Blog for Arizona

I.C.E. out of Marana now
2025-12-16 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Phoenix) | Marana Town Council chambers, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, Tucson, Arizona, 85653
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

I.C.E. OUT OF MARANA NOW!

December 16 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Marana Town Council meeting starts at 6:00PM sharp. they will be discussing the proposed ICE prison in Marana. Arrive early to gather and sign up to speak. Wear orange to show your support and stay the entire meeting. Signs will be available.

Living Streets Alliance Open house
2025-12-18 17:00 - 19:00 | Living Streets Alliance, 439 N. 6th Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85705
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

✨”Join us for an end-of-year open house, we’d love to see your faces! Come check out the office, spend time with the team and collaborators, swap a story or two, and enjoy a drink! It’s our way of closing out the year with some connection and a little bit of cheer.

Beer, wine, NA drinks and snacks provided.”

Thursday, December 18th5:00 – 7:00pmLSA office439 N 6th Ave. Suite 201

Holiday Happy hour with LD 20 & 21 Dems
2025-12-19 16:00 - 18:00 | Postino, 2500 E. Grant Rd., Tucson, Arizona, 85716
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

“LD 20 is joining LD 21 for a happy hour Everyone is invited to happy hour at Postino 2500 E Grant Rd (the Southeast corner of Grant and Tucson Blvd) this Friday December 19th from 4 to 6 PM. We have invited the Pima part of LD 21. Having fun is resistance.

🥂 LD20 is joining LD21 for a Happy Hour! 🥂

🎄 Kickoff to the 2026 Elections🎄 Elect Democrats to the open Federal and State offices🎄 Turn the Arizona Legislature Blue”

Protest at Juan Ciscomani’s office
2025-12-20 09:00 - 11:00 | Congressman Juan Ciscomani’s office, 1636 N. Swan Rd., Tucson, Arizona, 85712
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

Location:

Rep. Ciscomani’s Office

1636 N Swan Road

Tucson, AZ 85712

Map Links:

OSMGoogleApple

Organizer: LD 18 Dems

“Stand Strong Speak Up outside Rep. Ciscomani’s office, every Saturday at 9am unless otherwise noted.

Canned food will be collected for the Community Food Bank at this protest.”

So. AZ Senior Pride New Year's celebration
2026-01-03 13:00 - 15:30 | St. Francis in the Foothills church, 4625 E. River Rd., Tucson, Arizona, 85718
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

New Year’s CelebrationJanuary 3rd, 1:00 – 3:30 PMSt. Francis in the Foothills UMC4625 E River Rd.This season’s annual holiday gathering will be a New Year’s Celebration! Mark your calendar for this exciting gathering featuring food, music, friends, and more! Register now!Register for New Year’s Celebration

"The Environment in 2026: At the State Capital & Beyond" at Sustainable Tucson meeting
2026-01-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Arizona
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

The Environment in 2026: At the State Capital and Beyond

January 6, 2026 • 6:00https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87556154931?pwd=[REDACTED]

“Join us on Zoom, Tuesday, January 6, at 6:00 pm for our Sustainability Spotlight, “The Environment in 2026: At the State Capital and Beyond.” We expect that the coming year will bring challenges to many important aspects of local and state life, especially looking at environment, health, and related concerns. The program will look ahead at what can be expected in coming months from state (and some national) legislative and administrative actions, with a focus on what will have particular impact on Tucson and Southern AZ – and what we can do. Our panel to date includes State Senator Priya Sundareshan (LD 18) and Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter. They will preview the policies, places, and programs that Arizonans will need to protect and promote. Their complementary perspectives will give us a full picture of what we can and should do – as individuals and as an organization – to support an agenda of environmental protection and justice as we work for a sustainable future. Following our guests’ comments, we expect a lively question & answer session, with a shared conversation on how to maintain and restore momentum on this work.”

Rethinking Transportation
2026-01-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Ward 6 Council office, 3202 E. 1st St., Tucson, Arizona, 85716
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

New Ward 6 Councilmember Miranda Schubert is a Commuter bicyclist, as is my Husband. I often take the Sun Tran bus and Sun Link streetcar, and drive our car. Bicycling is difficult for me recently due to health issues. Attend this talk to learn about other ways to rethink transportation options in Tucson.

