The cultural vibe of the neighborhoods surrounding South Park Avenue recently received an economic boost.
Two grants were awarded to the South Park community by People, Resources and Organizations in Support of Neighborhoods. A $5,000 grant was given to the South Park Arts and Culture Center and a $4,850 grant to the South Park Neighbors.
The South Park Arts and Culture Center will use its grant as seed money for three educational “carnivals” called “Where We Come From – Visual Literacy in Dance, Art and Games.”
The carnivals will focus on Mexican, Aztec and African cultures, especially the African presence in Mexico, said Barbea Williams, South Park Arts and Culture Center President.
Williams said they aim to educate everyone in the Tucson community, which will hopefully unite different generations.
“I see so many missed opportunities for parents to educate and be involved with their children in a fun, positive way,” Williams said.
Dance lessons will be available for all ages, but the main goal is to teach through a variety of games.
“Instead of tug-of-war, we’ll have tug-of-knowledge, as well as a rainforest basketball hoop,” Williams said. “I know kids want to be the next LeBron James… We’ll teach them about the different (tree) levels of the rainforest, and how life is sustained.”
Williams plans on hosting another carnival later in the year at the Dunbar African American Museum and Cultural Center, 325 W. Second St., a once segregated school that is now a museum dedicated to the impact African-Americans had on the Southwest.
The first event is scheduled for Feb. 28 at the Quincie Douglas Branch Library.
The other grant will go to the Pima County Indian Culture project, which focuses on the Tohono O’odham and Yaqui cultures, said Denise Antone, group leader of the South Park Neighbors.
Antone, who meets with a Native American beading group at the Quincie Douglas Library, said that Tucsonans do not know much about contemporary Native American culture.
“I grew up in Tucson and knew all about my peers and their cultures,” Antone said. “But I always got questions about who I was. A lot of people can’t identify with Native Americans in modern society.”
Antone said the grant from PRO Neighborhoods will mostly go toward supplies, demonstrators, snacks and beverages.
However, she said that the project is in its inception and permanent details haven’t been decided.
According to Linda Duran, senior community organizer for PRO Neighborhoods, both groups fulfilled the “grass roots” criteria in order to be awarded the grants.
PRO Neighborhoods was created in 1994 by a collaboration of City of Tucson, Pima County, Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, and United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona.
PRO Neighborhoods advocates local problem solving and revitalization through small grants and technical support.
