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OPCS is a Tucson-based nonprofit serving Pima County since 1996. We provide housing, counseling and support services to people experiencing homelessness in our community. The Covid-19 pandemic combined with a severe shortage of affordable housing has caused an alarming increase in homelessness in our community. The 2022 Point in Time Count identified a total of 2,227 homeless households in Pima County. We are requesting funding for OPCS’s Home Fund, a program established to ensure that individuals not eligible for government funded programs can access shelter services. Further, it helps cover Section 8 Housing application and deposit fees so individuals and families can secure permanent housing. These fees are not paid by HUD. The Home Fund also provides employment support and helps with children’s needs. The Rotary Club of Tucson’s support is more critical now than ever. As homelessness in our community continues to increase, so do requests for Home Fund assistance. By stabilizing people through shelter, moving them into permanent housing, and implementing assistance programs to help keep them housed, we can not only reduce, but eliminate, homelessness in Pima County.
For 60 years Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona has served children and youth in Tucson by providing and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Our mentoring model has proven time and again that providing additional friendship and guidance to youth is a powerful way to prevent risky behaviors and dropping out of school. We ask the Tucson Rotary to support the launch of our high school mentoring program, Mentor2.0, at Tucson High School, Sunnyside High School, and Apollo Middle School. Mentor2.0 combines mentoring and classroom curriculum to support students from 9th grade through graduation. Mentor2.0 students graduate high school with the knowledge they need to be successful and a plan for their future!
Tommy Lloyd is the Head Coach for Men’s Basketball at University of Arizona. As a player he was on the team at Kelso High School in the state of Washington and at Walla Walla Community College and then Whitman college where he earned his degree in Biology. He went on to play professionally in Australia and in Germany.
District 5500 Governor Anita McDonald is Chancellor Emerita of Penn State DuBois and served in that role for 10 years prior to her retirement in December 2012. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Anita earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics and mathematics education respectively from Wayne State University and her Ph.D. in Education from St. Louis University.
With all the data around the impact of the pandemic on our youth’s education and mental health, is there a way to come back stronger and support our schools in lower socio-economic neighborhoods? Restart SMART uses a community schools' strategy for organizing school and community resources around student and family success. We support the students' and families' holistic wellness by providing wrap-around services and addressing all the non-academic needs that impact the school. Our data shows up to 80% improvement in student attendance, a significant reduction in negative student behaviors, higher parent engagement, and increased resource referral success rates from 10% to over 70% in school sites. Nationally, studies have found that for every dollar spent on community schools strategy, $7 to $13 dollars of support are returned to the community. Combined with Higher Ground's unique approach to youth and family engagement, each Restart SMART site is fully responsive to every unique needs and enhances existing resources in the community while bridging current gaps. Finally, each site is locally empowered through a community steering committee that is supported as they learn to perform continuous needs analysis, quality improvements, and partnership recruitment and management to ensure each site becomes self-sustaining.
Our first Replacement/Social Mixer for the 2022-23 Rotary year is WEDNESDAY, August 31, 2022 at Noble Hops (DoubleTree), 445 S. Alvernon Way from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. This Mixer replaces our Wednesday lunch meeting. Let's all have some fun and fellowship at Noble Hops!
Susan will provide a regional economic development overview and update, highlighting targeted industries, current trends, recent announcements, and competitive issues.
Jan Lesher ~ Biography 
Oksana was
a “military brat”. Her father was a career border security officer for the Soviet Union, then the country of Ukraine after the fall of the Soviet. Her father is from Ukraine and her mother was Russian. Oksana was born in Kazakhstan and lived in many countries all around the perimeter of the Soviet Union, as her father was transferred. She came to the US in 2002 and had her son Edward in 2004. She has a degree in teaching from the University of Kharkiv. She became a US Citizen in 2013.
