Meet Us
History
Savannah Thomas / VOICES Photo
VOICES’ mission is to document Tucson’s community stories and inspire individuals to explore themselves and their connection to place. VOICES began when Bob Rodriguez, a community leader in Tucson’s westside barrios was tired of hearing the youth in his neighborhood tell just gang stories. He wanted them to tell positive stories and be proud of neighborhood history. He created a 1997 neighborhood stories project with Regina Kelly and Stephen Farley as the guest artists who mentored ten teenagers to document the westside’s stories, resulting in a magazine, Looking into the Westside, and additional westside barrios projects. The success of these projects prompted a group of parents, neighborhood activists, youth, and artists to create a non-profit, Voices: Community Stories Past and Present, Inc., in 1999.
In our first two fiscal years, VOICES focused on mentoring projects that blended oral history, creative writing, and photo documentation and resulted in two books including the best-selling Snapped on the Street that focused on the story of mid-20th-century downtown as told through community’s members personal photos and memories, and the bilingual stories of public housing residents in Don’t Look at Me Different/No Me Veas Diferente.
In 2000-2001, VOICES created The 110º After School Magazine Project that blended creative writing, photography and journalism and responded to youth participants’ desire to tell stories about their present lives. 110º magazine published annually until May 2010, when the last issue was shared with Tucson. In 2001-2002, VOICES began its first arts-in-education project, The World War II Inter-generational book project, They Opened Their Hearts: Tucson Elders Tell World War II Stories to Tucson Youth–our most ambitious weaving of creative writing, photography, and in-depth oral history.
In September 2009, VOICES and longtime community partner, City High School, were awarded a prestigious grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grant program. The five-year $500,000 grant has afforded VOICES the wonderful opportunity to expand the organization’s program offerings as the primary Extended Day Learning programming source for the dynamic student body of City High School. VOICES in the CITY! was created and offers a comprehensive full-day experience for City High School students throughout the school year.
Extended Day program highlights include:
- VOICES in the CITY! workshops series for all students – click here to view view the current workshop selections
- Afterschool Enrichment Activities, including 21st-century documentary arts programs focusing on media literacy, culinary arts, darkroom photography, gardening, and more
- Morning Tutoring before school from 7:45-8:45 a.m. – Monday through Friday – in core subject areas with highly qualified instructors
- Breakfast served daily 8:15-8:45 a.m., free to all participants in morning tutoring sessions
- Morning Office Hours daily 8:30-9:00 a.m. with all City High School teachers
- Afternoon snacks are served Monday-Thursday, free to all participants in after-school programs
- Monthly Family Pizza Nights for parents, students, and other family members
- Summer Bridge Program for all incoming 9th grade students
- Nature outings for students and families with Ironwood Tree Experience
- College-readiness field trips to University of Arizona and Pima Community College for students and families
The Extended Day programming builds on the rich history of collaboration between City High School and VOICES (working together since 2003!) and our shared mission to engage Tucson’s youth in their communities.
(VOICES photo/Stella Chavin)
