One of the major updates is that the community-based and youth-focused internship program that I created is currently in its recruitment phase and will be starting next month. While I am extremely excited for the program to be in this phase, as I write this, I get equally excited thinking about the hard work that has happened since my last blog post to get the program to where it is now.
This work included meetings and conversations with stakeholders to finalize program details such as the program name (SANG: Southern Arizona Next Gen), stipends for interns, program dates, and topics. Additionally, I had the opportunity to visit two amazing communities, that of the Pascua Yaqui and Nogales, AZ. During my visits, I was able to visit schools and classrooms to talk with administration, teachers, and, most importantly, students about the SANG internship program and the critical need for programs that support and build up our communities. Through these community visits, the SANG internship program has received several applications, and it seems like we will have an amazing and passionate cohort of community advocates!
In addition to my work with the SANG internship program, I have continued my work conducting research and creating internal documents for the Juan Bautista de ANZA NHT. This work has included reaching out to several federally recognized Native Nations in Arizona to learn more about consultation expectations and practices and the overall history and culture of these communities. The conversations that I have had thus far with these communities have shaped not only my research but also my overall understanding of many shared cultures and histories that are not often represented in "traditional" spaces. I am excited to continue having these conversation with the Native Nations both in and out of Arizona and I can only imagine how these conversations will continue to shape me both personally and professionally.
Taking into account the work I have had the opportunity to complete since my last blog post, I am both extremely proud of the work that I have done and I am extremely excited to see how things continue to develop over these next two months! By the next blog post, the SANG internship program will have a cohort that is past the halfway point of their program, and my research and internal documents will be living documents for the Federal Government to use as a support network when working with the communities that it represents. It is certainly an exciting time to be a MANO Project Intern!
Until next time, and always remember to go out and explore your public lands!
- Marshall Morgan Fabara