[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

THIS TIME IT'S THE DEMOCRATS TURN.

WE'LL HEAR FROM HOUSE MINORITY LEADER REGINALD AND ON "CRONKITE NEWS," RESEARCHERS ARE INVESTIGATING HOW TO GROW CROPS IN EXTREME TEMPERATURES.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY VOTED NOT TO ADVANCE A CONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT WOULD BAN GENDER TRANSITION PROCEDURES FOR MINORS.

THE DECIDING VOTE WAS KASZ BY A REPUBLICAN, SENATOR TYLER PACE WHO JOINED DEMOCRATS TO BANS THIS BILL.

THE VOTE CAME AFTER EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY FROM PARENTS AND FROM KIDS WHO TESTIFIED THAT AT TIMES THEY CONSIDERED SUICIDE.

>>> TODAY'S COVID REPORT CONTINUES AN ENCOURAGING TREND DOWNWARD.

HOSPITAL NUMBERS ARE ALSO DOWN.

INPATIENT BEDS ARE DOWN MORE THAN 20% FROM LAST WEEK, AND ICU BEDS ARE DOWN 16%.

THE NUMBER OF COVID-RELATED DEATHS, NOT DROPPING NEARLY AS FAST.

WHICH IS EXPECTED.

THAT SAID THERE WERE 34 NEW FATALITIES RECORDED TODAY.

THAT PUTS THE SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOR COVID-RELATED DEATHS AT 17TH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>>> THE RECENT DESCRIPTION OF THE JANUARY 6TH RIOT AT THE CAPITOL AS POLITICAL DISCOURSE, WAS ADDRESSED BY HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI.

>> THEY SEEMED TO HAVE REACHED ROCK BOTTOM WITH THEIR STATEMENT THAT WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH WAS LEGITIMATE POLITICAL DISCOURSE.

TAKE BACK YOUR PARTY FROM THIS CULT.

TAKE BACK YOUR PARTY.

AMERICA NEEDS A STRONG REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> YESTERDAY SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH McCONNELL BROKE FROM HIS FELLOW REPUBLICANS AND SAID WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH WAS ANYTHING BUT LEGITIMATE POLITICAL DISCOURSE.

>> THE VIOLENT INSURRECTION AFTER A LEGITIMATELY CERTIFIED ELECTION FROM ONE ADMINISTRATION TO THE NEXT.

>>> AND IN OTHER NEWS, IF YOU ARE PLANNING A SUPER BOWL PARTY THIS WEEKEND, YOU CAN EXPECT TO SPEND ABOUT 14% MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

GROUND BEEF AND SODA PRICES ARE UP 13 AND 12% RESPECTIVELY.

BUT THE PRICE OF HOT DOGS ACTUALLY DROPPED OVER THE PAST YEAR.

>>> LAWMAKERS ARE AGAIN CONSIDERING AN EXPANSION TO THE STATE SCHOOL-VOUCHER SYSTEM.

THIS AS LEGISLATURES STILL HAVEN'T ADDRESSED AN EDUCATION SPENDING CAP THAT COULD RESULT IN A MASSIVE CUT IN EDUCATION FUNDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN BLUTH -- BUDGETED, WE GOT THE LATEST FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE REGINALD BOLDING, THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINS US, I KNOW YOU ARE A BUSY MAN, SO LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

THE EDUCATION SPENDING CAP.

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PRIORITY.

IT HASN'T BEEN DEALT WITH YET, AND IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH SOON.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

>> THEY ARE FINALLY LISTENING TO THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY, WHO ARE SAYING WE NEED TO RAISE THE SPENDING CAP.

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS THAT WE DID.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES TO OUR SCHOOLS, AND PUTTING THEM IN PANIC AND MAKING TEACHERS WONDER WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOB IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO AS A STATE LEGISLATE SURE.

BUT THERE IS A VERBAL COMMITMENT IT WILL GET DONE.