Chief Kasmar is a native of Tucson, Arizona. He came to the Tucson Police Department in 2000, shortly after graduating from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He has also attended executive training with Harvard Senior Executives in State and Local Government, the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police, Arizona Chiefs of Police, FBINA Leadership Potential Course, and the Southwest Leadership Program through the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management. He is certified as a Hostage Negotiator, a Motor Officer, an AZPOST General Instructor, and an Ethics Post Basic Instructor.
Renee' Gonzales ~ Biography
Greetings my Fellow Rotarians,
JULY UPCOMING SCHEDULE: 
JUNE/JULY UPCOMING SCHEDULE: 
Fellow Rotarians,
Empower Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was started in 2016. Their mission is to improve lives in the greater Tucson community by empowering charitable organizations with resources necessary to carrying out their missions. In just three years, we have raised over $785,000 to benefit local veteran’s organizations. A group of committed individuals who volunteer their time, talent and treasure to raise money through two signature events: The Tucson Beefsteak and The Great Tricycle Race. Jim Story is the founder of the Empower Coalition.
Jack Clements ~ Biography
Our last Replacement/Social Mixer for the 2021-22 Rotary year is June 1st. This mixer will be held at Trident III, 250 S. Craycroft (South of Broadway Blvd.) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Guests are invited, the fee is $25 and will be billed to your account. No host bar. All must register at the website 
Angel Charity for Children is celebrating 40 years this year. Karen Farrell and Adrianna Rincon will be presenting a summary of Angel Charity, its mission, its members, how the organization works and why they are considered Tucson’s “Halo for Hire”. Our 2022 large Beneficiaries are Youth on Their Own (YOTO) and National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI). Our 2022 small Beneficiaries are Boys to Men Tucson, El Rio Health Center Foundation, Junior Achievement of Arizona, Nourish, TMC Foundation, Tucson Girls Chorus and YWCA Southern Arizona. 
Dr. Andrew Tang will discuss trauma as the silent modern epidemic and its impact on our Tucson community and society at large. He will discuss what trauma care entails, the various components of a trauma system and the process for a hospital to become a verified trauma center. By the end, his hope is for the audience to understand the invaluable resource that is our Trauma Center, and its rigorous dedication to ensure health and safety to our community.
Scott Stiteler is the principal owner of Tucson Urban LLC and several related entities. He received a BS in Economics from Santa Clara University in 1989 and a MBA from Santa Clara University in 1992. In 1990 Mr. Stiteler formed Stellar Homes, Inc. to build urban, infill, residential projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1994 Mr. Stiteler expanded development activities to Tucson, Arizona. He has developed approximately twenty-five projects in the Tucson area and continues with those endeavors. While in Tucson, Mr. Stiteler diversified his development focus, expanding into income producing properties and redevelopment of vintage buildings in downtown Tucson.
Rotary Club of Tucson Foundation President, Joni Condit, will share how our Club Foundation allows us to advance the Rotary mission at a local level to make our community better. Did you know that our club did not always have a Foundation? Find out how the range of areas that our Club has provided support and service over the years. Bobby Larson, 2022 Tucson Classics Car Show Chair, will provide an update on this year’s Car Show. Grants Committee Chair, Jim Murphy, will provide an overview of the proposed changes in the selection of beneficiaries for 2023 and beyond and members will have the opportunity to vote to approve these changes. 
Our Home Hospitality events begin April 24th and go through the 30th. These social events will replace our Wednesday, April 27th lunch meeting. We want to thank all the members who have graciously volunteered to open up their homes and host an event. This a wonderful way to relax, meet fellow Rotarians outside of the lunch meeting and have some fun! If you have any questions, please call the Rotary office at 623-2281. Again, these events take the place of our lunch meeting on April 27th. Our next regular lunch meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 4th at TCC. 
Dr. Robert C. Robbins will discuss the University of Arizona's mission as a land-grant university, including its leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is now well-positioned to create positive impact in Arizona and globally in the years to come.
Heather Hardy is known for her captivating smooth ambient violin playing as well as her appealing soulful “wah-wah” blues solos.
