Speaker Series Event

Voices from Across Our Community



Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson

Wednesday, August 5th • 6:00–7:00 PM

Oro Valley Public Library

The Living Desert Alliance is excited to welcome Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson for our next Speaker Series event — an energetic and inspiring look at how traditional Navajo dryland farming can guide resilient agriculture in the desert Southwest. This evening blends culture, science, and community connection in a way that speaks directly to life in our desert home.

Dr. Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment and a key contributor to the Indigenous Resilience Center. He is also a traditional practitioner of Hopi dry farming, a practice of his people for millennia/

He brings these time‑tested practices to life, showing how reciprocity, stewardship, and long-term ecological balance can help communities navigate drought, climate stress, and shifting conditions across the Southwest. His work highlights how Indigenous food systems offer powerful guidance for building resilience today.

Widely respected for blending scientific insight with lived experience, Dr. Johnson offers a hopeful, forward-looking vision of what agriculture can be in arid environments.

So, mark your calendars, gather your family and friends, and join us on August 5th, for this free community event—an evening you truly won’t want to miss

Doors open at 5:45. Presentation starts at 6:00.

RSVP below to help us plan.