_ Front page photograph by Andrew Brown, AZPM._
"Hidden Voices" reveals empathy and compassion on the streets of Tucson.
Featured on the July 10th, 2025 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:
- What is being homeless in Tucson really like? Meet Aleena Rafiyath, a local high school student who volunteers with an organization that offers food and healthcare to those in need. She has created a social media project called "Hidden Voices", containing interviews with people that she meets while volunteering at the Z Mansion.
- Meet Irfan Sarwar, an immigrant from Pakistan who is dedicated to creating interfaith connections. Irfan Sarwar demonstrates to others that race and religion can bring us closer together in times of need, while being divisive helps no one.
Muslim Community Center of Tucson
- And, Quinton Antone is a multimedia artist of Tohono O’odham and Kiowa heritage. What sets him apart is his ability to adapt ceremonial elements into secular art, making spiritual themes accessible to a broader audience.
Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.
Webpage by Zoe Juliano.
