Nature-based preschool emphasizes outdoor learning

Greenhouse Montessori in Gilbert brings environmental education to its students through hands-on, outdoor activities. Parents and teachers say they appreciate the interactive elements of the unique classroom.

Special needs students in Arizona struggle to get quality education

Access to special needs education can be expensive, sometimes costing thousands of dollars in private school tuition. Parents argue they just want what’s best for their children.

Mixed reactions from Nogales on Trump’s border wall order

President Trump says his measures will improve relations with Mexico. But Nogales Mayor John Doyle and other Arizona officials offer mixed reactions.

Live: Reporter Kassidy McDonald Interviews Nogales Mayor

President Trump announces his plans to move forward with wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border. Cronkite News reports on the reactions of residents of Nogales, Arizona and Gov. Doug Ducey.

Downtown Phoenix Art Culture

The once white washed walls in Downtown Phoenix have quickly gone from bland hues of light and dark beige to a neighborhood with thriving street art culture that have quickly progressed in the past several years.
Specifically this street art culture can be seen almost everywhere on Roosevelt Row arts district near 5th street and Roosevelt. The Roosevelt Row arts district is home to impressive murals as well as award-winning galleries with rotating exhibits from artists. The arts district also hosts quaint local restaurants & Boutiques, such as Jobot, which also hosts local musicians on their patio.
Downtown Phoenix started a Mural Match Program in 2008, which is a part of a Roosevelt Row CDC initiative to eradicate graffiti and promote neighborhood community engagement. The public art program works with communities, schools, businesses and philanthropies.
The program has encouraged people to take pride in where they live; it helps revitalize the city and use graffiti as art and not just to deface or tag property.
Just behind the local businesses on 5th St and Roosevelt there is a Graffiti Alley with all types of beautiful murals and graffiti art as well as an old bus, which has art covering it as well. Many of the graffiti art in the alley were put up during Paint PHX 2015, a four- day mural painting event organized by local artists.
Other notable art pieces nearby include the Peritoneum, which serves as a rotating pop-up park, created by ASU students.
Other murals and artwork nearby are located around 2nd street and Roosevelt, mostly in the back alleys off Roosevelt or on sides of building.
According to AZ Central’s Molly Billker, art like this in downtown phoenix is so powerful because it engages with community issues and realistically reflects the natural environment.
Looking towards the future, with all of the art initiatives that Downtown Phoenix has in store, it seems that Phoenix is set to become a leader in the art scene. Roosevelt Row offers maps online at http://www.rooseveltrow.com that will take visitors on a self-guided tour of all of the art culture Downtown Phoenix has to offer.

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Sincerely Becca: A mom’s Journey, Raising a Son with Autism

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention about 1 in 6 children in the United States have a developmental disability, and 1 in 68 children are identified with autism spectrum disorder.
Xia is a young boy diagnosed with Autism among other disabilities, his mom, Rebecca Masterson, is a Phoenix based lawyer in Arizona who is currently writing a guide for parents on the special education/IEP process in public schools. Masterson has also had articles featured on Huffington Post, Autism Speaks and several others. Additionally, she writes a personal blog at SincerelyBecca.com.

To find out more visit:
Masterson’s website, “Sincerely, Becca”: http://www.sincerelybecca.com
Art Play: http://artplayhealing.com

N.G.D. Clothing Dance Battle (Tempe, AZ)

Hosted by N.G.D clothing, the Valley wide Dance Battle brought hopeful hip-hop dancers of all ages to Tempe’s Beats and cocktail lounge, but for Welsey Arroyo, known under his street name Wild-Wild-West, dancing is more than just an art form. It was his will to live.
After being shot in the abdomen by a 22 caliber bullet, Arroyo was on bed rest in the hospital for over two months, with lack of motion, unable to eat or talk. Doctors told him he would probably be unable to walk, stuck in the body fit for a 65-year-old man. He has a scar on his stomach from the wound which stretches from just under his belly button all the way to his lower waist.
Now, it’s just two years later, and doctors say it’s a phenomenon that Arroyo is even able to walk. Arroyo credits his love of dance and optimistic outlook as the reason that he went from being told he would have limited movement for the rest of his life to winning dance battles around the Valley.
His passion for dance is exactly what won over Chuck Watkins and the other judges to crown Arroyo the “Wild Wild West” as winner of the NDG dance battle , he will receive an international feature in the magazine Dear Arrabella and a professionally shot and edited video of him dancing. Arroyo hopes his success story inspires others.

Feel free to check out more of Wesley Arroyo’s Work:
YouTube: @BeatDropKidz
Instagram: @Wesbizzle

Host of Event (NGD Clothing):
Facebook: @NGDwear
Instagram: @ngdclothing
Twitter: NerdyGDesign

Documentary Short: #EndTheStigma

The following is a 26 minute documentary that I produced and directed for ASU’s Walter Cronkite School:

“Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-24”- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

The #EndTheStigma documentary is a film produced by two students at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU.
The purpose of the film is to inform our audience and start a conversation regarding how we think and talk about mental health and issues that surround it, such as suicide. Topics that involve mental health issues often get stigmatized because many people don’t know or don’t understand how to talk about mental health or talk to people who have mental health issues.
The film focuses on individuals who are currently dealing with mental health issues and have coped with thoughts of suicide. Our documentary also follows the journey of the Commit Campaign, a photo- based social media movement to end the stigma associated with mental health/ mental illness and suicide. Kelsey Oney and Christina Tetreault who are surviors of suicide loss lead the organization. The Commit Campaign’s mission is to reduce the nation’s suicide rate through interacting with the community to create a place to speak freely and openly. The Campaign educates through social media platforms, community networks, and community events to share educational materials/ personal stories of those who are survivors of suicide loss and mental illness.

The Suicide Hotline is available 24/7: 1-(800)-273-8255 or http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Additional information about the Commit Campaign can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/commitcampai…