[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ARIZONA HORIZON, THE LATEST ON HOW ARIZONA PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE WELCOMING BACK STUDENTS WHILE FIGHTING OFF COVID.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, A LOOK AT DISPARITIES BETWEEN COVID CASES AND VACCINATION RATES IN ARIZONA, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, LATINO MUSICALS MADE INTO MOVIES.

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

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

AN ETHICS COMPLAINT WAS FILED TODAY AGAINST DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR TONY NAVARETTE, WHO WAS ARRESTED LAST WEEK AND CHARGED WITH SEVEN FELONY COUNTS OF CHILD MOLESTATION.

THE COMPLAINT FOLLOWS DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE CALLING FOR HIM FOR STEP DOWN.

HE FACES 49 YEARS IN PRISON IN CONVICTED.

>>> A COMMUNITY MEETING IS SET TONIGHT REGARDING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OF ALLEGED EXCESSIVE FORCE BY THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE MEETING IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED CAPACITY, SO THOSE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING WILL NEED TO REGISTER IN ADVANCE.

>>> TODAY'S COVID REPORT COMES WITH A CAVEAT THAT IT IS MONDAY, AND MONDAY'S NUMBERS TEND TO LAG.

THAT SAID, THERE WERE MORE THAN 2100 NEW CASES REPORTED WITH NO NEW FATALITIES.

AND THOSE 65 AND OVER REMAIN THE NUMBER 1 AGE GROUP, BUT THE SECOND HIGHEST IS AGE 20 TO 44.

THE PENTAGON ANNOUNCED IT WILL REQUIRE ALL MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY TO BE VACCINATED BY SEPTEMBER 14TH.

ABOUT 64% OF THE ACTIVE DUTY ARE FULLY ACTIVATED.

THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, BUT LOW ENOUGH TO CAUSE CONCERN.

DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN SAID HE WILL MOVE THAT DEADLINE EVEN SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.

>>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED NEARLY $5 BILLION FOR EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE-RELATED DISASTERS.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS A U.N. REPORT SHOWING THAT TEMPERATURES ROSE FASTER IN THE PAST 50 YEARS THAN IN ANY SIMILAR PERIOD OVER THE LAST 2000 YEARS.

THE STUDY ALSO SHOWS THE INCREASE IN TEMPERATURES HAS CAUSED HEAT WAVES, DROUGHTS, AND TROPICAL CYCLONES.

>>> JOB OPENINGS IN THE U.S. ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

10.1 MILLION JOBS ARE AVAILABLE.

THIS IS AT A TIME WHEN BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING TO FULL POSITIONS AS THE ECONOMY REOPENS.

>>> THE SCHOOL YEAR IS ABOUT TO GET IN FULL SWING WITH THE USUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL CONCERNS EXACERBATED BY INCREASES IN CASES OF COVID AROUND THE STATE.

SOME SCHOOLS ARE GOING SO FAR AS TO REQUIRE MASKS ON CAMPUS DESPITE A NEW STATE LAW THAT FORBIDS SUCH MANDATES.

WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF WITH THIS JOE THOMAS, PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

>>> JOE THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW MANY SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW ARE REPORTING OUTBREAKS OF COVID?

>> WE'RE SEEING QUITE FRANKLY FAR TOO MANY.

IT'S VERY PREDICTABLE, AS DISTRICTS HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO USE THE FULL ARRAY OF MITIGATION AGAINST THIS VIRUS.

WE'RE BRINGS STUDENTS INTO THE LAST PLACE WE SHOULD BE?

SMALL ROOMS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH NOT A LOT OF VENTILATION.

CLASSROOMS HAVE BEEN OVERCROWDED FOR YEARS.

OUR 12-YEAR STUDENTS AND OLDER HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THE VACCINE, AS HAVE OUR STAFF, BUT ALMOST HALF OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL POPULATION ISN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE.

BUT AS THE YEAR HAS STARTED OUT, IT'S AS PREDICTABLE AS IT COULD BE, WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE CLASSROOMS, STUDENTS AND STAFFS THAT ARE BEING ASKED TO QUARANTINE OR ASKING FOR DAYS OFF THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY TESTED POSITIVE.

>> WHAT CAN SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS DO?

>> WELL, THEY ARE FAIRLY LIMITED ON TWO FRONTS.

