AAMSAZ Updates from the E.D. October 2023
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In June, an enlightening article by the esteemed journalist Robin Pogrebin, titled "What Does It Take to Run a Museum? The Job Description is Changing," graced the pages of The New York Times. If one has had the privilege of visiting the African American Museum of Southern Arizona and embarking on a tour led by the museum's Executive Director, Beverely Elliott, they would have been met with a rather unconventional introduction. Beverely's opening statement is refreshingly candid: "I am not a curator, a preservationist, a historian, or a trained docent!" In most conventional museums, these are the roles that one expects to encounter. | The book states we need leaders who possess a multifaceted skill set—individuals who understand the nuances of fundraising and the specific needs of donors, exhibit strong leadership skills, grasp the intricacies of education at various levels, exhibit sensitivity to diverse audiences, and prioritize the inclusion of history that speaks to everyone. | |
So, as we look into both the insights and the book and Beverely's own sense of adventure, inquisitive nature, and resources, we find ourselves in agreement with the evolving landscape of museum leadership....things must change. Beverely's vision extends far beyond the traditional confines of museum roles, and it resonates with the paradigm shift described in the book. What she understands is that everything may not happen at the museum but it will be a part of the community. | |
It is evident that once the museum secures the funding, it will be imperative to appoint an "experienced" Executive Director who can lead with the profound expertise to ensure that the African American Museum of Southern Arizona continues to thrive and provide enriching experiences for all who pass through its doors. | |
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From the Executive Director:
Many of you have asked how do we heal the hurt from those communities that are marginalized and sometimes deleted? I was told to let people tell their stories! We are so excited that recently COX Communications, Mingde and Jenny Li, have stepped up to help the museum gather these stories and digitized them! We have searched and found stories and worked hard to develop digital archives, photos of families and their historic objects, of the people who have had significant impact in southern Arizona. If you know of someone who has a story…please let us know.
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Sincerely,
Beverely Elliott, Executive Director
African American Museum of Southern Arizona (AAMSAZ)
“We are a movement, not just a museum.”
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Please support our TUSD Students.
Sign up and purchase a ticket or table. Love to see you there!
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We are delighted to invite you to join us at the award luncheon,
which will take place on Thursday, October 26, 2023,
From 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Tucson Convention Center.
Beverely's contribution to TUSD and the community has been nothing short of extraordinary, and it is with great pride that we recognize her selfless efforts. Her dedication and passion for education have left a lasting impact on the lives of TUSD students and educators.
This luncheon, organized by the Educational Enrichment Foundation,
aims to raise funds that will further support TUSD students and teachers through various programs.
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For more information and to make your contribution,
please visit EEF's website at https://www.eeftucson.org/events
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Countdown to AAMSAZ Winter Gala: Save the Date! | |
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You won't want to miss this! Get your costume ready!
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LOCATION:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson
Reid Park
445 South Alvernon Way
Tucson, AZ 85711
DATE:
Friday, November 17, 2023
TICKETS:
$ 75 per person
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AAMSAZ Founder and Board Chair Bob Elliott
Elected to the NBRPA Board of Directors
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The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is proud to announce the election of its newest board members.
Spencer Haywood, Rushia Brown, Eddie Gill, and Tucson’s & AAMSAZ's Bob Elliott were elected to serve as Directors.
| NBRPA Directors are responsible for executing the NBRPA mission to serve former professional basketball players, supporting them in life after their playing days, and assisting them in leveraging their inspirational influence and promoting and teaching basketball in their communities. | | |
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Bob and Beverely Elliott Honored with
ABLE's Ted Hutchinson Community Service Award
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AAMSAZ is proud to announce that Bob and Beverely Elliott, founders of our museum, were awarded the prestigious Ted Hutchinson Community Service Award by the Arizona Black Law Enforcement Employees (ABLE) on Friday, September 22, 2023 in Phoenix.
The award is recognition for individuals who have displayed unwavering dedication and a tenacious commitment to serving their community. The museum continually seeks to inspire, educate, and engage individuals of all backgrounds in equity and social change conversations.