AZ Secular Summit 2026
2026-01-10 13:00 - 16:00 | Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix, 627 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa, Arizona, 85201
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

January 10, 2026 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Secular Summit 2026

Humanist Center of Greater Phoenix 627 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa, AZ, United States

“Save the Date: join us on January 10at 1-4 pm for an afternoon of education, inspiration and community building with secular supporters from round the state.

This year, our focus is on mutual aid… because we are our own saviors. Speaker list coming soon! Lunch included.

RSVP and tickets here: https://secularaz.salsalabs.org/secularsummit26“

When:

Saturday, January 10 from 1-4pm

Where:

Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix

627 W. Rio Salado Parkway Mesa, AZ

Meet 3 Dem candidates for Az Corporation Commission
2026-01-10 15:00 - 16:00 | Quail Creek Country Club, 1490 N. Quail Range Loop, Green Valley, Arizona, 85614
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

Carolyn’s note: 3 Dems running for 2 seats in 2026 on current all-Republican ACC of 5 Commissioners. So there likely will be a statewide Dem primary for these races on August 4, 2026. The location is the Ocotillo room at Quail Creek Country Club, 1490 N. Quail Range Loop. More info on ACC: https://www.azcc.gov/

National Day of Racial Healing
2026-01-17 12:30 - 15:30 | YWCA of Southern Arizona, 525 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85745
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

Organizer contact is Victor Bowleg at YWCA of Southern Arizona, https://www.ywcatucson.org/. In the past this event has included ethnic performances and a panel discussion. Stay tuned for details.

Tucson MLK Commemorative March & Celebration
2026-01-19 10:00 - 15:00 | Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, Tucson, AZ, 85716, United States
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

Event by MLK Celebration Tucson

Reid Park Tucson Az

Duration: 5 hr (10 am. to 3 pm)

Public · Anyone on or off Facebook

Tucson MLK Commemorative March & Celebration Monday, January 19, 2026 Reid Park, Tucson

Join us for a joyful, family-centered celebration as we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.! All are welcome to participate in this uplifting community tradition.

Commemorative MarchTake part in our beautiful walk around the perimeter of Reid Park — a powerful moment of unity, reflection, and hope.

Celebration Highlights Live performances Local vendors Family line dancing Greetings from Tucson community legends Fun for all ages!

This year’s theme:“Mission Possible II: Building a Community, Uniting a Nation, the Nonviolent Way.”

We are still accepting: Vendors Sponsors

If you or your organization would like to participate, we’d love to have you!

Let’s honor the Dream — together”

https://www.facebook.com/events/3009317099275063/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

AZ Governor's State Report
2026-01-21 10:00 - 11:30 | Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue, Tucson, Arizona, 85701, United States
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

Event by Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Tucson Convention Center

Public · Anyone on or off Facebook

“Join us for the Governor’s State Report featuring Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs as she delivers her annual State of the State Address.

In this pivotal presentation, Governor Hobbs will provide an insightful overview of Arizona’s current economic landscape, policy initiatives, and future goals. She will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing our state and share her vision for fostering growth, innovation, and community resilience.

This is an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from the Governor about her plans to strengthen Arizona and to engage with key stakeholders in shaping our shared future.”

Tickets: https://www.soazhcc.org/governors-state-report?fbclid=IwY2xjawOVIexleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFLeTE5NjVNV3VpQzlQZUVGc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHssYcvZVQ4TNkikHo5Yby5fxgtw0BZDYrtiG7CjOtZsHQ99r4fWn7q0mX8uZ_aem_JbfUljr4FnyRMcYzfuyfuQ

Tucson Peace Center's Vegetarian Feast
2026-01-31 18:00 - 20:00 | Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 W. 23rd St., Tucson, Arizona, 85713
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

Join the Tucson Peace Center at a Vegetarian Feast

January 31, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

January 31, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 W. 23rd St.

