As a lifetime Catholic Charity Worker, Flagg has worked with the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen. As a council member for the City of South Tucson, he has been at the forefront of advocacy for affordable housing. Working with other Casa Maria Soup Kitchen staff, he spearheaded the purchase of the Arizona Motel to renovate affordable housing and the El Camino Motel. Flagg will give an update on Tucson’s affordable housing crisis and what can be done about it.

REMINDER: THIS LECTURE SERIES NOW STARTS AS 3:00 PM.

Bryan Benz’s career took a detour in 2012 when he became a missionary with the Global CHE Network and began working overseas training organizations and churches in “wholistic community development”. Benz was amazed to see how rural villagers in the developing world used their own solutions, and their own resources to solve their own problems after receiving Community Health Evangelism (CHE) training. Communities changed spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, and environmentally. Most recently, he led a task force to reduce poverty in the city of Tucson using the same CHE strategies that have been so successful overseas.

Brian Benz

REMINDER: THIS LECTURE SERIES NOW STARTS AS 3:00 PM.

Youth On Their Own (YOTO) is a Tucson nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless youth in Pima County graduate from high school. In January 2022, YOTO opened in a new, expanded facility. Teens who have sought their help have a graduation rate of 86%. In addition to helping unhoused youth achieve academic success, YOTO also helps students with obstacles they face, such as housing insecurity and the transition to adulthood. Join Bethany Neumann of YOTO to learn more about their important work.

Nancy Bissell and Gordon Packer began the Primavera Foundation in the 1980s to serve as a shelter for Tucson’s growing unhoused population. They wanted to tackle the root causes of the problem. Since then, the organization has focused on creating pathways out of poverty through housing, workforce development, homeownership and financial education. They also work on comprehensive community development. Join Foundation CEO Tisha Tallman to hear about her advocacy for individuals, families and communities at the intersection of poverty, homelessness and race/ethnicity at the Primavera Foundation.

REMINDER: THIS LECTURE SERIES NOW STARTS AS 3:00 PM.