By providing a platform for discussions, awareness campaigns, and advocacy for the community, we are contributing to supporting social justice.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Gloria Washington, Pam Neal, Cheryl Gipson Thurman, and Latasha Hampton, President of ABLE.
|  | ABLE seeks to promote a positive image of law enforcement employees to the community by creating partnerships with organizations that seek to invest in the youth and in communities of color. Since its inception, ABLE has provided mentorship, career guidance, training, and networking opportunities to its members. ABLE continues that tradition today by providing monthly training opportunities and hosting the Annual Criminal Justice Conference. Their mission is to recruit qualified candidates from the African American community and the community at large to pursue careers in law enforcement and throughout the criminal justice industry. |  | Sergeant Marcel Wade, a 24-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department (TPD), was on hand to assist with passing out the awards, and congratulations to Captain Michelle Pickrom of TPD for being awarded the "Supervisor of the Year." We were delighted to have ABLE visit our museum. Our Executive Director, Beverely, conducted an insightful guided tour with Jenny and Mingde. We look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future. "Together we are ABLE!" | | |
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Thank you Dr. Jason R. Jurjevich of the University of Arizona.
We were honored to have played a small part in this grant.
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The importance of housing equity cannot be overstated, as it lies at the heart of various social and economic challenges facing the United States. This issue is closely tied to historical and ongoing systemic racism, and it has far-reaching implications for individuals, communities, and society as a whole.
Why housing equity is crucial:
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Historical Context: Housing inequity has deep historical roots in the United States. Policies such as redlining, racial covenants, and discriminatory lending practices were systematically used to segregate communities and deny housing opportunities to people of color. These practices have had long-lasting effects, perpetuating racial disparities in wealth, education, and overall well-being.
- Along with economic stability, educational stability, access to health care, community development, and more!
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Mission Garden Field Trip for Booth Fickett | |
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On September 14th, we were excited that Ex. Dir. Beverely (AAMSAZ) collaborated with Mission Garden, Geico, TUSD's Booth Fickett K8 (Ms. Parish, Ms.Bray and Jeff Sawyer), The UA School Gardens Workshop, and The Tucson Chapter of the Links, Incorporated to develop a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and the Arts and Math) education program.
This program engaged 4th and 5th-grade students in a unique learning experience.
As part of this program, the museum provided terra cotta pots for the children to decorate, promoting creativity and the arts. Students also learned practical math skills by measuring the circumference and diameter of their pots.
Thanks to the U of A School Garden Program, students received an Almanac to enhance their understanding of science. Additionally, Geico generously provided SWAG items, including water bottles and sunglasses, allowing students to explore the science of hydration.
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The program introduced students to the science of companion planting, emphasizing the importance of diverse plant interactions in gardening.
To further enrich their experience, students toured the gardens and learned about their historic significance, integrating technology into their learning journey.
The program included a cooking and tasting demonstration, where students had the opportunity to savor the herbs and vegetables they had planted.
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Thursday - Saturday (Oral History Interviews)
Oral Histories sharing the experiences of Afro-Chicanidad/Mexicaness in the Arizona borderlands through this amazing program. They want to hear and document your story.
Please sign up here: bit.ly/afrochicanx
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Tucson Humanities Festival
Tim Gunn: The Poetry of Fashion
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humanitiesfestival.arizona.edu | |
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A True Cultural Experience
Taking inspiration from poetry selections, University of Arizona students will stage an interactive fashion show, followed by a conversation about creativity, purpose, and the power of meaning with style icon Tim Gunn.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Available online
and at the Centennial Hall box office.
Wednesday, October 11th at 7:00 PM
Centennial Hall - 1020 E University Blvd.
For more details and event information, visit: https://humanitiesfestival.arizona.edu/
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Join the College of Humanities in celebrating hip-hop’s first 50 years! Listen in as faculty and DJs play hip-hop tracks from around the world, showcasing how the music has spread across countries, continents, and cultures. The song selections will demonstrate both the internationalization of hip-hop and how hip-hop has blended with and incorporated various traditions, both musical and cultural, as it’s conquered the world. | |
Pop Up Museum: Discover More at Our Gala!
Sister Sissieretta - (1868-1933). African-American Opera Singer who performed at the Tucson Opera House in the early 1900s. She, known as "The Black Patti," was a versatile American soprano. Trained at prestigious institutions, she debuted in New York City in 1888 and performed at the White House for President Benjamin Harrison.
Mountain View Hotel - William "Curly" and Annie Neal established the Mountain View Hotel in Oracle in 1895. The Neal family, of Black and mixed-race heritage, became one of the most prosperous self-made families in Tucson.