ONE IS, WE HAVE HAD THE LEGISLATURE PASS A LAW AND GOVERNOR DUCEY SIGN IT THAT FORBADE SCHOOLS AND OTHERS FROM REQUIRING THE USE OF MASK.

IF THE COMMUNITY SPREAD BECAME SO HIGH THAT MASKS WERE A SMART MITIGATION TO USE, DISTRICTS CAN STILL ASK FOR STUDENTS TO USE THEM, BUT THEY CAN'T REQUIRE THEM.

AND WE HAVE BEEN IN AN UNDERFUNDED SYSTEM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

AND SO WE HAVE POOR VENTILATION SYSTEMS, BUT WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT TO DO; THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO, BECAUSE WE'RE PREVENTED BY FUNDING LAPSES OR BY THE GOVERNOR ACTIVELY SAYING, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO LET OTHER SCHOOLS DO THIS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO REQUIRE MASKS.

>> AND YET THERE ARE SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS REQUIRING MASKS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THE LAW DOESN'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER.

WHAT IF A JUDGE RULES IT'S RETROACTIVELY.

>> WELL, IT WILL PROBABLY GO THROUGH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE COURT SYSTEM, BUT WHAT I SEE IS A VIRUS THAT IS SPREADING EVERY DAY MORE AND MORE TO MORE ARIZONANS, AND WE HAVE SCHOOLS OPENING THEIR DOORS TO, AGAIN, HALF OF THEIR CLIENT POPULATION, HALF OF THEIR STUDENT POPULATION THAT HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE VACCINE, SO IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO SEE THAT WE'RE SETTING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF UP LIKE THIS, WHEN WE KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE GET ILL.

THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO MISS SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ARE ILL. WE HAVE HAD STAFF AND ENTIRE CLASSROOMS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED TO QUARANTINE SO FAR, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO GET BETTER UNTIL WE HAVE ENOUGH ARIZONANS THAT ARE TAKING THE VACCINE, AND DOING EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DO.

WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY, STAY SOCIALLY DISTANCED, AND WEAR MASKS.

WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE DOING IT, AND NOT ENOUGH LEADERS ARE REQUIRING IT.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PARENTS AND TEACHERS?

>> PARENTS ARE VERY ANXIOUS, AND EDUCATORS WHO HAVE THEIR OWN CHILDREN, THEY KNOW BEST WHAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE WALKING INTO.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE HOPING FOR THE BEST, BUT BEING ONE OF THE STATES THAT HAS ALL OF THEIR STUDENTS BACK BEFORE MOST OF THE OTHER NATION DOES, WE HAVE MADE OURSELVES THE PETRI DISH, AND WE WILL BE TEACHING A LESSON FOR EVERY OTHER STATE TO FOLLOW.

TEACHERS ARE BY AND LARGE EDUCATORS, ARE BY AND LARGE VACCINATED.

I THINK THEY POLLED THE MEMBERSHIP, AND THEY RESPONDED WITH 90% THAT HAVE TAKEN BOTH -- THAT ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT TREND.

THAT PEOPLE TAKE THIS VIRUS SERIOUSLY, SO WE CAN PUT IT BEHIND US, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS.

IF WE DON'T DO EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM IN OUR COMMUNITY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, THEN OUR SCHOOLS WILL NEVER BE AS SAFE AS THEY NEED TO BE, AND WE'RE PUTTING OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS AT RISK EVERY DAY.

>> LET'S SAY THE LAW GOES AHEAD, AGAIN, ARE SCHOOLS PREPARED FOR THIS.

THE ONES THAT HAVE REQUIRED MASKS -- AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE.

>> EDUCATORS ARE SOME OF THE MOST CREATIVE PEOPLE I HAVE EVER BEEN AROUND.

THE ONE PROBLEM IS KEEPING THE FUNDING FOLLOWING THOSE CREATIVE IDEAS.

RIGHT NOW WE JUST WANT TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL YEAR MOVES FORWARD IN A SAFE WAY, AND IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE EVERY ONE OF US, AND EVERY POLICY MAKER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT TYING THE HANS OF OUR SCHOOL LEADERS, SO IF WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, I -- I KNOW THE DISTRICTS WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

THE DIFFICULTY RIGHT NOW IS THEY ARE HAVING TO VIOLATE THE LAW IN ORDER TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE, EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IT'S ALL PREDICATED ON EDUCATING STUDENTS.

