Through the Lens of Paul Turounet

 His longing to understand migrants' perspectives on their journey, as well as document their personal identities, continues to motivate Turounet to capture and portray undocumented immigrants from Mexico. 

By Melissa Guz 01 February 2012 Read Article

The Circus Life

Growing up, Mirela Roza followed her passion of dance, moving from the northeast of Brazil to the south of Brazil where "the dance industry is more developed."

Then, she needed something more to challenge her zeal and excitement for life. At 26, she found her adventure when she was asked to dance in the Ringling Brothers Circus.

By Chelsey Barthel 01 February 2012 Read Article

UA Enables Bright Futures for International Students

While lounging on the balcony of his house, less than one mile from campus, Ankesh Amarnani, a University of Arizona business economics senior said attending college in the United States opened many windows of opportunity for his future.

 

By Shannon Maule 25 January 2012 Read Article

Dancing Across Borders

The School of Dance at the University of Arizona is host to a diverse group of dancers from across the United States to beyond its borders. Ana Estrada, a junior in the program,
 was born and raised in Hermosillo, Mexico in the Mexican state of Sonora. For her, dance has been a huge slice of her life.

 

 

 

By Hope Jamieson 25 January 2012 Read Article

Finding Identity through Art

Adapting to the American way of life was a challenging task at first for Yumi Shirai, a native of Tokyo, Japan. At the age of 24, she decided to leave her home in Japan and attend the University of Arizona Masters Program declaring, “dance movement therapy” as her primary focus.

 

By Chelsey Barthel 25 January 2012 Read Article

De La Perla a Las Estrellas

Engel Indo is one third of the Tucson local band A Son y Sol. On the side, his project "De La Perla a Las Estrellas" aims to teach English through music, dance, and theater to underprivileged children in La Perla, Callao, Peru.

 

 

By Maria Taracena 24 January 2012 Read Article

Lazy J2 Ranch

 

 

 

 

By Taylor Medeiros 16 November 2011 Read Article

REVOLUTION: Tucson Libyans share experiences and stories from the home front

Tonight, from McClelland Hall on 1310 E. Helen Street, a panel of Tucson Libyans will share their personal stories and experiences in regards to the events that have unfolded in Libya over the past few months.  The event is sponsored by the School of Geography and Development, in cooperation with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies.  Join us at 7pm when we cover it live!

By Zohra Yaqub 15 November 2011

Jewelry the Family Way

Not many people can say that they have been doing the same thing since they were 14 years old and still love it, but Carlos Diaz can. As a silversmith, he first opened his business in Tucson in 1958 and has been a presence in town ever since.

 

By Amber Gallegos 02 November 2011 Read Article

Wearable Philanthropy

Ann Charles talks about Zambeadzies, the non-profit organization she and a friend founded two years ago to help women in Zambia earn a living by making jewelry out of paper products. Zambeadzies sold some of that jewelry at a booth at Tucson Meet Yourself the weekend of October 14-16, 2011.

By Kelsey Jensen 26 October 2011 Read Article

Commenetary: Occupy Tucson Protesters Exercise Their Rights

Even if you don’t agree with what the protesters of Occupy Wall Street are all about, hopefully you can appreciate the beauty of the democratic process. 

By Tim W. Glass 19 October 2011 Read Article

Blogger Who Was Jailed For Two Years

Formely jailed Azeri activist speaks on blogging in Baku at the University of Arizona. Emin Milli was his blogging name and in 2009 he was arrested for his blogs speaking out against Azerbaijan government. The offending blog post featured a video about donkeys and how the government was purchasing them. The trial and letter condeming him in trial based on violations of the European Convention on Human Rights can be found here. Follow me while I cover the meeting live today!

 

By Farren Halcovich 12 October 2011

America to satisfy her curiosity

 

She wanted to know more about what her brother has been experiencing in America, so she came to America to satisfy her curiosity.

 

By Sano Yujiro 05 October 2011 Read Article

Rickshaw Rings 'n Things

Wesley Weisheit cruises to his own beat and that's the way he likes it. Faced with changing economic and social times, Weisheit found an innovative means to combine his passion for cycling with his roots of machining.

