| Pima County Community College (PCCC) in Tucson, Arizona, is transforming an ordinary elementary schoolyard into a community oasis that will include environmentally appropriate landscaping, a Peace Patio, and a community garden. The project is part of the college's ongoing participation in Pueblo Unido, or "united community," South Tucson's comprehensive revitalization and redevelopment effort.
PCCC, the fifth largest community college in the Nation, is also using HSIAC funds to construct a state-of-the-art classroom at a local elementary school, upgrade the computer lab at a nearby vocational arts high school, and bring members of the South Tucson community together through fine arts activities. Art activities include the creation of community murals and mosaic art, and a drama production that students in the college's Center for the Arts will present to the community.
South Tucson is a small, predominantly Hispanic city where residents are struggling to overcome high levels of poverty, violence, street crime, and delinquency. The city, which has high unemployment rates, low educational attainment, and widespread housing problems, has been designated by HUD as a Champion Community and by the U.S. Department of Justice as a Weed and Seed Community. Local residents are disproportionately young, suggesting that the city can anticipate increased demand for schools, youth programs, and recreational opportunities for children and families.
Pima's community partners are providing matching funds totaling more than $500,000. These partners include the City of South Tucson, the County Department of Community Services, the Tucson Unified School District, and the local Weed and Seed Steering Committee.
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