ARE YOU CONFIDENT STUDENTS WILL BE EDUCATE THIS YEAR IN PERHAPS A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR.

>> THEY LEARNED IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MY OWN CHILDREN.

AND I AM ASTOUNDED ABOUT WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT SAFETY MITIGATION AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, SO WE'RE CERTAINLY LEARNING.

WE WANT TO GET BACK TO TEACHING THE LESSONS THAT -- THAT THE STANDARDS ASKED US TO TEACH.

WE WANT TO GET BACK TO PURSUING THE IDEA THAT STUDENTS CAN BE LIFE-LONG LEARNERS, SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SITUATION LOOKS LIKE, I KNOW THE STUDENTS WILL BE LEARNING, BUT IT IS UP TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURES TO DETERMINE WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.

BUT WE HAVE GOT TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

IS THE GOVERNOR GOING TO EMPOWER THE DISTRICTS TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE, AND MAKE SURE WE ARE IN, IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AS LONG AS WE CAN BE, AND MOVE THIS STATE AND NATION FORWARD THROUGH THIS TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

>> JOE THOMAS, THANK YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> UP NEXT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATION OF PHOENIX POLICE.

>>> THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION INTO THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT COMES AFTER YEARS OF CONTROVERSY.

WE ASKED FORMER PHOENIX ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF KEVIN ROBINSON ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION, AND WHY THE DOJ TOOK THIS ACTION AT THIS TIME.

KEVIN ROBINSON WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THIS ANNOUNCEMENT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WHETHER I WAS SURPRISED, YES AND NO.

I WAS SURPRISED THAT IT WAS INVOLVED AS MUCH AS IT IS, BASED ON THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

I THOUGHT PHOENIX HAD BEEN MOVING ALONG DOING THE THINGS THAT WERE EXPECTED, BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS THERE HAS NOT BEEN REALLY ANY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OVERSIGHT, SO I THINK THE DOJ IS STARTING TO RAMP BACK UP.

I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE OF THESE TYPES OF THINGS, AND I DON'T THINK IT IS A BAD THING.

IT COULD BE A VERY GOOD THING FOR THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> DO YOU THINK THE CITY OF PHOENIX WAS SURPRISED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT?

>> I THINK YES, THEY WERE.

THE CITY MANAGER -- I THINK HE SAID HE HEARD ABOUT IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, SO THAT'S PRETTY SHORT NOTICE.

BUT THEY KNEW THAT PHOENIX LEAD THE NATION IN THE NUMBER OF OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS A FEW YEARS BACK, SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE STATISTICS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BELIEF THAT SOMETHING MAY COME OUT OF THOSE ACTIONS.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH THE CHANGE OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEW FOLKS AT THE DOJ.

THE PROBLEMS WITH THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE TALKED TO YOU AND SO MANY OTHERS ABOUT IT, ARE THEY, HAVE THEY BEEN, ARE THEY CURRENTLY SYSTEMIC?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

I KNOW WHEN I WAS IN THE ORGANIZATION, AND IT HAPPENED FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE I WAS IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUED ON AFTER I LEFT, PHOENIX ADDRESSED ISSUES THAT CAME TO THEIR ATTENTION.

NOW DID SOME THINGS SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS?

DID SOME PEOPLE DO SOME THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE?

MOST CERTAINLY.

BUT I WAS ALWAYS PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT DEALT WITH THOSE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT CAME TO THEIR ATTENTION.

MAYBE NOT TO THE EXPECTATION OF SOME FOLKS, BUT WITHIN THE RULES SET WITHIN THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY DID WHAT THEY COULD.

>> THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOOKED AT EVERYTHING AND SAID MORE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT, AND A GOOD POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THINGS, AND YOU LOOK AT THE DISCIPLINE THAT AT TIMES WAS ASSESSED, I CAN THINK OF THE TIME THAT CHIEF WILLIAMS TERMINATED AN OFFICER WHO SMASHED A MAN'S HEAD DOWN ON THE GROUND AND BROKE HIS TEETH, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE THINGS -- I'M SURE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS SAYING, WOE, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

AND I'M SURE AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS INVESTIGATION, I THINK THEY -- I WON'T SAY OKAY, BUT I THINK THEY WILL HAVE SOME SATISFACTION -- A LITTLE BIT OF SATISFACTION, AND A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF PROBABLY A BETTER WORD -- A LITTLE RELIEF WITH THE ACTIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PUSHBACK.

