Primavera celebrates its volunteers! |
Every April, Primavera celebrates the incredible impact of our volunteers! It's a time to shower appreciation on those who generously donate their time, talent and passion to make a difference in our communities.
From helping at shelters to supporting through donations, volunteers are the backbone of Primavera. Their dedication strengthens our communities, uplifts those in need, and inspires others to get involved. This April, let's say a heartfelt "thank you" to our amazing volunteers for all that they do for Primavera. You can send a note of thanks to our volunteers by writing the Primavera Communications Team at 151 W. 40th Street, Tucson, 85713. These notes will be shared with all our volunteers. Please keep a lookout for invitations to Primavera's Volunteer Appreciation party! |
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BBQ chicken dinner leads to years of service for this Primavera volunteer |
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| Sheryl Boris understands the power of a meal made with love.
She grew up in what she called a “relatively stable,” family where her parents owned a delicatessen. For most of her upbringing, she was shielded from issues like food insecurity and poverty.
But her personal experience with poverty while in college forced her to change her perspective and has led her to volunteer with Primavera Foundation at the Men's Shelter and on meal teams for the last 10+ years. |
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Veterans benefit from additional housing vouchers |
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The City of Tucson has been approved for 75 additional housing choice vouchers for homeless veterans, bringing the total number of vouchers in Tucson to 4,844. Vouchers were made available April 1 and will be administered by the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) in partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).
While veteran homelessness decreased by 14 percent since 2022 and is down 4% percent from 2018, the overall number of veterans who were unsheltered was 47% higher than 2018, according to the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness 2023 Point in Time Count.
Landlords interested in participating in HCD’s Housing Choice Voucher program should contact Terry Galligan at terry.galligan@tucsonaz.gov.
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Poverty workshop zeroes in on impact of poverty in Tucson |
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The workshop Understanding Poverty Part 2: Systems Change and Local Action, held last month, delved into the reasons for and impact of poverty on people.
Hosted by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, in partnership with the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families, Pima County Community and Workforce Development, and Social Venture Partners Tucson, the event featured over 60 attendees, including Primavera Foundation staff.
Led by Bonnie Bazata, the Ending Poverty Program Manager with Pima County Community & Workforce Development, the event featured a presentation by Jim Kiser, author of the Opportunity Report and former editorial page editor and columnist for the Arizona Daily Star. |
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Listen to Primavera Platicas Podcast's latest episodes |
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Episode 5 with Keith Bentele |
CEO Tisha Tallman speaks with Keith Bentele, PhD, associate research professor with the University of Arizona Southwest Institute of Research on Women (SIROW). Bentele's research focuses on poverty, inequality, homelessness and safety-net programs. He also examines the processes shaping the passage of legislation including voting restrictions, anti-child sex trafficking legislation, abortion restrictions. |
| Episode 6 with Ernesto Portillo |
CEO Tisha Tallman explores the urban renewal process and the resilience of La Calle with Ernesto Portillo, public information officer in the Department of Housing and Community Development in the City of Tucson. Portillo has over 40 years of journalism with 19 years at the Arizona Daily Star. As a metro columnist at the Daily Star, he wrote about Tucson, its people and neighborhoods, regional culture, and history. He was also editor of La Estrella de Tucsón, the Star's weekly Spanish-language publication.
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Writing class co-creates pathway to self-expression |
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| A short story is, by definition, small.
But, for the participants at the Primavera Men’s Shelter, the opportunity to express themselves and give and receive feedback is anything but. On her first day as Program Assistant, Shelter Services, Destiny Gilchrist sat in on a poetry class led by a volunteer.
Not long after Destiny transitioned toward assisting with Family Pathways program and Casa Paloma Women’s Hospitality Center, a few participants reached out and asked if there would be another writing program or a program similar to it.
After deciding to teach the class herself, Destiny has been able to bring out the best in each of the participants, even inspiring them to try to put together a a book to showcase all of their work. |
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Gardens nurture the soil and soul of our community |
For many people in cities like Tucson, growing a garden of their own may seem unattainable because of the perception that it is labor-intensive and time-consuming. But, the teams at Community Gardens of Tucson (CGT) and at Primavera Foundation are using free community gardens to shift that perception while bringing neighborhoods and people together.
An area that remains a focus, especially since the pandemic, is the positive impact on well-being that community gardens can have. That’s why Primavera partnered with CGT to create communities where everyone is welcome and representatives from different generations, different backgrounds, and different points-of-view can work together to improve food resilience and build connections in a healthy, sustainable environment. |
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Primavera staff attend NeighborWorks Training Institute |
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Primavera Foundation joined hundreds of organizations from across the country at the NeighborWorks Training Institute (NTI) in San Francisco for a week of specialized training for community-serving professionals.
CEO Tisha Tallman served on a number of panels. They include "Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within NeighborWorks America and the Network" at the New Network Leaders Forum.
She also spoke at the NTI symposium: Co-creating an Equitable Future at the Intersection of Health, Housing and Community Development. As a panelist, she spoke during the discussion titled 'Visualizing a Transformative Future Together.' |
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Public policy: series to focus on policy impact on poverty |
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Be informed about the policy that is shaping Arizona and the way it affects community members who are struggling with houselessness and poverty. Stay tuned every other week for crucial updates and insights! You can find more videos like these by following our Instagram page! | |
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A golf outing, a walk/run and a reimagined Cooks! are among Primavera's 2024 fundraising events! |
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A new season of Cooks!, a Golf Outing, and a 5K Walk/Run are on tap for 2024!
As the summer approaches, we are thrilled to announce another season of Primavera Cooks! We will be bringing back the culinary delights we know to love! This year, alongside our signature event, we’re introducing a couple of new dining experiences and apprenticeship opportunities.
But that’s not all! Following a jam-packed summer season, we are excited to announce our inaugural golf tournament scheduled for September 15, 2024. |
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Join us for a day of community on the greens, supporting our fundraising initiative for our new women’s shelter. Additionally, we invite you to participate in our first-ever 5K race, a memorial walk/run in conjunction with Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day and our annual memorial service.
Keep an eye out for updates and correspondence about all our events throughout this year. We eagerly anticipate these memorable experiences and the chance to unite with our community once again. See you there! |
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Need yard help? Hire Primavera Works! |
Get a FREE estimate from Primavera Works! Primavera Works offers supervised crews for yard maintenance and water harvesting, and individual workers for general labor, moving, landscaping, construction cleanup, janitorial and more!
All these services are available for residential and business needs. If you are interested in hiring Primavera Works please contact us to discuss your project at (520) 882-9668 or visit our website. When you hire Primavera Works, you support men and women in their pathways out of poverty. |
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Follow Primavera's social accounts by clicking on the links below! Don't forget to like, comment and share! |
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Give a Gift / Volunteer with Us! |
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Stay up-to-date with current activities and future events by following us on your favorite social media channels. |
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The Primavera Foundation is co-creating pathways out of poverty through housing, workforce development, homeownership and financial education, and community building and engagement. |
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