WE DON'T WANT TO FIND OURSELVES IN THIS SITUATION YEAR AFTER YEAR.

>> IS THERE MUCH APPETITE FOR MORE THAN AN OVERRIDE?

ARE REGOING TO KEEP DOING THIS OVER AND OWN AGAIN?

>> THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I THINK THE STATE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FOCUSED ON.

WE HAVE A 1980 ARBITRARY LIMIT THAT PUTS SPENDING CAPS ON EDZ EDUCATION, WE DON'T HAVE THAT ON ANYTHING ELSE.

>> SOMETHING ELSE INVOLVING EDUCATION OVER ON THE SENATE SIDE, THIS BILL EXPANDING THE VOUCHER SYSTEM, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING GREAT GUNS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA -- THE GOAL IS TO HELP LOW-INCOME KIDS WHO REPUBLICANS SAY THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LEAVE THESE POOR-PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND THIS WILL HELP.

ARE YOU BUYING THAT?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UNFORTUNATE THINGS WE SEE EVERY CYCLE IS THAT THE VOTERS TELL US THEY DON'T WANT SOMETHING, AND THE LEGISLATURE DOES SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS BILL BEING PROPOSED UNDER THE DISGUISE OF IT IS TO HELP OUR LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS AND KIDS, BUT WE CAN DO THAT BY FULLY FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION.

WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND THOSE KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, SO MY HOPE IS IT DOESN'T ADVANCE.

>> BUT REPUBLICANS SAY IT GIVES THOSE KIDS A CHOICE.

AGAIN, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> YOU ONLY HAVE A CHOICE IF YOU HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION AND AVAILABILITY TO GO TO THESE SCHOOLS.

THE REALITY IS, IS YOU DON'T HAVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS LOCATED IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, YOU DON'T HAVE CHOICE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE -- YOU KNOW, THE RESOURCES TO BY THE BOOKS AND BE PART OF THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVES, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

SO IT IS ONLY A CHOICE IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, OR IF YOU HAVE THE ONLY IN, AND WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT TO BE THE CASE.

>> AND THIS NEW IDEA OF A DPS DIVISION TO INVESTIGATE USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS, REGARDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIESYIES AROUND THE STATE.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN GET ON BOARD WITH?

>> AT THE VERY LOW END OF THE BAR SHOULD BE THIRD-PARTY INVESTIGATIONS WHEN YOU HAVE FATAL OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.

THAT'S VERY MINIMUM.

AND THIS BILL REPLICATES SOME OF THE PROPOSALS THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD IN THE PAST TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY INVESTIGATIONS, AND CREATES A NEW BUREAU THAT WILL BE LOCATED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO INVESTIGATE USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS, THIS DOES SEEM LIKE SOMETHING THAT OUR DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WOULD BE SUPPORTIVIVE OF, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A FEW MORE CHANGES.

>> AND 2805, BANS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST LGBTQ IN HOUSING, AND ACCOMMODATIONS.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> WE HAVE SEEN OVER A DOZEN BILLS AIMED AT -- QUITE FRANKLY ATTACKING OUR LGBTQ KIDS.

THESE ARE KIDS THAT WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE THEIR LIVES.

WE HAVE SEEN BILLS THAT WOULD TARGET TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES WHEN IT COMES TO A SPORTING EVENT.

AND WE HAVE TO ALLOW OUR KIDS AND PARENTS TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE THEY CAN CELEBRATE WHO THEY ARE.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY AND EQUALITY, AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PUNISH THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THING RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LEGISLATEURE AND MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT THIS.

BUT YOU HAVE SEEN A PARTISAN LEAN TOWARDS BILLS THAT PRIMARILY FOCUS ON LGBTQ ISSUES.

YOU HAVE A VERY POWERFUL ORGANIZATION THAT CHOOSES TO FORCE MEMBERS TO NOT SUPPORT POPULAR IDEAS, AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE HAVE MORE REPUBLICAN LEADERS FOLLOW THE HAND OF DEMOCRATS WHO ARE SAYING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE WHO THEY ARE.

