AAUW Green Valley Programs Schedule 2025-2026
September 16, 2025
9:00am Social | 9:30 meeting
Canoa Hills Center, 3660 Camino Del Sol
Youth On Their Own
Speaker: Rashel Olalde
This presentation will introduce Youth On Their Own (YOTO), a local nonprofit dedicated to helping high school students experiencing homelessness in Pima County. Attendees will learn how YOTO empowers youth to stay in school and graduate through financial assistance, basic needs support, and personalized guidance—and how members of the community can get involved to make a difference.
October 21, 2025
Defending Our Rights and Liberties:
Legal Action, Advocacy,
Community Power
Speakers: Katelyn Contreras, Policy Strategist ACLU AZ
and Victoria Lopez, Executive Director ACLU AZ
The speakers will address ongoing and emerging threats to civil rights and civil liberties in the state. Due process, bodily autonomy, freedom of speech, mass deportation and the importance of continued legal advocacy, public engagement, and community action will be highlighted.
November 18, 2025
Immigrants and the Economy:
A Vicious or Virtuous Cycle
Speaker: Dr. Lisa M. Sanchez
UA School of Government and Public Policy
This talk will discuss the important relationship between immigrants and the economy. While current rhetoric suggests that immigrants are harmful to the economy, they have historically been a generator for growth and development. Together we will delve into the historic underpinnings and discuss the current consequences associated with their unprecedented removal from our economy through deportation.
December 16, 2025
Securing Arizona’s Water Future
Speaker: AZ State Senator Rosanna Gabaldon
Arizona State Senator Rosanna Gabaldón will discuss the critical issues surrounding water in Arizona with a focus on Southern Arizona. She will explain where our water comes from, including the Colorado River, groundwater, and reclaimed sources, and how cities, farms, and industry use it. Senator Gabaldón will highlight current challenges such as drought, groundwater depletion, and growth pressures, and share recent bipartisan legislation and policy efforts to ensure a sustainable water supply. We can learn how Arizona is adapting its water management for the future and what we can do as a community to support our state’s secure and resilient water future.
January 20, 2026
Beef, Wheat & Chiltepín:
Sonora’s Culinary Heritage
Speaker: Alex LaPierre of Borderlandia
Find out how the confluence of geography, environments, cultures, economics and religion shaped the culinary culture of the Sonoran Desert in this seminar with historian Alex La Pierre. If you ever wondered what makes Sonoran cuisine unique and what sets it apart in Mexican gastronomy, this program is for you.
February 17, 2026
From Girdles and Gloves to the Glass Ceiling and Beyond
Speakers: Bonnie Boyce-Wilson and Debbie Hansen
co-chairs AAUW We Made History! Project
Bonnie and Debbie will give a brief explanation of the AAUW We Made History! Project, the vital importance of women’s history to the overall tapestry of American history, and the essential role of AAUW member stories. A majority of our members have witnessed over the past six decades the most dramatic changes in the status of women in history. We have lived to tell the tales of the challenges we faced and the actions we have taken to improve the lives of women and girls, including our own. Green Valley branch members will have a chance to reminisce about those challenges and changes
March 17, 2026
Current Borderland Issues/Status
Speaker: Marilyn Kern, Moderator
and Panel Members
The major topics presented will be Desert Searches and Water Drops, Border Watches and Federal Immigration Court Hearings. Also one presenter will run down all of the volunteer programs that are in place to assist nearly every facet of our concerns.
April 21, 2026
We are pleased to announce that the Silver $ Duo (Taylor Hoskins and Dan Mazur) both excellent guitarists and singers, who play American/Country/Rock music from the 50s to the 90s, will be performing at our annual brunch this year. The duo, also part of the four-member group, the Silver $ n Change, have performed numerous times throughout our community, in addition to performing with other groups in Michigan (Dan) and Ohio (Taylor). Taylor also has co-written songs that are on two albums. We are so fortunate to have them entertain us at our event. So be prepared to sit back and enjoy the music!
May 19, 2026
Arizona’s Public Schools at Risk: Vouchers, Privatization, and the Fight for Equity
Speaker: Shelly Hartman
Pima County-Community Action Team Coordinator for SOS
This talk will examine the growing crisis in Arizona’s public education system, focusing on the expansion of universal ESA vouchers and their impact on funding, transparency, and equity. It will also highlight the work of Save Our Schools Arizona and grassroots efforts to protect and strengthen public education statewide.