/ Modified feb 1, 2023 7:01 p.m.

Stories about finding - and making - peace.

On Arizona Spotlight: Safos Dance Theatre premiers "Stories from Home"; harvesting citrus with the Iskashitaa Refugee Network; "What Peace Means to Me", an essay by Eri of Owl & Panther; and thoughts on making a peaceful place from Stories that Soar!

yvonne montoya at home Yvonne Montoya dancing in her home.
Dominic AZ Bonuccelli

Arizona Spotlight

February 2, 2023

NPR
(Download MP3)

Featured on the February 2nd, 2023 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

Stories from home background spotlight Stories from Home brown background featuring Yvonne, her son Buddy, and her father Johnny. Animation still by Wesley Fawcett Creigh.
Courtesy of Yvonne Montoya
buddy querencia spotlight Still image by Wesley Fawcett Creigh from video work by Dominic AZ Bonuccelli.
Courtesy of Yvonne Montoya
  • If you have any citrus fruit trees in your yard, a local non-profit wants to hear from you. This group helps United Nations refugees build new lives in Tucson, while providing local, healthy food to a growing number of residents. Tony Paniagua has an interview with Iskashitaa founder Dr. Barbara Eiswerth and some special volunteers.
barbara eiswerth spotlight Barbara Eiswerth, PhD, is the founder and executive director of Iskashitaa Refugee Network. She established the non-profit organization in 2003 to help United Nations refugees become better acquainted with United States and its people, and to reduce food waste in our community.
Tony Paniagua / AZPM
Lauren Diana NCCC spotlight Lauren Isaak, left, is originally from Oregon and became a team leader for the National Civilian Community Corps, which is part of AmeriCorps. Diana Chookagian, from Pennsylvania, is a member of the NCCC this year after graduating from high school. Along with seven other participants, they are volunteering with the fruit harvesting.
Tony Paniagua / AZPM
Iskashitaa spotlight Barbara Eiswerth, PhD (left) is the founder and executive director of Iskashitaa Refugee Network. She joined us in the AZPM radio studio with Lauren Isaak (dark green top) and Diana Chookagian. Both are members of the National Civilian Community Corps, which is part of AmeriCorps.
Tony Paniagua / AZPM
  • Eri is a young man who emigrated from The Republic of the Congo seven years ago, and is now a member of “Owl and Panther” in Tucson. He reads an essay he wrote about what peace means to him, and lessons from his childhood that helped to form his social conscience.
eri spotlight 1 Eri, a member of Owl and Panther, in the AZPM Studio. Eri immigrated to the United States from The Republic of the Congo.
Courtesy of Abby Hungwe
eri spotlight 2 Eri, who wrote a personal essay about peace, with Arizona Spotlight producer & host Mark McLemore.
Courtesy of Abby Hungwe
  • The Tucson non-profit Literacy Connects sponsers a group of performers and musicians called “Stories That Soar!”. They help young writers realize the power and potential of bringing their stories to life, for the stage, video, and radio. We are now presenting these stories on the first Thursday of every month here on Arizona Spotlight. Next, we’ll hear some wisdom shared by Felicity, a 5th grader at Drexel Elementary in the Sunnyside School District. It is called The Peaceful Place” , narrated by Angela, a middle schooler from the Youth Center Program at Literacy Connects. Aspiring student-age writers can submit their stories to The Magic Box Story Portal now!

The Peaceful Place

If you have ever wished that you could just get away from all of the trouble around you and be in a peaceful place there is only one way to do so.

If you want to be in a peaceful place, just help other people be in theirs because if you help everyone get to their peaceful place there will be no trouble around you.

And if you ask, “How can I help everyone?” Well, you don’t. You only help the ones that are willing to be helped. Some people just don’t want to be helped but that’s okay. Some people will just help themselves. Just try to be a friend and encourage them.

Always be kind to someone in need.

- by Felicity, a 5th grader at Drexel Elementary in Tucson

Webpage by Leah Britton

Arizona Spotlight
Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Saturday at 3:00 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.
ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT airs Fridays at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm, and Saturdays at 5:00 pm, on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM.
This episode of Arizona Spotlight is available on iTunes
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