Aug. 7 Event Promotes Higher Education as Part of Tribal Culture

July 23, 2010

Pima Community College’s Downtown Campus hosts the annual Native Education Kickoff on Aug. 7.

The event targets area Native American families – parents and children in grades K-20. It is sponsored by the Native Education Alliance, Native Images, Inc., San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation and PCC.

The Kickoff, formerly called Back to School Bash, is in its fourth year and is designed to promote a tribal culture that includes higher education as a value, says NEA Interim Director Melodie Lopez.

The Kickoff, which is free, consists of an information fair, college panel discussion, age-specific workshops and a school supplies giveaway at the completion of the morning workshops. More than 450 parents and adults attended the 2009 event, where more than 250 bags of school supplies were provided. In addition, 50 percent of the parent attendees last year brought three or more children, while 25 percent of the parent attendees brought five or more children.

Registration for the event starts at 8 a.m. Downtown Campus is at 1255 N. Stone Ave. Downtown Campus President Johnson Bia, Ph.D., and Downtown Campus Outreach Coordinator Debra Castelan are on the event’s organizing committee. To learn more about the event, including sponsorships and donations of school supplies, contact Jonathan Rios of Native Images, JRios@NativeImages.org or 520-882-6120.

CONTACT:
A. Rachelle Howell, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing,
(520) 206-4850