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Our Legacy Founder Investors | | |
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Thank you to our
Legacy Founder Investors
COX, TEP,
Elliott Family Charity, and Zuckerman Family Foundation
For your unwavering support!
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A Bench on the U of Arizona Campus for
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
We hope you have visited the Women's Plaza of Honor, as it is a truly peaceful place. If you have not visited, stop by or visit online at Women's Plaza of Honor and African American Women’s Arch. Did you know that there will be a bench on the plaza that honors former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
Women and Gender Studies, in collaboration with AAMSAZ, will be launching a campaign to have a bench placed on the Women’s Plaza of Honor in tribute to
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,
the first African American woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. Please help us raise the $15,000 for the bench in her honor. Any amount helps, and you can also purchase a sponsorship for an engraved tile with your organization's or family's name or simple design. Please be sure to note that your donation is for the Ketanji Brown Jackson Bench.
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Supporting AAMSAZ
We love hearing from you!
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Gifts in any amount are always welcomed. Please use our easy and secure online giving site.
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Do you have a legacy story or an oral history to share? How about an African American or Black collection that you want to donate to AAMSAZ? Let's connect. Please email us and let us know at AAMuseumofSouthernAZ@gmail.com.
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Join our team of volunteers!
Join the effort to preserve African American history and culture in Southern Arizona. AAMSAZ welcomes volunteers. No matter what your abilities are, we are committed to finding meaningful ways for you to contribute. Please contact us at AAMuseumofSouthernAZ@gmail.com to learn how you can volunteer and for more information on volunteer training sessions.
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The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Commemoration
Keynote Speaker Supreme Court Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson was a speaker at the Historic 16th Street Baptist Church as the country and African Americans commemorated the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. This racist act claimed the lives of four young girls.
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Rediscovering a Tuskegee Airman:
2nd Lt. Fred L. Brewer Jr.'s 80-Year Legacy Revealed
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A remarkable development, the long-lost legacy of a Tuskegee Airman has finally been brought to light after an astounding 80 years! 2nd Lt. Fred L. Brewer Jr., whose valiant journey was shrouded in mystery since October 19, 1944, has been positively identified by the Defense Department, according to a report by ABC News. | |
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Lt. Brewer's disappearance occurred during a bomber escort mission alongside 56 fellow fighters over hostile targets in Regensburg, Germany. At that time, he piloted a single-seat P-51C Mustang aptly named "Traveling Light" taking off from Ramitelli Air Field in Italy. Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions, and heavy cloud cover, compelled several fighters to return prematurely to their base.
Tragically, Brewer did not return with the 47 fighters who made it back safely, as noted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Their investigation suggests that, as per reports from other pilots on the mission, 2nd Lt. Brewer was bravely attempting to navigate his aircraft out of the enveloping cloud cover. However, his efforts ended in a stall, leading to a fateful spin.
In a journey towards closure and recognition of a hero's sacrifice, the remains were meticulously examined at a DPAA laboratory. The culmination of meticulous analysis and corroborating evidence led to the emotional revelation last month that these were indeed the remains of 2nd Lt. Fred L. Brewer Jr., a Tuskegee airman.
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Stephanie Holland, a writer for “The Root,” let us know that “HAIR LOVE,” the Oscar-winning short film, has more to come! We encourage you to purchase the book and see the short film HAIR LOVE if you have not seen it because the sequel “YOUNG LOVE” begins 4 years later in this new animated film. This movie has a colorful, cultural, star-voiced cast created by Matthew A. Cherry, former NFL Star. Hard times that fall on this family but love brings them through, and the main character Zuri shows strength and resilience. | |
You will hear familiar voices such as Issa Rae, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, and Tamar Braxton, to name a few. "Young Love," an animated film, is now available to stream on Max. | |
Sign Up for Tours and Visits
Tours or visits to the African American Museum of Southern Arizona are currently by appointment only
Wednesday through Saturday
10 AM – 4 PM.
Schedule a tour or visit by signing up online. Please check our schedule and sign up using the AAMSAZ
website sign-up page!
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General Admission to the museum is free.
Please consider Making a Donation in any amount. Thank you!
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Please know that we do not share or distribute emails that we receive. | |
Find AAMSAZ on Facebook and Twitter. Use #aamsaz and #aams_AZ on your social media posts. | | | | |
