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As most people who know me are aware, I’m a product of the arts. Theatre is what kept me in school and the arts have provided me with a career ever since.    Over the years as I moved from acting, to directing, to nonprofit management, and now arts advocacy, I have often asked (and been asked) why the arts are so underfunded in Arizona and other places.    Some of this is cultural and inherited. For example, for some people the historical term “arts & leisure” is still part of the conversation wherein arts & culture (arts) are seen as something nice to have around...

My name is Daniel Hernandez Jr and I'm honored to represent the 2nd Legislative District in the Arizona State House. My district is special and is all of Santa Cruz County, Green Valley, Sahuarita, and South Tucson. I served from 2011 to 2019 on the Sunnyside School Board and during that time helped open a K-8 Fine Arts Magnet school. I recently had the joy of visiting the Pesidio School in Tucson which spent an entire week with their students from Kindergarten to 12th grade integrating Art into their work. Presidio like many schools across Arizona knows the value and importance of Art so t...

Mesa Arts Center’s mission is to invite all people to create and discover entertaining, challenging, and diverse art and arts experiences within joyous, dynamic, and welcoming environments. Owned and operated by the City of Mesa, Mesa Arts Center is a unique, architecturally stunning, international award winning facility located in the heart of downtown Mesa. Arizona's largest multidisciplinary arts center is home to four theaters, five art galleries, 14 art studios, and a seven acre campus with two outdoor stages. Guests come to Mesa Arts Center to experience the finest live entertainment an...

Aliento is a community organization that is DACA, undocumented, and youth-led. They are directly impacted people and allies who are invested in the well being, emotional healing, and leadership development of those impacted by the inequalities of lacking an immigration status. They are currently working on the Arizona’s Future campaign which aims to ensure that college tuition is accessible to all Arizona high school graduates regardless of immigration status. (As you may know, on August 22, 2019 the Arizona Board of Regents unanimously voted on extending the 150% tuition rate to all AZ hi...

Like so many of my colleagues in the Arizona State Legislature, I became involved in politics to make a positive difference in my community.  In my nine years serving LD28, I've had the honor of representing my constituents in their efforts to improve Arizona. The issue most familiar to the readers of this newsletter is arts funding, but there are many, many more issues addressed at the legislature that are not so well known.  Recently, I tackled quality of life problems in neighborhoods -- Sober living homes, Addiction treatment facilities, Airbnb homes, home-based businesses an...

    Throughout my life I have tried to revisit the question: “what can I do to make the world a better place?” When injustice leaves me with a heavy heart, I seek an antidote to the often overwhelming weight of the world. Like listening to a favorite record or getting lost in the pages of a familiar, well-worn book, advocacy and activism can provide solace. I am also fortunate enough to be inspired by my job and to be part of an organization that does meaningful work. These days I have been asking myself an altered version of that question: “what type of human being do I want to...