(Lauren) Hello and welcome to State of the Artz, a series dedicated to highlighting different art and cultural events happening here in Tucson and Southern Arizona.

I'm your host, Lauren Roth, and today we're at the Children's Museum Tucson, where we're learning more about the international phenomenon, Little Amal.

Amal is a 12-foot-tall puppet of a 10- whose name means hope in Arabic.

Her mission is to raise awareness and bring attention to the urgent nee and immigrants around the world.

Since July 2021, Amal has traveled to 15 countri and over 6,000 miles to spread her message.

She's become a global symbol of human rights, and lucky for us, she' in Tucson.

Joining me to talk more about Little Amal is Hilary Van Alsburg, Executive Director of the Children's Museum Tucson.

Thank you so much for joining me today, Hill (Hilary) Of course, Lauren, to have you at (L auren) Tell me a little bit about Little A who's visiting us very shortly.

(Hilary) We're so excited about this.

So we're hosting the #Hola!

an d it's on October 28.

What the public will see and what a part of is just this really heartwarmi moment of celebrating what's wonderful about our community.

It's a cultural celebration gr eat things going on and the diversity and acceptance and really warm messaging of our particular community and trying to get a flavor of Tucson.

(Lauren) What do you think is pa Why does she have such a huge social media following?

(Hilary) Well, it is inspiring.

It's inspiring to see the co out and really gathering around something that is happening all over our world.

The refugee story is very common.

It's part of American history and really making sure that we see ourselves reflected in the community that we embrace at the Children's Museum as well.

(Lauren) Do you find that the story or the message, mission of Little Amal is particularly relevant today?

(Hilary) Oh, it's very relevant I think it's as relevant now There is so much going on in all of our communities, and these families are our families, and these families are our neighbors.

We really want to make sure Children's Museum viewpoint, that everyone sees them reflected in th that we do and that everyone feels welcome and there are as few barriers to accessing the museum as possible.

And we embrace this because it message of hope, and that everyone can get behind that.

(Lauren) What do you hope that they take away from (H ilary) Well, the message of is hope and really recognizing that there are refugees everywhere in the world and just spreading the message of hope and making sure that everyone feels as our community that we are as welcoming as we can possibly be and just that everyone feels welcome to walk with Amal and spread that message of hope The museum angle of it really is families are welcome and children are welcome Because she's a child and she's a puppet of a child, it's really getting children to connect with, there's a message of hope in the refugee story.

(Lauren) Clearly a lot of exciting things are happening here Children's Museum Tucs I wonder what else you have going on.

(Hilary) We have lots of events leading up particular block party celebrating Little Amal.

The discovery nights at the Children's Museum happen e They're free.

They are from 5 till 7, so families are always welcome to come.

We're planning for the solar eclipse.

We always have science and arts Our Art After Dark happens every second Saturday at the Children's Mu That's also a free cultural event.

And we have the Love of Literacy event coming up celebrating literacy on November 4th.

(Lauren) Wonderful.

Thank you so much Hilary.

Thanks for your time and for An d we'll all look forward to Little Amal's visit at the end of October.

(Hilary) Thanks very m we're gl (Lauren) You'll have your chance to see Little Amal at the #Hola!

Tucson Block Party on October 28th at the Children's Museum Tucson.

Thanks for watching State of the ArtZ.

I'm Lauren Roth and we'll [MUSIC]