AzLand

Sharing a few beautiful moments captured by .gonzalez from our recent Teatrico AZ(LAND) artist showcase 🌎✨

Teatrico AZ(LAND) marked the culmination of our TierrArte artist cohort, a year-long arts-based environmental and climate justice journey made possible through support from Conservation Lands Foundation.

Through TierrArte, we explored public lands and river systems across Arizona—learning about stewardship, justice, ritual, ecology, and our connection to place. Each artist led immersive workshops rooted in these experiences:

✨ Kate Tutaya Figgins invited participants to transform field trip reflections into sculptural forms, culminating in her powerful piñata installation.

🌿 Estephania Gonzalez guided a land-based gathering at the Salt + Verde River confluence where attendees created native plant wreath offerings in gratitude to the river.

🌞 Diane Ovalle led a ritual-centered workshop exploring climate change, healing, and reconnection to nature through reflection and sound healing.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating art as a pathway toward environmental justice. More to come. 💚

Recap of our River Walk with /Arizona Community Foundation: From restoring the Rio Salado to reimagining what environmental justice can look like in South Phoenix, this coalition is proving what’s possible when organizations work with community and not in silos. Together, we are building pathways toward environmentally resilient, culturally grounded, and community-led futures in our barrios.

Through this multi-sector partnership, AZ(LAND) Fund is helping elevate environmental education, community capacity, culture, and ecological restoration by creating opportunities for residents to engage in stewardship, storytelling, and climate learning rooted in place. The Galleria is contributing sustainable and resilient design practices that center cultural relevance, public space activation, and community healing. continues leading restoration and stewardship efforts along the Rio Salado organizing volunteer restoration, protecting native habitat, and reconnecting people to the river through Indigenous and community-based care practices.

Together with Indigenous leaders, educators, youth, artists, researchers, and residents, we are advancing a shared vision for watershed restoration, environmental education, and climate resilience that honors the history, culture, and ecological knowledge of our communities. This work is not just about restoring or conserving land it is about bringing JUSTICE, restoring relationships, memory, stewardship, and collective power for future generations.

Read more here: https://archive.is/20260504150959/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2026/05/04/community-groups-look-for-ways-to-protect-arizonans-from-extreme-heat/89828085007/

📸 thank you to .phx.photographer for the beautiful photos.

From the four walls of the classroom to the Rio Salado river we are continuously and collectively working together to elevate environmental and climate justice education, community, culture, and capacity.

We made that evident during today’s walk, blessing, and conversations to ground us in what TRUE community rooted environmental and climate leadership looks like in Arizona from those living and working from those exact communities.

Through a shared river tour experience and community rooted dialogue, AZ(LAND), Sagrado, and Protectors showed what it means to move together, not in silos, but in centering barrio innovation, our gente, sustainable design, and Indigenous stewardship to elevate environmental and climate justice across culture, education, community, and capacity.

This work has been amplified and supported by Arizona Community Foundation who we are grateful for as a coalition. Today’s announcement of the 122° Conference will continue to position Arizona as a global leader in sustainable, resilient and just solutions grounded in community.

Bottom up investment, support, and strategies is what we need to scale, not just top down, outside approaches.

Climate change is real, our communities are continually dealing with compounded crisis and through our survival we have shown that we have the solutions, we have the leadership, we just need more investment at the hyper local level🌵🔥

Join us May 2nd (809 S 8th St, Phoenix AZ, 85034) for our annual AZ(LAND) Tierra Madre event.

Tierra Madre is more than an event, it is a space to reconnect with our environment, uplift community knowledge, and build collective pathways toward a more just and sustainable future.

🌎 What to Expect:
* Mercado with Sagrado: Support local vendors and artists (5–9 PM) link in bio to vend. Artists will be paid for their performances.
* Teatrico AZ(LAND): Live performances and creative workshops. Local artist are encouraged to fill the form to be paid to perform.
* Featuring exhibitions by Kate Figgins Tutaya, Estephania Gonzalez, and Diane Ovalle.
* Film Showing: bring your chairs, yoga mats, blankets to enjoy this family friendly movie.
* Community Resources: Connect with local nonprofits and initiatives
* Food & Refreshments: Available for attendees.

🌱 Get Involved:

We welcome nonprofits, artists, and community partners to participate by hosting activities, sharing resources, or vending. Form in link to participate in this years Tierra Madre event.
Event Link + Form: https://www.azlnd.org/events/azland-2026-tierra-madre-earth-day

🌿🌞 Greater Phoenix City Nature Challenge: AZ(LAND) Nature Connections Gathering

Join AZ(LAND) on Sunday, April 26th from 6am-10am for an immersive morning along the Rio Salado as we take part in the City Nature Challenge —a global community science effort documenting local biodiversity.

From nature journaling and learning community science apps, to a guided eco walk, and a hands-on invasive species removal with Protectors of the Salt River, this gathering invites you to deepen your connection to the land while contributing to real scientific research.

We’ll close the morning with a community breakfast and shared reflections.

Come ready to explore, learn, and take action for our local ecosystems 🌵
https://www.azlnd.org/events/city-nature-challenge-nature-connections

The AZ(LAND) Sombra Team is grateful and thrilled to have been apart of the Experiments in Shade Project which recently received the AZ Forward 2026 Crescordia award.

Thank you to all who were apart of this process from stepping out into the heat of the summer to build adobe bricks for the structure foundation to those that were presence the day of the install.
We’re so proud to uplift Indigenous environmentally resilient and sustainable design as we work to navigate the ensuing climate crisis.

View our structure here:

2026 Crescordia - Heat Mitigation - Sombra Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

🌎 Tierra Madre Earth Day 2026 is here.

In partnership with Protectors of the Salt River and The Sagrado Galleria

Join us for an evening of art, culture, and environmental justice 🌵✨

View details here: https://www.azlnd.org/events/azland-2026-tierra-madre-earth-day

Tierra Madre Sponsorhip: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nj9Us4ULZdcoTSeKAVonJoowBrRhYj8J/view?usp=sharing

📅 Saturday, May 2

⏰ 5PM – 10PM

📍 Sagrado Galleria

✨ Mercado with Sagrado --Form Link in Bio

✨ Teatrico AZ(LAND): featuring artist Kate Tutaya, Diane Ovalle, and Estephania Gonzalez

✨ Film Screening (Princess Mononoke)

✨ Community resources & more

Join us to celebrate our connection to land, culture, and community.

Donate to AZ(LAND) to support and help us continue to offer free community centered programming.