“Join Us for Conversation, Good Food, Music, Guest Speaker, and More!Benefits the Tucson Peace CenterMore Info will be posted soon.“

Environmental Day at AZ Capitol 2026
2026-02-11 08:30 - 14:00 | Arizona State Capitol, 1700 W Washington St., Phoenix, AZ, 85007, United States
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

“Please join Sierra Club, Chispa Arizona, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, AZ Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Advocates, Poder Latinx, AZ Youth Climate Coalition, Arizona Interfaith Power and Light, Mi Familia en Acción, Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE), and many other groups for our annual lobby day at the Arizona Capitol. Meet with your legislators, hear from great speakers, and connect with others who are doing advocacy work both inside and outside the Arizona Legislature. RSVP so we have enough materials, can put you in a team for legislative meetings, and can plan for food. This year’s theme is “People Power for the Planet!”

Registration begins at 8:30 AM. The program will run from 9:30 AM – 11:45 AM. Meetings with legislators will be throughout the day. There will be informational tables and opportunities for action as well. Please check those out in the morning and during the lunch break. At 12:30 PM, we will go inside the Legislature and sit in the galleries for introductions from the floor.

We will be holding some trainings and briefings prior to the day. Let us know if there is something in particular that you would like to learn.

Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.

Thank you!

Signup Instructions: Sign up to get more information.”

https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?id=701Po00001HpjTvIAJ&formcampaignid=701Po000019vMfuIAE&data=4bbebe5e68e2f13fad8d3844f74508e662a07051ec591d6fa342a2876396ffa0691088d0423458d69b8a43984973e8e5

Event Organizers:Sandy Bahr sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org

The Rule of Law in Arizona with attorney Amelia Craig Cramer
2026-02-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Arizona
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

February 27, 2026 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Amelia Craig Cramer: Criminal Prosecutions and the Rule of Law In Arizona

Webinar

“Join us on February 27 at noon (MST) for special guest Amelia Craig Cramer for a discussion of the state of the rule of law in Arizona and the U.S.

Amelia Craig Cramer is past President of the State Bar of Arizona and retired Chief Deputy Pima County Attorney. Following her retirement, Ms. Cramer served on the Arizona Supreme Court’s Task Force on Ethics for Government Lawyers and on the APAAC Public Law Practice Work Group. Before joining the Pima County Attorney’s Office, during the first half of her legal career, Ms. Cramer was a civil litigator at large, private law firms: Baker & Hostetler in Washington D.C.; Heller, Ehrman in San Francisco, and Brown & Bain in Tucson. Additionally, she was a leader of two nonprofit legal organizations dedicated to LGBT civil rights: managing attorney of the western regional office of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund in Los Angeles; and executive director of GLBT Advocates and Defenders in Boston. Also, Ms. Cramer taught law briefly as an adjunct professor at U.C. Berkeley’s School of Law and as a guest lecturer at other law schools. Following her retirement, Ms. Cramer volunteered for four years with the NAACP, serving as its Arizona State lobbyist and vice president and criminal justice committee chair of its Tucson Branch. Ms. Cramer is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Stanford Law School.”

To sign up for this webinar: https://secularaz.org/single-event/craig-cramer/

Arizona List Annual event in Tucson & Phoenix
2026-02-28 10:30 - 18:00 | Arizona
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

Arizona List 22nd Annual Event

Celebrating 22 Years of Electing Progressive Women

“Join us on Saturday, February 28, 2026, for Arizona List’s 22nd Annual Event, a statewide celebration of the women changing Arizona’s future. This year we’re proud to welcome María Teresa Kumar, founding president of Voto Latino and a national leader in civic engagement, along with other special guests.

Come together with allies, candidates, and community leaders as we honor over two decades of progress.” Tickets are on sale now!

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Tucson Annual Event10:30 AM – 12:00 PMFox Tucson Theatre17 W Congress St, Tucson, AZ 85701

TUCSON TICKETS

Phoenix Annual Event4:30 PM – 6:00 PMOrpheum Theatre Phoenix203 W Adams St, Phoenix, AZ 85003

PHOENIX TICKETS

Empty Bowls 2026
2026-03-07 11:00 - 14:00 | Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Rd., Tucson, Arizona, 85704
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

Event by Interfaith Community Services

Tucson Chinese Cultural Center

Duration: 3 hr

Public · Anyone on or off Facebook

Join us for Empty Bowls 2026, Interfaith Community Services’ biggest community fundraiser, on Saturday, March 7, at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center (1288 W. River Road). This inspiring event brings the community together to support those in need. Tickets go on sale in January 2026. For more information, visit https://icstucson.org/emptybowls/

RTA Next special election
2026-03-10 06:00 - 19:00 | Arizona
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

“The public is invited to review the Regional Transportation Authority’s $2.67 billion regional transportation plan, approved by the RTA Board on Aug. 25, 2025, for future voter consideration. The final RTA Next plan was completed with input from RTA members and the public gathered through surveys, open houses, meetings, and submitted comments.

