Carolyn Classen

Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, a life long Democrat, was born & raised in the State of Hawaii, was a Legislative Aide for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye on Capitol Hill, and practiced law for a while. In Tucson she worked as a tribal staff attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and later was the Interim Executive Director of the now defunct Domestic Violence Commission. In 2008 she became a “My Tucson” guest columnist for the Tucson Citizen newspaper, then continued blogging for Tucsoncitizen.com for over four and a half years. Her blogsite was entitled “Carolyn’s Community” about community events and some political news, until Gannett Publishing shut down the site on January 31, 2014. She started with Blog for Arizona on Feb. 11, 2014. Part time she sat as a Hearing Officer in Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts Small Claims Division since April, 2005 for 15 years. She is married to University of Arizona Distinguished Professor Albrecht Classen, a native of Germany. They have one son, who lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and daughter. She is also the Editor of the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition website, www.southernazjapan.org (since Jan. 2013).

“Native Activism: Past to Present” at the Loft

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NATIVE ACTIVISM: PAST TO PRESENT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 AT 1:00PM | GENERAL ADMISSION: $15 • LOFT CINEMA/ASM/TRIBAL MEMBERS AND UA/PCC STUDENTS: $10 At the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson PLEASE NOTE: WE CANNOT ACCEPT PASSES OR GROUPONS FOR THIS SCREENING “Presented by Native Eyes Film Showcase. Enjoy screenings of two films, Q&A’s with activists … Read more

New radio show “What Matters” on KVOI The Voice

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What Matters hosted by Matthew Laos “What Matters will be discussing the relevant Issues of the Day from the Economy to Entertainment to politics to education to the arts with great guests discussing “What Matters” and how it impacts our daily lives.” Carolyn’s note:  Just found out about a new radio talk show hosted by young … Read more

Pima County races in the General Election 2016

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Now that the Arizona primary is done, here’s the list of match ups for the races in Pima County, for the General Election 2016.

Pima County Assessor

incumbent Bill Staples (D) vs. Suzanne Droubie (I)

Pima County Attorney

incumbent Barbara LaWall (D) vs. Cyndi Tuell (G)

Pima County Recorder

incumbent F. Ann Rodriguez (D) vs. Mike Cease (G)

Pima County School Superintendent  (open seat)

Dustin Williams (D) vs. Margaret Burkholder (R)

Pima County Sheriff

incumbent Chris Nanos (D) vs. Mark Napier (R)

Pima County Treasurer

incumbent Beth Ford (R), unopposed

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Borderlands Theater new play “Nogales” in September

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NOGALES: STORYTELLERS IN CARTEL COUNTRY

In collaboration with Campo Santo and Magic Theatre

Written by Richard Montoya

Directed by Sean San Jose

September 7 – September 25
Cabaret Theater, Temple of Music and Art

“Richard Montoya (American Night, Water & Power) of the acclaimed Chicano performance troupe Culture Clash (Bowl of Beans, Chavez Ravine) and ensemble members from San Francisco’s Campo Santo collaborate with Borderlands artists in season opener. Nogales: Storytellers in Cartel Country uses original and researched text, created video and short film, set against scenic art installations. At it’s core is the tragic & true story of a Nogales boy, shot in the back 15 times by a U.S. Border patrol officer. Documentation morphs into hybrid performance as Nogales: Storytellers in Cartel Country traces the bullets beyond headlines, borders and politics to explore the true lives and real people from the dangerous shadowlands to the powerful circle of an infamous sheriff.

California artists Montoya, Sean San Jose, and filmographer Joan Osato traveled to Phoenix and on through to Nogales Mexico to immerse themselves in the border region. The play is the product of conversations with the people they met as they traversed the border landscape. Tucson may recognize a few locals as characters in the play like former TPAC executive director Roberto Bedoya, and Kat Rodriguez from the Colibri Center for human rights.

The play is a meditation of place, crossing over, crossing borders, bullets crossing and lives crossing. A journey into border culture, grappling with the flux of immigration and migration as tensions rise under anti-immigration sentiments responsible for the militarization of the border.

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