country.

The arts take the lead in facing the tough issues head on. From Picasso’s painting, Guernica, to the poems of our own Alberto Rios, the arts are not shy, quiet or reserved. Mexican printmakers took on the atrocities of World War II through their work, way before artists from any other country stepped forward. Artists showed the effects of the Great Depression through artistry and then went on to rebuild the country as workers in the WPA’s Federal Art Project. Artists were part of the Civil Rights Movement with 8 millimeter cameras, typewriters and voices. Artists marched along and documented the Farmworkers’ Movement through photography and stories. Artists helped America understand the AIDS pandemic though personal stories, quilts and images that spoke the truth that “silence equals death.”

America is a country founded on the principle that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; and that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As artists, we understand those words and we can work together to ensure that they are made true in every state in America.

But, for our Arizona, I want

… mayors to be as proud of community art centers and  museums as they are of banks, hospitals and malls.

… legislators and congressional leaders to know that public funding for the arts is a responsible action for increasing economic development.

… elected officials to lead our cities to a bright future of inclusion, respect, diversity and creativity.

… parents to understand that taking their kids to music classes and dance lessons is as important as taking them to soccer fields and swimming pools.

… neighbors to be proud of the fact that living next door to them is a painter, actor, musician, poet or dancer.

Finally, I want all Arizonans to be recognized for their hard work, their contributions to our communities and their dedication to traditions, new and old, that make Arizona a place where we all want to live. Let us celebrate our Arizona with visual arts, music, storytelling, dance, theatre and writing in our homes, schools, churches, community centers and arts centers throughout the state.

Bob Booker is the executive director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, whose mission is to imagine an Arizona where everyone can participate in and experience the arts. He joined the agency in January of 2006, and was previously the executive director of the Minnesota State Arts Board. He was appointed as co-chair of the Arts and Culture Committee of the Arizona-Mexico Commission by Governor Napolitano. Booker serves on the Governor’s Centennial Commission and Foundation, the board of the National Association of Grantmakers in the Arts, and as a trustee of the Western States Arts Federation.

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