Community Connectors
Who are the Community Connectors?
Community Connectors are integral to the Tucson Norte-Sur Phase II community engagement efforts to help ensure community voices are centered in guiding the policy plan. Community Connectors have deep ties to their various communities and neighborhoods across the study area. They have been recruited based on their breadth of knowledge, community involvement, and valuable perspectives to carry out various on-the-ground engagement activities. The group is representative and reflective of this corridor.
Community Connectors meet the community where they are. Instead of asking people to attend public meetings, the Connectors go to them and engage community members in conversations about the Tucson Norte-Sur Plan. They host diverse community dialogues with small groups of residents at times and places that are convenient for them. They meet community members at places they congregate, such as transit centers, grocery stores, parks, libraries, or neighborhood events. They also bring their talents and creative connections to this project, whether getting people to fill out surveys while they wait for their food at a food truck or hopping on a bus and engaging the riders about the plan.
These engagement activities focus on hearing from the people who live, work, travel, and have a history in the study area to ensure that the Tucson Norte-Sur Strategic Plan reflects their vision and priorities.
Community Connectors will complete a training series, including background information on Tucson Norte-Sur. They are working closely with the Norte-Sur ETOD Community Engagement Specialists Team leading and supporting the Community Connectors in their outreach and engagement efforts.
Community Connectors are crucial in making public engagement more approachable, inclusive, and accessible. Through community dialogues, pop-ups, and other creative outreach/engagement activities, they will gather community members' thoughts, ideas, and concerns and share them with the rest of the project team to guide the Tucson Norte-Sur Strategic Plan. The first phase of their engagement work will wrap up at the end of September 2023.
Learn more about the Community Connectors in the bios below.
Connectors Bios
Learn a little bit more about our Community Connectors and why they care about their community!
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Share Selina Barajas on Facebook Share Selina Barajas on Twitter Share Selina Barajas on Linkedin Email Selina Barajas link
Selina Barajas
Bio: Selina Barajas, a native Tucsonan alum from both Sunnyside and Tucson Unified School Districts and the University of Arizona. She holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from UCLA and has experience advocating for social, cultural and economic development initiatives for the community. While in Los Angeles, Selina worked for both the nonprofit and government sector and enjoyed planning community-building events with the Pico Neighborhood of Santa Monica and City of Inglewood. Now residing back in her hometown with her family, Selina has worked on transportation and mobility projects, such as the 12th Avenue Street Improvement Project, Proposition 407... Continue reading
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Share Vanessa Gallego on Facebook Share Vanessa Gallego on Twitter Share Vanessa Gallego on Linkedin Email Vanessa Gallego link
Vanessa Gallego
Bio: Vanessa is a mobility advocate and currently works south of 22nd Street with Familias Unidas Ganando Accesabilidad (FUGA), organizing bike rides and mobility events in the project area. Her experience includes communicating with the general public, safety on arterial roads, and connections to neighborhoods, parks, and schools. It is important to her to be able to communicate with her community while relaying input and ideas to this plan. She has a strong connection with Barrio Santa Rita as a legacy, small business owner in the area, Recyco, Inc. Vanessa feels strongly that representation matters when it comes to equitable... Continue reading
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Share Timothy Peth on Facebook Share Timothy Peth on Twitter Share Timothy Peth on Linkedin Email Timothy Peth link
Timothy Peth
Bio: Timothy lives in South Tucson and is a junior at Pueblo High School. He defines “equitable mobility” as transportation that increases access to high-quality mobility and a “thriving community” as a place where people help each other. Timothy enjoys mapping and is a youth representative. Walking, biking, and the transit system are his transportation modes. You can find Timothy riding his bike or skateboard, or preparing for Tour de Tucson alongside Pueblo’s Road Warriors!
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Share Stacey Sizemore on Facebook Share Stacey Sizemore on Twitter Share Stacey Sizemore on Linkedin Email Stacey Sizemore link
Stacey Sizemore
Bio: Stacey has been living at the MLK Apartments next to Downtown Tucson’s Ronstadt Transit Center since 2009 and rides several bus routes. She volunteers at MLK, Valley of the Moon, DAE, and DAM and also serves at the MLK Resident Council. To her, equitable mobility “is great and helps differently abled people with access to transportation.” Stacey defines a thriving community as a place where “people collaborate with one another, love each other, and treat each other with respect.”
