This month is dedicated to paying tribute to the many generations of African American men and women. Through many trials and tribulations, a spotlight is focused on the achievements of African Americans in our country, despite a long history of racism and oppression. The following is a compilation of various Black authors who allow us a glimpse into their world by sharing individual experiences.

On Friday, January 12, Artworks unveiled their new exhibition: Face2Face. The opening event took place from 5 to 7 PM in the UArizona BIO5 building. The artists created portraits that illustrated their personalities, interests, hobbies, and personal journeys.

For this month's Staff Spotlight, we sat down with Heather Dietrich to discuss Project SEARCH, Employment First, and competitive integrated employment in Arizona.

I was honored to be part of the Sonoran Center Disability Policy Fellowship. Joining the Sonoran Center was a way for me to discover how I can be active in changing policy for students with disabilities.

DISCAPAZ: Disability Experiences in the Borderlands is a multimedia project aimed at elevating the voices and narratives of individuals with disabilities and their families living along the Arizona-Sonora border. The project team works with people with disabilities and helps them to tell their stories in the way they see fit, utilizing photos, videos, audio, and written word. The DISCAPAZ Project recently announced its much-anticipated website.

On December 7, the Sonoran Center’s Native Center for Disabilities monthly webinar series hosted a special screening of two documentary films and one short film by activist and filmmaker Jim Warne. The two films, 7th Generation, and Remember the Children, and short film, “Oyáte un Itówapi - Pictures of My People”, discussed the historical and ongoing oppression and marginalization of Native American communities, while emphasizing their resilience and drive to preserve their culture.

The Sonoran Center, in partnership with the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, has created a series of informative videos called How to Speak Up for Your Health. Created by and for self-advocates, these videos feature disability self-advocates detailing how they make the most of their healthcare experience.

Despite an inherent connection between disability policy and educational policy, I rarely came across disability issues within my general education studies. Through the Sonoran Center’s Disability Policy Fellowship, I had the opportunity to examine some of the most pressing issues at the intersection of disability and education.

For this month’s Sonoran Center Staff Spotlight, we are meeting with JS Torres.
Torres is a Student Project Aide for the Sonoran Center’s Native Initiatives.
We discuss their work with the Native Center Disabilities, what Native American Heritage month means for them, how to bring communities together, upcoming projects, and more!