Community Ambassadors

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Who are the Community Ambassadors? 

Community Ambassadors are an integral part of the Tucson Norte-Sur Phase I community engagement efforts to help ensure that community voices are centered in guiding the plan. They have deep ties to their various communities across the study-area. They have been recruited based on their breadth of knowledge, community involvement, and valuable perspectives in order to carry out a variety of on-the-ground engagement activities. The group is representative and reflective of this corridor.

Community Ambassadors literally meet the community where they are. Instead of asking people to come to public meetings, the Ambassadors go to them and engage community members in conversations about the Tucson Norte-Sur Plan. They host diverse community dialogues with small groups of residents at times and places that are convenient for them. They meet community members at places where they already congregate such as transit centers, grocery stores, or neighborhood events. They also bring their own talents and creative connections to this project whether it’s getting people to fill out surveys while serving them out of a food truck or hopping on a bus and engaging the riders about the plan.

These engagement activities are focused on hearing from the people who live, work, travel and have history in the study area to make sure that the Tucson Norte-Sur reflects their vision and priorities.

Community Ambassadors have completed a series of trainings, including background information on Tucson Norte-Sur. They are working closely with Selina Barajas, the Lead Community Ambassador, who's overseeing the program and supporting the ambassadors in their outreach and engagement efforts.




Come share with the Community Ambassadors at one of our upcoming events!

  • 12 pop-up events with information about the project and activities to share ideas (April - May) – Check out the upcoming pop-up events on the right to get involved!
  • 12 Community Dialogues with community stakeholders (May - June) – Interested in hosting a community dialogue? Contact Selina Barajas at sbarajas@azplanningcenter.com or (520) 209-2636, ext. 7118.

Community Ambassadors play a crucial role in making public engagement more approachable, inclusive, and accessible. Through community dialogues, pop-ups, and other creative outreach/engagement activities, they gather thoughts, ideas, and concerns from community members and share them with the rest of the project team to guide the Tucson Norte-Sur strategic plan. The first phase of their engagement work will wrap up at the end of June 2022.





What We've Been Hearing

 Check out what the Community Ambassadors have been hearing so far here. 

Who are the Community Ambassadors? 

Community Ambassadors are an integral part of the Tucson Norte-Sur Phase I community engagement efforts to help ensure that community voices are centered in guiding the plan. They have deep ties to their various communities across the study-area. They have been recruited based on their breadth of knowledge, community involvement, and valuable perspectives in order to carry out a variety of on-the-ground engagement activities. The group is representative and reflective of this corridor.

Community Ambassadors literally meet the community where they are. Instead of asking people to come to public meetings, the Ambassadors go to them and engage community members in conversations about the Tucson Norte-Sur Plan. They host diverse community dialogues with small groups of residents at times and places that are convenient for them. They meet community members at places where they already congregate such as transit centers, grocery stores, or neighborhood events. They also bring their own talents and creative connections to this project whether it’s getting people to fill out surveys while serving them out of a food truck or hopping on a bus and engaging the riders about the plan.

These engagement activities are focused on hearing from the people who live, work, travel and have history in the study area to make sure that the Tucson Norte-Sur reflects their vision and priorities.

Community Ambassadors have completed a series of trainings, including background information on Tucson Norte-Sur. They are working closely with Selina Barajas, the Lead Community Ambassador, who's overseeing the program and supporting the ambassadors in their outreach and engagement efforts.




Come share with the Community Ambassadors at one of our upcoming events!

  • 12 pop-up events with information about the project and activities to share ideas (April - May) – Check out the upcoming pop-up events on the right to get involved!
  • 12 Community Dialogues with community stakeholders (May - June) – Interested in hosting a community dialogue? Contact Selina Barajas at sbarajas@azplanningcenter.com or (520) 209-2636, ext. 7118.

Community Ambassadors play a crucial role in making public engagement more approachable, inclusive, and accessible. Through community dialogues, pop-ups, and other creative outreach/engagement activities, they gather thoughts, ideas, and concerns from community members and share them with the rest of the project team to guide the Tucson Norte-Sur strategic plan. The first phase of their engagement work will wrap up at the end of June 2022.





What We've Been Hearing

 Check out what the Community Ambassadors have been hearing so far here. 

Ambassador Bios

Learn a little bit more about our Community Ambassadors and why they care about their community!

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Edilia "Dee" Toro on Facebook Share Edilia "Dee" Toro on Twitter Share Edilia "Dee" Toro on Linkedin Email Edilia "Dee" Toro link

    Edilia "Dee" Toro

    by Nora Bland, over 3 years ago


    Places I call home: City of South Tucson, West Barrio Ochoa Neighborhood

    What I love to do: I like to do a lot of things, art stuff like drawing, painting, crocheting, beading but I also like cooking, baking, walking my neighborhood and other close neighborhoods

    My favorite place along the corridor and why: I have several places along the corridor that I like but the one closest to my heart is the John A. Valenzuela Youth Center. This place is like home to me, I was in the opening ceremonies to the JVYC so many years ago and was fortunate... Continue reading

  • Share Valentina Vavages-Andrew on Facebook Share Valentina Vavages-Andrew on Twitter Share Valentina Vavages-Andrew on Linkedin Email Valentina Vavages-Andrew link

    Valentina Vavages-Andrew

    by Nora Bland, over 3 years ago

    Places I call home: Chuckson (Tucson) the great Tohono O'odham Nation, the Sonoran Deserts are my ancestral lands!

    What I love to do: I love to travel, I'm a radio dj/podcaster, I love the outdoors, I enjoy learning, experiencing, & carrying on my cultural traditions, I collect 90s toys, I'm always down for unplanned adventures.

    My favorite place along the corridor and why: The Cesar Chavez Bridge on I-10 & S. 6h Ave, because it represents much of what I fight for every day. The freedom and dignity to be indigenous, to represent my roots, my culture, language, lifestyle, but... Continue reading

  • Share Mike "Slick" Edmonds on Facebook Share Mike "Slick" Edmonds on Twitter Share Mike "Slick" Edmonds on Linkedin Email Mike "Slick" Edmonds link

    Mike "Slick" Edmonds

    by Nora Bland, over 3 years ago


    Places I call home: Tucson House, Barrio Blue Moon Neighborhood, Thrive in the 05 area, Ward 3

    What I love to do: Read, write, perform, troubleshoot, "hack"

    My favorite place along the corridor and why: Super Target: one bus to it, and one bus back to home...

    Organizations I belong to: Barrio Blue Moon Neighborhood Association, Thrive in the 05, CEHD, RAB, HCD, CAC/RTA/PAG...

    Bio: Born, raised, and mugged in D.C.; performer, musician; high school in West Germany; broadcast (radio/television/internet) personality; Liaison for Ward 3;
    hacker/cracker"

  • Share Grecia Ramirez on Facebook Share Grecia Ramirez on Twitter Share Grecia Ramirez on Linkedin Email Grecia Ramirez link

    Grecia Ramirez

    by Nora Bland, over 3 years ago

    Places I call home: Tucson & Sonoran Desert

    My favorite place along the corridor: Anything south of Congress Street

    Organizations I belong to: Currently working for Sunnyside Unified School District

    Bio: Grecia grew up walking, biking and taking the bus. She's a nurse who understands how streets, mobility, and health are interconnected. She's a mom who loves all things "hood" including toddlerhood & motherhood.