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Positions Available for Paid Workplace Training: NatureWorks Career Academy |
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Pima County and Tucson Clean and Beautiful seek 19-24 year-old young adults for a nine-week paid academy that will provide hands-on training in:
- Arboriculture and tree care
- Green stormwater infrastructure and rainwater harvesting
- Restoration and Conservation
- Plant propagation and nursery practices
- Workforce Readiness and Personal Development
Selected applicants are paid $16.54 per hour and work 32 hours per week for the duration of the fall program. They may then apply to enter an advanced spring academy and apprenticeship following this foundations course, earning $17.50 for an additional 15-week period.
 The program is an excellent bridge for young people interested in environmental work who need a job and may not otherwise have access to supportive, clear pathways into the field. The program combines fieldwork, classroom learning, mentorship, and applied project experience in both urban and rural settings. No college degree or previous experience is required.
Please pass this information along to all eligible young adults you know. Anyone eligible and interested should apply as soon as possible as the application deadline is August 7.
Tucson Youth Climate Action Fund
 Students gather around at Pueblo High School to discuss climate issues.
Tucson seeks to provide $1,000 to $5,000 climate change grants to young people ages 15-24, thanks to funding from the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund.
Youth have been involved in effective climate action in Tucson for years, from helping with the public engagement that led to our City’s Climate Action Plan, to writing the Tucson Unified School District climate plan the school board adopted due to student advocacy organized by the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition.
Do you know any young people with ideas to make Tucson cooler, greener, healthier, or more resilient? The Tucson Climate Action Team will provide funding, resources, and guidance to help youth-led teams turn these climate ideas into action.
Whether the proposal is to plant trees, create climate art, organize bike rides, reduce waste, educate a neighborhood, or (even better) something completely new, we want to hear it! Applications are due October 15. Funds will be disbursed November 13, and projects must be completed by April 15, 2027. For more information and to apply, use the button links below.
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I Am You 360
Earlier this week, Ward 3 staff met with Desiree Cook, Founder and CEO of I Am You 360. It is a 12 year old Tucson-based non-profit that supports youth aging out of foster care and homeless youth. They empower the whole person through a blend of holistic, unique programs and services to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline syndrome, reduce judicial involvement, and break generational cycles of crime, substance abuse, and poverty.
 Desiree Cook, Founder and CEO of I Am You 360, Council Member Kevin Dahl, and Council Aide Shannon Jenkins
When it was founded, the organization focused on providing personalized and ethnically appropriate hygiene supplies to kids in foster care. Appropriate hygiene supplies gave foster kids a sense of dignity and pride in their appearance and provided physical, psychological, and emotional benefits as well as a foundation for improved academic achievement. Later, I Am You 360 developed their I Am Somebody training for youth, a self-worth and self-esteem program that also provided useful life skills like financial literacy and cooking classes to build confidence. Then in 2021, they worked with a contractor to re-develop run-down 10 home unit along Ventura street near Stone Ave. and started housing program participants there.
 The program's Small Home Experience site next to the I Am You 360 office.
Most recently, I Am, You 360 developed a green, energy-efficient 10 tiny home model at 1101 S. Van Buren Ave that they call The Small Home Experience. Each home is 450 square feet with one bedroom, living room, kitchen, and patio. Residents pay $1.00 per sq ft, and half of their rent is saved in an escrow account and returned to them at the end of our 2–3 year program to purchase their first home.
To watch a video from 2023 when the Small Home Experience was under construction click on the button below.
 Affordable housing makes me feel like dancing, too!
If you'd like to learn more, consider perusing the 2024 Arizona Public Media article about the program by clicking the button below.
For folks interested in making a tax-deductible donation or an Arizona QFCO tax credit donation, they can visit their website here:
Cooling Center Updates
The St. Francis Cooling Center is completely staffed by volunteers and hosted in our Community Room. It has been fully functional five days a week now for six weeks now. The following graph illustrates the center's attendance and demographics.
 Total people served as of July 17, 2026: 227
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Adoption Fees:
Pets have a $0 adoption fee. A $20 license fee applies to adult dogs. Adoption includes spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchip, and a free vet visit.
Contact:
Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 N. Silverbell Rd.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12pm - 7pm.
Wednesday 1:30-7pm. Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm.
 ID# A891070
Age: 2 years and 6 months
Qualities:
Our very own Huey has some news he’d like to share- there’s nothing more powerful than the love of a dog! Huey does well with kiddos as young as five years, is house-trained, friendly, active, and cuddly. Huey loves plush toys and relaxing on the couch after a walk or run.
 ID# A905407
Age: 8 months
Qualities:
Maeve would like a foster or pre-adopt home to continue her recovery in. She came in infested with fleas, causing her to become anemic and she came in severely underweight. Consider giving this girl a comfortable indoor home!
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 The Ward 3 office is open at 1510 E. Grant Rd. from 9 am - 1 pm for walk-ins or later by appointment, Monday through Friday. Staff will answer phone messages, emails, and requests for meetings by the next business day. Leave your message at 520-791-4711.
We welcome your feedback!
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Next Mayor & Council Meeting |
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The next Mayor and Council Meeting will be on Wednesday, August 5. Once available, the agenda will be posted here:
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Ward 3 Neighborhood Meetings |
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Doolen-Fruitvale Neighborhood Association
Saturday 7/25
8:30-9:45 AM
Sparkman Butterfly Garden,
2645 N. Sparkman Blvd.
Keeling Neighborhood Association
Monday 7/27, 7-8:30 pm
For the upcoming meeting location please email keelingneighbors@gmail.com.
Fort Lowell Corridor Crime and Safety Meeting
Every third Tuesday of the month, 5:30 – 6:30 PM
AGM, 3544 E. Fort Lowell Rd.
Alvernon Grant Initiative Meeting
Every second Tuesday of the month, 6-7 PM
Emmanuel Church,
1825 N. Alvernon Way.
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Saturday, Through July 27
Through August 3rd
Saturday, July 25
Friday, August 7
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KIDCO After School Registration Begins on Saturday, July 25
Tucson Parks and Recreation will offer its KIDCO After School program for the 2026-2027 school year. This program offers safe and structured activities for ages 5-11 years old (must be currently enrolled in kindergarten), from school dismissal until 6 p.m. Planned activities may include sports, games, fitness, arts and crafts, performing arts, and special events. The program is closed on all City and school holidays or breaks.
Dates: Aug. 6, 2026-May 25, 2027 (excluding City holidays and school breaks)
Cost: $675/school year for City residents or $1,012.50/school year for non-City residents.
Registration: Begins online on Saturday, July 25, at 8 a.m
Pima County Attorney's Office Fall Victim Training
Beyond the Lungs: How Valley Fever Can Effect Your Dog’s Brain & Nervous System in-Person Session
 Join Dr. Lisa Shubitz, research scientist at the Valley Fever Center for Excellence, for a free educational seminar designed especially for pet parents. Dr. Shubitz will explain how Valley Fever can affect the brain and nervous system, the warning signs to watch for, how veterinarians diagnose it, and what treatment options are available. You’ll also have the chance to bring your questions to one of the field’s leading experts.
Whether your pet was diagnosed with Valley Fever or you simply want to be informed and prepared, this seminar offers valuable, practical knowledge in an casual setting.
Community Gardens of Tucson Garden Workdays
 A Blue Moon Community Garden workday has been scheduled for July 25 at 8 am.
A workday at the Doris J. Thompson Community Garden has been scheduled for Sunday, August 2nd, from 7-9 am.
Volunteering is a chance to share your time, talents, and energy. Whether you're looking to meet new people, gain valuable experience, or simply help others, your involvement can make a world of difference.