The board has set an election date of March 10, 2026, when voters in Pima County will have the ultimate say on the plan.

The 20-year plan includes five elements:

Roadway (multimodal) Corridor

Arterial Reconstruction

Transit

Safety, ADA and Active Transportation

Environmental

The RTA is a state-established taxing district within the boundaries of Pima County. The RTA’s current 20-year plan is funded by a half-cent sales tax. Both were approved by voters in 2006. The new plan and funding investment for another 20 years will require voter approval for both to go into effect.

The RTA, which was established in 2004, has invested more than $1.6 billion in more than 1,000 transportation improvements across the greater Tucson region.”

RTA Next Final Plan (pdf) – Approved Aug. 25, 2025

RTA Next Plan Comment Form

Carolyn’s note: RTA brought changes to this region, with passage of this original 20 year plan in May, 2006, funded by a half cent sales increase. RTA Next wants an extension of that same sales tax. The biggest projects in Tucson were the 4 mile Sun link streetcar, widening of E. Broadway Blvd. and the continued widening of E. Grant Rd.

Prop 418 and 419 on the March 10 ballot.

“Proposition 418 – RTA PlanSubmission deadline: December 10, 2025Do you approve the regional transportation plan for Pima County?

A “YES” vote indicates your approval of the proposed regional transportation plan as developed by the Regional Transportation Authority of Pima County and described in the election materials.

A “NO” vote indicates your disapproval of the proposed regional transportation plan.

Proposition 419 – RTA TaxSubmission deadline: December 10, 2025Do you favor the levy of a transaction privilege (sales) tax for regional transportation purposes in Pima County?

A “YES” vote has the effect of imposing a transaction privilege (sales) tax in Pima County for twenty years to provide funding for the transportation projects contained in the regional transportation plan.

A “NO” vote has the effect of rejecting the transaction privilege (sales) tax for transportation purposes in Pima County.

View the full text of Proposition 418 PDF and Proposition 419 PDF.”

Tucson Japanese Festival 2026
2026-03-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Rd., Tucson, Arizona, 85704
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

Our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition festival, which started in January 2014 (as a New Year’s mochi pounding event), continued to 2020 till the Covid-19 pandemic came to town. We took a 3 year hiatus, then started up again in 2024 and 2025, moving the festival to March.

I’m the Editor of the website, www.southernazjapan.org (since January 2013) and publicity chair of this festival. Join us again in March 2026 for all things Japanese in Southern Arizona. Admission is still only $5 for adults, free for children 5 years and younger. Celebrate the Year of the Horse!

Tucson Juneteenth celebration 2026
2026-06-20 18:00 - 22:00 | Kino Sports Complex, 2500 E. Ajo Way, Tucson, Arizona, 85713
by Carolyn Classen, blogger

“Tucson, we’re calling in the helpers, the do-ers, the legacy builders.

The Tucson Juneteenth Festival is growing, blooming, and stepping into a new season — and we can’t do it without community hands guiding the way.

If your spirit pulls you toward service… if you believe in honoring our history while shaping tomorrow… if you’re ready to be part of something bigger than yourself…

we want you on the team.

We’re recruiting volunteers across every committee — from education to logistics, entertainment to fundraising, vendors to social media. Whether you love teaching, organizing, uplifting artists, welcoming guests, or just making sure things run smooth, there’s a place for you.

Your time becomes tradition. Your service becomes legacy.

Join us, and let’s build the 2025 Festival together.

To sign up or learn more, drop a comment or message us directly.

The gates are open, fam — come be part of the movement.

email info@tucsonjune19.org or go to:

https://forms.gle/TqMy3T87DtNmakdd8 to sign up.”