>> I WAS CURIOUS HOW DEMOCRATS FEEL ABOUT SPEAKER BOWERS.

HE HAS DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS DOWN THERE, TAKING SOME EXTREMIST VIEWS AND SHOVED THEM ASIDE A BIT.

HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT?

AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS THERE ON HOW SPEAKER BOWERS IS RUNNING THE SHIP.

>> WE MEET EVER WEEK, AND WE HAVE HAD OPEN COMMUNICATION, AND QUITE FRANKLY THERE ARE THINGS WE AGREE ON, AND THAT'S OKAY.

AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE ON.

BUT SOME OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE POLICIES THAT WE NEED THE SPEAKER TO BE FRONT AND CENTER ON, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL VOUCHERS, AND DEMOCRACY, AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR KIDS WHO ARE BEING DISCRIMINATED BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE.

BUT THIS IS A VERY LONG SESSION, AND I HOPE HE'LL CONTINUE TO STAND ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.

>> IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT IT IS NOT SO PARTISAN ALTHOUGH TIME.

REPRESENTATIVE BOLDING THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> BETTER PLACE FORESTS OFFERS WHAT IT CALLS A NATURAL AND ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE TO CEMETERIES.

IT INVOLVES A BURY PROCESS IN WHICH THE ASHES OF THE DECEASED ARE PLACED BELOW A TREE IN A FORREST.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM MARK KEKHE, WHO IS WITH BETTER PLACE FORESTS.

MARK KEKHE, WELCOME.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AS WE TALK ABOUT BETTER PLACE FORESTS.

AND THIS IS JUST A FEW WAY TO -- TO BE REMEMBERED, I GUESS?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TALKING TO ME.

IT'S A REAL PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

IT'S A NEW CONCEPT, AND IT'S REALLY AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL CEMETERIES, REPLACING THE CEMETERY AND THE GRAVESTONE WITH A FOREST AND A TREE.

MORE NATURAL AND SUSTAINABLE, AND FOR CUSTOMERS REALLY A NICE END OF LIFE AND CONSERVATION.

>> ASHES ARE BURIED BENEATH, NEARBY A PRIVATE TREE, IS THAT THE BASIS OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> CLOSE.

WE ACTUALLY DON'T BURY ANYTHING.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> WE USE THE CREMATION REMAINS, ASHES AS THEY ARE COMMONLY CALLED.

SO A FAMILY WOULD HAVE THE CREMAINS TO US, AND WE MIX THOSE WITH SOIL FROM THE FORREST, AND THAT MIXTURE IS SPREAD AROUND THE TREE, AND SPREAD THE REMAINS ON THE SURFACE, AND COVER THEM UP A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH TWIGS AND LEAVES ON THE FOREST FLOOR, AND THAT IS THEIR PERMANENT HOME.

>> IS THIS A PRIVATE TREE IN A PRIVATE FORECAST?

IS IT A TREE THAT IS NOT GOING TO GET CUT DOWN, OR LAND THAT IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED?

>> CORRECT.

AND THAT'S REALLY THE POWERFUL CONSERVATION THAT WE DO.

WHEN WE SELECT A FOREST THAT WE WOULD OPERATE AS A MEMORIAL FOREST.

WE'RE LOOKING FORESTS THAT HAVE HIGH CONSERVATION VALUES.

AND THEY HAVE VERY STRONG CONSERVATION VALUES IN THE FLORA, THE FAUNA, SOMETIMES ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT WE'RE REALLY WORKING TO PROTECT.

SO WE WORK -- TYPICALLY BUY THE FOREST FROM A LANDOWNER.

