'Making Arizona' Documentary Screenings and Climate Conversations

TUCSON, Ariz. – Community members across the state of Arizona are invited to contribute to a series of interactive “Climate Conversations” this spring with 2023-24 Udall Center Fellow Michael Mulcahy, associate professor in the School of Theatre, Film & Television at the University of Arizona.

Arizona is feeling the intensifying effects of global climate change as extreme heat breaks new records and water scarcity concerns grow. But what can we do about it?

This is the question that drives Mulcahy's new short documentary series and educational project, Making Arizona.

This February, Mulcahy will debut the first installment in a multi-part series accompanied by a panel discussion featuring local climate experts and stakeholders at UArizona's award-winning ENR2 building.

“All Arizonans share exposure to and risk from climate change, and we seem to be at an inflection point in recognizing the need for action at the local, state and national levels,” Mulcahy said. “The goal of Making Arizona is to bring a diverse range of voices into conversation, and through personal stories and concrete information, motivate Arizonans to advocate for sustainable climate action.”

The first event will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Agnese Haury Auditorium on the University of Arizona Campus in Tucson. Future events are planned for Chandler, Yuma and Flagstaff.

Panelists at the event will include:

• Eva Romero, PhD (Moderator), Consultant at Sol Partners Consulting Firm.
• Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan, PhD, faculty in the Tohono O’odham Studies Program at Tohono O’odham Community College and Making Arizona documentary subject.
• Sandy Bahr, MLS, Grand Canyon Chapter Director for the Sierra Club
• Fatima Luna, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Tucson
• Mark Kear, PhD, Economic Geographer and Assistant Professor in the UArizona School of Geography, Development & Environment

This is the first of four state-wide public events that will feature short documentaries highlighting the stories of Arizonans’ resilience in the face of climate change, along with the chance to discuss the climate challenges the state faces with political leaders, climate scientists and non-governmental organizations.

Making Arizona involves the development of a public impact campaign to encourage and help Arizonans move the state forward on climate change. