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Ajo

Lead agency

International Sonoran Desert Alliance 

Contact person

Tracy Taft
tracy@isdanet.org

CFAA Team

  • International Sonoran Desert Alliance
  • Ajo Unified School District
  • Ajo Transportation
  • Hia C-ed O'odham Alliance
  • Ajo Council for the Arts
  • Arizona Youth Partnership
  • Ajo Chamber of Commerce
  • Desert Artist Guild

Stage of development

Implementation-year 4.

Community concern(s)/issue(s) addressed thru CFAA initiative

  • Ajo's profound lack of economic opportunity (since the mine closed in 1985).
  • The discouragement of spirit that goes with such a lack of economic opportunity.
  • The dissaffection of Ajo's youth, 40% of whom drop out of high school.
  • A long standing division between Ajo's three cultures: Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo.

Key strategies used to address issue(s)

  • Use the arts to create joyful and transformative community experiences.
  • Use the arts to bridge cultural and generational differences.
  • Create learning experiences in the arts that enhance economic options for individuals.
  • Create learning oopportunities in computers to enhance economic options for individuals.
  • Implement an arts-based GED program for youth and adults.
  • Encourage the development and growth of micro enterprises.
  • Create a center for cultural exchange at the Curley School that is a place where the community comes together to form and implement these strategies.

Major activities planned for this year

  • Sponsor two artist residencies: Puppet Farm Arts from Minneapolis and the International Clown School from Guanajuato, Mexico.
  • Sponsor events: International Day of Peace, a tri-cultural movie festival, the Between Fences Smithsonian exhibit, and various celebrations.
  • Launch the Ajo Las Artes GED program.
  • Sponsor open studio tours and many arts workshops and receptions.
  • Sponsor computer software workshops.
  • Sponsor business planning workshops and micro enterprise development.
  • Involve the community in planning the design and cosntruction of a new Enterprise Center for the creative economy.

What do you hope will be different as a result of your CFAA work? 

  • Because of CFAA, our work is now intergenerational as well as multicultural.
  • Because of CFAA, important Ajo organizations now partner in this work.
  • Because of CFAA, our dream to create a Center for Cultural Exchange at the Curley School is becoming a reality.