WE'LL DO A FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN, SO WE'LL WORK WITH LOCAL FORESTERS THAT HAVE PARTICULAR EXPERTISE IN THIS PARTICULAR FLORA AND FAUNA ENVIRONMENT, AND DEVELOP A PLAN, SO WE MANAGE THAT FOREST TO BE AS HEALTHY AS IT POSSIBLY CAN, SO WE'RE REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES, REALLY MANAGING FOR THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF THE FOREST, AND THEN OUR CUSTOMERS COME TO US, AND THEY BUY THE RIGHTS TO A PARTICULAR TREE FOR THEMSELVES, FOR THEIR FAMILY, AND THEN THAT IS THEIR TREE.

SO SOMETIMES THEY WOULD SPREAD THE ASHES OF A SINGLE PERSON.

SOMETIMES MULTIPLE PEOPLE, SOMETIMES PETS, BUT THAT'S THEIR FAMILY TREE.

>> INTERESTING, NOW -- AND THERE'S A LITTLE MARKER THERE THAT SAYS THAT THIS IS THE SMITH FAMILY TREE?

>> EXACTLY.

SO WE USE WHAT LOOKS LIKE A U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MARKER, SO THESE SMALL BRONZE MARKERS, AND PEOPLE WILL PUT A NAME ON IT, SOMETIMES A SAYING OR SONG LYRIC THAT IS MEANFUL TO THEM, AND THAT IS PLACED IN THE PROXIMATE TO THE BASE OF THE TREE AND BECOMES A PERMANENT MARKER FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> WHAT ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BE REMEMBERED NEAR A RIVER?

WOULD THAT WORK AS WELL?

OR REMEMBERED IN A CLEARING?

WOULD THAT WORK?

>> SURE.

TO DATE WE HAVE MOSTLY WORKED THE FORESTS, AND WE HAVE MOSTLY WORKED IN TREE FORESTS WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE CLOSE TO TREES.

OFTEN IN OUR FORESTS, THERE WILL BE A WATER FEATURE, A CREEK OR STREAM OR IN ONES CASE I CAN THINK OF, A LAKE, AND PEOPLE LIKE TO EXPERIENCE THAT AND WALK BY IT.

I THINK IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL DO MORE VARIED AREAS THAT HAS THAT SAME RESONANCE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT IF PEOPLE, LET'S SAY IN ARIZONA WANTED TO STAY IN ARIZONA, OR SOMEBODY IN NEW MEXICO WANTED TO STAY IN NEW MEXICO, DO YOU HAVE LAND IN VARIED PLACES?

>> WE DO.

WHEN I JOINED THE COMPANY A FEW YEARS AGO, WE HAD A SINGLE FORREST.

WE NOW HAVE TEN FORESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE A FOREST IN ARIZONA OUTSIDE OF FLAGSTAFF.

>> OKAY.

OKAY.

SO THAT'S THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT KIND OF PRICE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

BURIALS CAN RUN UP AND BE VERY EXPENSIVE AT TIMES.

>> YEAH.

OUR AVERAGE PRICE IS ABOUT $8,500.

AND THEY RANGE -- FORESTS TO FOREST IS DIFFERENT.

AND WE HAVE SOLD TREES AS EXPENSIVE AS $50,000 FOR SOME -- YOU KNOW, REALLY SPECTACULAR REDWOOD TREES ON THE COAST.

>> INTERESTING.

WHAT IF -- YOU HAVE GOT A YOUNG SAPLING, YOU LIKE IT.

YOU WANT TO BE MIXED IN THERE, AND YOU ARE MIXED IN THERE, AND TWO YEARS LATER THE TREE DIES, OR TWO YEARS LATER A FIRE OR FLOODING COMES THROUGH?

WHAT HAPPENS IF THINGS CHANGE?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A NATURAL THING.

IT IS A TREE IN A FOREST, AND NATURAL THINGS DO DIE, THAT'S PART OF THE CYCLE.