WILL RANK AND FILE FALL INTO THIS?

>> I THINK IT IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

I THINK THE FORWARD LOOKING RANK AND FILE SERGEANTS AND ADMINISTRATION, IF THEY SIT BACK AT LOOK AT WHAT THIS IS, THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SAYING THIS IS HOW YOU CAN BE BETTER THAN WHAT YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.

AND I WOULD WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT CHANGE.

IF I WAS AN OFFICER, I WOULD THINK, THIS IS GOOD.

AND IF THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO DELIVER OUR SERVICES, THEN WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, SO THE OFFICERS SHOULD LOOK AT IT FROM THAT STAND, AND I THINK WE'LL BE GOOD WITH IT.

YOU WILL DEFINITELY HAVE THOSE THAT PUSH BACK AND SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT THIS, AND THAT'S THE WRONG MESSAGE TO SEND TO THE COMMUNITY.

IF WE SIT BACK AND THINK ABOUT IT IN YOUR PROFESSION, YOU HAVE OVERSIGHT, IN THE MEDICAL PROCESSION, THE TEACHING PROFESSION, EVERY PROFESSION HAS SOMEBODY MAKING SURE THEY OPERATE IN THE BOUNDARIES THEY NEED TO OPERATE IN.

>> THE CHIEF REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND THAT IS NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

HOW DOES THAT DYNAMIC PLAY INTO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, I THINK THE DYNAMIC OF NOT REPORTING TO A POLITICIAN IS VERY GOOD, BECAUSE AS IN SOME CITIES -- CHICAGO, NEW YORK, EVERY TIME A NEW MAYOR COMES IN, A NEW POLICE CHIEF COMES IN, AND THAT'S SO UNSTABLING.

YOU TAKE THE CITY OF PHOENIX, WITH THE SET UP, THE CITY MANAGER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HIS PENDING RETIREMENT, BUT HE HAS BEEN SOMEBODY WHO HAS GROWN UP IN THE CITY STRUCTURE.

HE UNDERSTANDS IT.

HE KNOWS IT.

HE HAS RAPPORT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY COMING AND GOING EVERY FOUR YEARS, I THINK THAT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR REALLY SYSTEMIC ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> AND LAST QUESTION HERE, KEVIN -- AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME HERE -- BUT WITH THAT UNELECTED OFFICIAL, WILL THE COMMUNITY THEN SEE AS THIS INVESTIGATION, THE PRO- -- THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS A GOOD THING, AS A NECESSARY THINK, AND ENOUGH OF A THING?

>> I HOPE THEY DO.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS GOING TO COME UP WITH SOME THINGS THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO DO, AND ALSO HIGHLIGHT THINGS THEY ALREADY DO.

THEY ARE GOING TO SAY THIS IS GOOD.

THIS IS CUTTING EDGE.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE NOW, YOU CAN SEE OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.

THEY ARE VERY TRANSPARENT.

SO YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THE CITY MANAGER, THE POLICE CHIEF, THE MAYOR, EVERYBODY WHO HAD A SAY INTO ADOPTING THAT POLICY, BUT -- BUT THE CITIZENS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SIT BACK.

I HOPE THEY REALLY TAKE THEIR TIME.

I KNOW THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT AND GIVE THEIR PERSPECTIVE, AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO HEAR HOW THEIR COMMUNITIES FEEL ABOUT HOW THEY PROTECT AND HOW THEY POLICE, BECAUSE IN THE END -- YOU KNOW, THE FINAL -- THE FINAL RUN OF THINGS, IT WILL ONLY BE GOOD FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY, SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WILL TAKE A -- TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOOKS LIKE, WHAT THEY THINK IS GOOD, WHAT THEY THINK IS BAD, AND WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE.

>> KEVIN ROBINSON ALWAYS A PLEASURE, SIR, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

BYE-BYE.

>>> THE WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL IS WORKING TO BRING UNIQUE AND DIVERSE ART TO THE VALLEY.

ONE SUCH EXAMPLE IS THE PASCAL BOKAR AFRO BLUE-GRAZZ BAND, WHICH INCLUDES AN PERFORMANCE AND AN INTERACTIVE CONVERSATION ON THE ROOTS OF WEST AFRICAN CULTURE.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM SANDRA BASSETT, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

LET'S START WITH -- THE WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT?