 

 

 

By Tyler Kurbat 05 October 2011 Read Article

Many Mouths to Feed the Soul

Paul Weir, the technical director of and a performer in Flam Chen Pyrotechnic Theater Company, also serves as a full-time board member for Many Mouths One Stomach, the non-profit that organizes the annual All Souls Procession.

By Zohra Yaqub 05 October 2011 Read Article

American dream with no money

When Monserrat Robles came to Tucson with her family 15 years ago, she had only 100 pesos in her pocket. She didn't know what to do, but she had to do something for her family. Her daughter was only 6.

By Sano Yujiro 21 September 2011 Read Article

Cowboys Western Wear: Authentic, local cowboy boots

A dazzling array of candy-colored cowboy boots and the smell of leather greets you upon entering Cowboys Western Wear.

By Amber Gallegos 15 September 2011 Read Article

Behind the Lens: Photographer Todd Bigelow

Many of the images that Todd Bigelow has taken of the U.S.-Mexico border over the last 16 years challenge the viewer's preconceptions of the reality facing those who cross the border in search of a better life.

Immigration along the US-Mexico Border - Images by Todd Bigelow

By Tim W Glass 29 August 2011 Read Article

An Escape to Tucson

Nine years ago, he walked down the tarmac leading to the large airplane, grouped with his mother and older brother.  He sat down in his seat, took one last look at the country he had called home for his entire life, and watched it fade away as the plane rose higher.  Minutes later, the ground below had all but disappeared. Next stop, America - Colombia was left far behind.

By Wil Rapp 06 April 2011 Read Article

Fluxx Gallery is Up Against All Odds

Shortly after the Coronado Hotel, located on the southeast corner of 9th Street and Fourth Avenue, went up for sale, the space next to it opened too. It was a mess: paint splattered across the floors and walls, lighting and plumbing problems. But for Dante Celeiro–former New Yorker and manager of Boys R Us–it was a dream come true.

By Emily Bowen 30 March 2011 Read Article

Tucson Immigrant Says Life In America "Only Option" for Mexican Immigrants

 Jose "Mel" Barcelo left Sonora, Mex. for the United States in 1989, with dreams of obtaining a high-paying job and escaping a life of poverty. His parents, both farmers, lived in the small town of Granado, Sonora, and had little money to take care of Barcelo and the rest of his eight siblings. Instead, Barcelo's parents relied upon their childrens' work ethic in the fields to maintain the family's livelihood as they grew older and became less capable of providing for their children. 

By Donald Hodson 23 March 2011 Read Article

A Space for the Community

When Kelsey Erickson came up with the idea for Urban Tribe, she was sleeping. This literal dream became a reality against all odds.  Between the time she dreamt it and when the performance art space came into existence, she had quit her job, stumbled over a couple patches of bad luck and was living on the fringe of society.

 

By Emily Bowen 02 March 2011 Read Article

A Semester to Remember

Stephen Deane, a senior majoring in communications at the University of Arizona, spent the Fall 2010 semester studying abroad in Nanjing, China.  Deane's primary motivation for making the trip was his desire to graduate in four years.  Despite being wary of the trip before the semester began, his eyes were opened to a completely new world - one that he may return to soon.   

 

 

By Wil Rapp 02 March 2011 Read Article

Alberto Rios, borderlands poet

The University of Arizona Poetry Center holds poetry creations about the borderlands by Alberto Rios, an Arizona-born Mexican-American poet, who graduated from the UA.

“He writes about family. He writes about the area where he grew up. He writes about family stories. He writes about connection to the land,” she said. “His poems are very tender, loving and humane.”

 

 

 

By Casie Vogel 09 February 2011 Read Article

Home to Iraq, A Different Border

Usir Younis was in her senior year at the University of Arizona when her father told her they would be spending the winter break traveling to Iraq, a place he had left more than 30 years ago.

Younis, 21, was born in America. Her parents, Sadoon, 64, and Ahlam, 59, are both Iraqi citizens, and moved to Tucson, Ariz. in 1979 to attend college and pursue the "American Dream."

Knowing Iraq's current conditions, her father’s decision to visit home was not an easy one to make. However, the desire to see family and friends outweighed any risks, and the chance to show his daughter his hometown seemed like the greatest benefit of all.

 

By Erica Coleman 26 January 2011 Read Article