Garden Movie Nights
 
Primavera Cooks! To Support Emergency Services
Pools In Ward 3 Are Now Open For The Summer!
Roadway Improvements In Old Pascua and Barrio Blue Moon
 DTM will be in the Old Pascua and Barrio Blue Moon neighborhoods, starting in late June, to begin prep work for a mill & fill project. This project is part of the Prop 411: Tucson Delivers Better Streets Program.
Roadway Improvements In Amphi Acres
 DTM will be in the Amphi neighborhood, starting in early July, to begin prep work for a mill and pave project. This project is part of the Prop 411: Tucson Delivers Better Streets Program. Please see the attached postcard being mailed out to residents this week.
Railroad Underpass Project Work Over Grant Road And Closure
May 22 - August 5, 2026 - Construction activities will begin on the Grant Road underpass at the Union Pacific Railroad, closing eastbound and westbound travel on Grant Road in the project area. Grant Road will reopen to traffic on August 5, 2026.
VITA Extended Tax Prep Help Through October
 
City Of Tucson Announces Cooling Centers For
Extreme Summer Heat Relief
From Monday, June 1, to Sunday, Sept. 30, the City of Tucson will operate six cooling centers to provide temporary designated areas for the public to utilize and escape the heat during peak hours. The cooling centers will operate on a seven day a week schedule and will be extended an additional month this year to incorporate the month of September. All City operated cooling centers are located along Sun Tran bus routes, ensuring they remain accessible to keep vulnerable community members safe from extreme heat.
The six City-operated cooling centers will be open daily from noon – 4 p.m., including the City observed holidays on Friday, June 19 (Juneteenth), Friday, July 3 (Independence Day observed), and Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day). The centers will also be open on July 4th.
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Donna Liggins Center, 2160 N. 6th Ave.
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El Pueblo Center, 101 W. Irvington Road., Building #9
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Fred Archer Center, 1665 S La Cholla Boulevard
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Freedom Center, 5000 E. 29th St.
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Morris K. Udall Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road.
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Randolph Center, 200 S. Alvernon Way
St. Francis Cooling Center at Ward 3
Chill Space at Ward 6
The Ward 6 Chill Space offers shower facilities for those in need.
Preparedness Resources For Immigrant Families
Community Rapid Response Team https://rapidresponsetucson.com, 520-221-4077
 A handy bilingual Know Your Rights card for your wallet (pictured below) is available free, in quantities, from Ward 3 or at the Gloo Factory.
Family Preparedness Plan for Immigrant Families, in English and Spanish. Click the buttons below to download a PDF file of the plans.
Other resources:
Tucson IDA First Time Homebuyer Loans
Tucson IDA will be launching a new program on April 1st, which will provide $15,000 to first-time homebuyers. Funding will last through August 2026
City of Tucson Lead Hazard Reduction Program!
St. Francis Community Food Pantry Has Moved!
 Now also open on Tuesdays from 5-7 PM.
Find Food Access Resources In Tucson
Tucson food assistance providers are seeing a sharp rise in demand from families affected by delayed federal benefits, such as SNAP and WIC. At the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, there is an increase in first-time visitors, many of whom had never sought food assistance before. Volunteers are working overtime to assemble emergency food boxes for those suddenly without access to those benefits. The Community Food Bank offers help multiple times a week during varying hours and continues to distribute food at its main location, 3003 S. Country Club Road, and through partner agencies across Southern Arizona. Officials urge residents in need to reach out early, as local inventories may fluctuate if the shutdown continues. You can also find a list of food resources by following the This is Tucson link below.
Help Support Friends of Ward 3
Grocery Sharing at Tucson Food Share - 2500 N. Stone Ave.
Groceries are shared Mondays 4:30 - 6 pm, Thursdays 6 - 7:30 pm, and Saturdays from 8 - 9:30 am.
Did You Know the 1956 film "A Kiss Before Dying" was filmed at the Pago Pago Lounge, now Starbuck Design in Ward 3?
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