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Share Rosario 'Chayo' Bernal-Mendibes on Facebook Share Rosario 'Chayo' Bernal-Mendibes on Twitter Share Rosario 'Chayo' Bernal-Mendibes on Linkedin Email Rosario 'Chayo' Bernal-Mendibes link
Rosario 'Chayo' Bernal-Mendibes
Bio: Rosario has deep roots in Tucson and South Tucson. Her family has lived in this area for three generations. She knows the history, the people and places very well. Chayo is involved at Santa Cruz Church, and St Kateri (Catholic Churches). She is an advocate for safe transportation options for all ages and affordable transportation options throughout the area, especially within South Tucson. To Rosario, a thriving community is one where her members do not feel isolated, neighbors come outside, and the kids play in the park. She believes that our communities need more safe places for all and... Continue reading
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Share Patricia G. Sanchez on Facebook Share Patricia G. Sanchez on Twitter Share Patricia G. Sanchez on Linkedin Email Patricia G. Sanchez link
Patricia G. Sanchez
Bio: Patricia attended Cholla High School and graduated from Pima Partnership High School. After graduation, she worked for Pima Prevention Partnership's Youth and Family Services while attending Pima Community College West and Downtown Campus', to pursue a social services degree. She now works at Apollo Middle School in the Sunnyside Unified School District (SUSD) and serves as a youth mentor and parent/community advocate. Sun Tran has been her main source of transportation for over 10 years--it supported it throughout high school, and it has been her most reliable mode of transportation for work since she was 19 years old... Continue reading
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Share Mike ‘S!ick’ Edmonds on Facebook Share Mike ‘S!ick’ Edmonds on Twitter Share Mike ‘S!ick’ Edmonds on Linkedin Email Mike ‘S!ick’ Edmonds link
Mike ‘S!ick’ Edmonds
Bio: Mike served as a Neighborhood Ambassador for the Thrive in the 05 initiative, Ambassador for Move Tucson, and the Tucson Norte-Sur ETOD Phase 1. He is an active resident at the Tucson House, the Barrio Blue Moon Neighborhood, the Thrive in the 05 area, and Ward 3. Mike is interested in public transportation, and his neighbors and community are in need of service(s) which will benefit them. He resides in Tucson House and is the "Community Liaison" for Ward 3. Sun Tran, and Sun On Demand, are his primary modes of transportation. Mike defines equitable mobility as “Fair access... Continue reading
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Share Lucky Salway on Facebook Share Lucky Salway on Twitter Share Lucky Salway on Linkedin Email Lucky Salway link
Lucky Salway
Bio: Lucky is a Tohono O'odham and Oglala Lakota Muralist and Owner of Arrowhead Ink and True Descendents Trading Company Est. b.c. Currently, Lucky lives in South Tucson or Barrio Libre. He is also a graphic artist with community organizing experience. Lucky has participated in and coordinated numerous events and popups, including fundraising art and cultural events like the Harvest Moon Festival. He defines equitable mobility as “fairness in meeting the needs of all community members.” He believes that a thriving community “works together for the betterment of all community members.” Lucky also reminds us that “we are on O’odham... Continue reading
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Share Karma Campbell on Facebook Share Karma Campbell on Twitter Share Karma Campbell on Linkedin Email Karma Campbell link
Karma Campbell
Bio: Karma is the youngest Community Connector. She is in middle school and volunteers at DAE alongside her mother, Jonni. She enjoys helping the community and being involved. In her free time, Karma likes to skate at Santa Rita Park.
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Share Jon-Lee 'Jonni’ Campbell on Facebook Share Jon-Lee 'Jonni’ Campbell on Twitter Share Jon-Lee 'Jonni’ Campbell on Linkedin Email Jon-Lee 'Jonni’ Campbell link
Jon-Lee 'Jonni’ Campbell
Bio: Jonni Campbell is the Co-Founder and President of Differently Abled Entertainment (DEA), a nonprofit organization with the mission to promote and encourage differently-abled artists in the entertainment industry by producing content featuring their talents. Working with people with both seen and unseen disabilities and other marginalized groups is a priority for her. To Jonni, equitable mobility means “easy, affordable, reliable, accessible transportation.”