IF YOU HAD A TREE WITH US, AND YOU HAVE NOT YET SPREAD YOUR ASHES, MANY PEOPLE BUY THESE FOR THE FUTURE, IF YOU HAVE NOT SPREAD YOUR ASHES, WE WOULD HELP YOU FIND A NEW TREE THAT WAS SOUND.

IF YOU HAD, WE WOULD PLANT A NEW TREE.

AND REALLY MANAGING FOR THE HEALTH OF THE FOREST, WE COULD PLANT THE BEST POSSIBLE TREE WE COULD.

CLIMATE CHANGE HAS MADE IT LESS HOSPITABLE FOR THE PARTICULAR SPECIES THAT WAS THERE, WE WOULD PERHAPS PLANT A SPECIES THAT WOULD HAVE LONG-TERM VIABILITY THERE.

>> INTERESTING SUFFICIENT.

MARK KEKHE, BETTER PLACE FORESTS, INTERESTING CONCEPT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING US ABOUT IT SNCHLD WE APPRECIATE.

>> VERY MUCH MY PLEASURE.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

>>> THE ARIZONA LATINO ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER PROTECTS AND PRESERVES CULTURES.

JOSE CARDENAS, THE HOST OF THE ARIZONA PBS SHOW "HORIZONTE" SPOKE WITH CULTURAL CENTER'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ELIZABETH TOLEDO.

>> ELIZABETH TOLEDO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU ARE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LATINO ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER.

IT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2009, GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW, AND THEN I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> WELL, LATINO ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE ABOUT 2010, AND IT STARTED OUT REAL BIG.

WHEN I TOOK OVER, THINGS WERE WINDING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

DOWNTOWN WAS GOING THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF.

THE UNIVERSITY WAS GOING IN THERE, AND WE STARTED TO WORK ON IT, AND IT WAS GETTING VERY GOOD, AND THEN COVID CAME AND GOT US, AND I'M SURPRISED WE'RE STILL THERE.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY GOING TO MAKE US CLOSE OUR DOORS, BUT THE CITY OF PHOENIX HAS HELPED US QUITE A BIT WITH THAT.

>> AND THE THERE IS RIGHT DOWNTOWN ACROSS FROM THE HIATT, RIGHT?

>> YES.

RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HIATT REGENCY, AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.

AND WE GET A LOT OF CLIENTS FROM THE PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER, PEOPLE WHO COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SO THE CONVENTION CENTER IS A GOOD THING IN THE FALL AND SPRING.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT LATINO ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER IS AND WHAT IT DOES.

AND YOUR BACKGROUND, YOU HAVE ROOTS IN SIN NORA, AND EDUCATION AS WELL.

GIVE US A THUMBNAIL SKETCH.

>> YES, MY PARENTS AND BOTHER ARE IMMIGRANTS FROM A ALL TOWN SOUTH OF DOUGLAS, ARIZONA IN THE MOUNTAINS, AND IT WAS TYPICALLY JUST A RANCH.

THEY WERE ALL RANCHERS, CATTLE RANCHERS THERE, AND IN THE 60S, THEY FOUND A BIG COPPER MINE.

I THINK IT IS THE LARGEST SINGLE PRODUCING COPPER AND SILVER MINE IN THE WORLD, AND SO THEY GOT EXPERTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT THE RANCHES ARE STILL THERE.

MY FAMILY WERE RANCHERS, SO WE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES, AND I WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH GROWING UP IN BOTH PLACES, COMPLETELY BILINGUAL.

AND THE BORDER DIDN'T EXIST FOR ME.

AND SO WE CAME TO ARIZONA IN THE EARLY 60S, AND I DID ALL OF MY EDUCATION HERE, ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL -- I WENT TO SUNNY SIDE HIGH SCHOOL.

I WENT TO ST. JOHN'S ELEMENTARY, AND THEN I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.

>> WHERE YOU GOT YOUR DEGREE IN FINE ARTS?

>> I GOT MY DEGREE IN FINE ARTS.