>> WELL, THE WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1969.

WE'RE CURRENTLY LOCATED IN SURPRISE, ARIZONA RIGHT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, AND PRIDE OURSELVES OF BEING THE ARTS AND CULTURE CONNECTOR FOR THE 13 DIFFERENT CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE WEST VALLEY, BRINGS ALL TYPES OF EVENTS FROM OUR PROGRAMS CALLED ART ADVANTAGE, A PROGRAM CALLED CREATIVE AGING.

WE HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM CALLED GALLERY 37, WHICH IS A PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION PROGRAM.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM I'M EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT CALLED IMPRINT, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ARTISTS OF COLOR, AND WE ALSO HAVE AN ART GALLERY.

WE DO A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS GREAT STATE.

>> YEAH, YOU SOUND VERY BUSY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT EXPANDING THE ARTS PROGRAM.

>> WE FOUND THERE IS A SERIOUS OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE ENGAGE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

OUR PROGRAM IS CALLED IMPRINT, AND IT HAS THREE DIFFERENT PILLARS OF SUCCESS.

ONE IS FOCUSING AROUND AFRICAN AMERICANS.

ANOTHER FOCUSES AROUND LATINO, HISPANIC, AND MEXICAN CULTURE, AND THE NEW ONE THIS YEAR CENTERS AROUND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

WE FOUND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONNECT DEEPLY IN THE ART COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE OF COLOR, IF YOU ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN, IF YOU ARE HISPANIC, IF YOU ARE INDIGENOUS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU, BECAUSE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO DO EXHIBITS, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, MUSIC, EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT.

WE'RE LOOKING TO BE THAT CONNECTOR, SO YOU CAN COME TO US, AND WE CAN HELP GET YOU CONNECTED THROUGHOUT THE WEST VALLEY >> LET'S TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE MUSICAL PERFORMS, PASCAL BOKAR AFRO BLUE-GRAZZ BAND.

TALK TO US ABOUT WHY THIS -- THIS ALMOST SEEMS LIKE IT IS EMBLEMATIC OF EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

WHEN I WAS PRESENTED WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY FROM MY GOOD FRIEND, HE SAID IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER.

AND HE IS A NATIONAL ARTIST AND TEACHES MUSIC AT HIS UNIVERSITY, AND WE'RE ABLE TO BRING HIM AND TIE HIM IN WITH THIS PROGRAM TO CELEBRATE CULTURAL DIVERSITY.

SO HIS BAND IS COMING TO INDICATE PEOPLE ON HOW THIS MUSIC HAS EVOLVED AND COME HERE TO AMERICA AND UTILIZED JAZZ AND ALL OF THE ELEMENTS FROM AFRICAN CULTURE TO BRING US AN INCREDIBLE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL, INTERACTIVE, EDUCATIONAL EVENT, AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE WITH US HERE AT OTTAWA UNIVERSITY.

THEY WILL BE AT THE GNASH, I BELIEVE, TONIGHT, AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN TUCSON TOMORROW.

SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH THIS TYPE OF PERFORMANCE THAT REALLY TRAVELS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE IT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD.

>> INDEED.

JAZZ, BLUES, VOODOO, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING COVERED BY THIS.

AND THERE WILL BE AN INTERACTIVE CONVERSATION BEFORE THE CONCERT, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

PASCAL WILL BE HERE TO EDUCATE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND HE IS COMING HERE WITH AN 11-PIECE BAND.

THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE, ENGAGE, AND HAVE A GREAT 45-MINUTE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AFTER THE CONVERSATION.

>> AND THAT WILL AT THE GNASH TONIGHT, CORRECT?

>> THE GNASH TONIGHT, AND IT WILL BE HERE AT OTTAWA UNIVERSITY, SO YOU CAN BUY TICKETS FOR OUR PERFORMANCE THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON AUGUST 11TH ON OUR WEBSITE, AND IF YOU PUT IN A SPECIAL CODE THAT SAYS TV, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET YOUR TICKETS FOR HALF PRICE.

>> LISTEN TO YOU SELLING THAT.

GREAT JOB.

SANDRA BASSETT, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU ON WEDNESDAY.

>>> 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 OUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE ARIZONA CARDINALS MAKE HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS WAGERING.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, LATINO MUSICALS MADE INTO MOVIES.

♪♪