AND I MARRIED A MAN FROM VENEZUELA, AND WE WENT THERE FOR A FEW YEARS, AND THEN WE CAME BACK, AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME I WOULD SUBSTITUTE TEACH, AND I HATED SCHOOL, BUT I NEEDED TO EAT, SO I WENT TO SUBSTITUTE TEACH, AND BEING BILINGUAL, I WAS A HOT COMMODITY.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE AN ADMINISTRATOR AS WELL.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE ART SIDE OF YOUR CAREER, AND I HAVE SEEN SOME OF YOUR ART, AND IT IS MAGNIFICENT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS YOU ARE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE CULTURES REPRESENTEDED THERE.

>> OUR MAIN GOAL AT THE LATINO ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER IS EDUCATION, AND TO PROMOTE LOCAL ARTISTS.

WE WANT STUDENTS, AND WE WANT THE YOUTH TO KNOW AND TO BE PROUD OF THEIR BACKGROUNDS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ARTISANS, A LOT OF ART -- THERE IS A LOT OF CULTURE BEHIND THE LATINO COMMUNITY, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ARTISTS OUT THERE THAT DON'T CONSIDER THEMSELVES ARTISTS, BECAUSE THEY NEVER MADE MONEY WITH IT.

THEY GOOGLE.

THEY DRAW, THEY MAKE MAGNIFICENT THINGS WITH THEIR ART, AND THEY DO MAGNIFICENT THINGS EVEN WITH TILES IN PEOPLE'S HOMES, AND WE TELL THEM, LET'S SEE WHAT YOU HAVE GOT.

LET US HELP YOU WITH THIS.

WE SHOW ARTISTS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THEY CAN DO.

THE DIFFERENT STYLES AND THE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES.

THEY CAN COME AND TAKE LESSONS WITH US.

>> AND ELIZABETH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TALK ABOUT SOME UP COMING STUFF, AND I WOULD URGE PEOPLE TO GO TO YOUR WEBSITE, BECAUSE THERE ARE VIDEOS THERE THAT SHOW PEOPLE WHAT YOU HAVE THERE, INCLUDING THE BEAUTIFUL ART I WAS MENTIONING.

BUT YOU HAVE SOME SHOWS COMING UP.

WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

>> WE HAVE AN ALL-WOMAN SHOW COMING UP IN MARCH.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE LATINO, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE FROM ARIZONA, AND YOUR ART HAS TO GO WITH THE THEME.

SO IT'S A WOMEN'S SHOW, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SHOW IN APRIL, AND THAT'S A CAR SHOW, A LOW-RIDER SHOW.

ARIZONA IS VERY FAMOUS FOR THEIR LOW-RIDER CLUBS, SO WE'LL HAVE THAT WITH MUSIC AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE IN THE SUMMERTIME WITH CLASSES, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ADULT CLASSES, ADULT-DRAWING CLASSES, AND SCHOOLS -- WE WANT TO HAVE, LIKE, A -- A SUMMER PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS FOR -- FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COME.

>> SO STILL CONSISTENT WITH YOUR FOCUS ON EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, AND I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED, YOU HAVE A NICE LITTLE STORE IN THERE, AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST KNICKKNACKS, THERE IS SOME BEAUTIFUL ART THAT PEOPLE CAN GET, AND I WOULD URGE EVERYBODY TO GO TO YOUR WEBSITE.

>> YES.

THE ARTS -- I WOULD SAY 95% OF THE WORK IN THERE IS HAND MADE BY LOCAL ARTISTS OR ARTISTS IN MEXICO.

AND THERE ARE PRINTS, AND A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT IS THERE HAS BEEN EXHIBITED A LOT.

>> AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL STUFF, SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SHARING WHAT YOU HAVE GOT THERE, CULTURAL CENTER'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ELIZABETH TOLEDO IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX, PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU GAURACIAS.

>> DA NADA.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP GRAFFITI IN VALLEY NEIGHBORHOODS.

♪♪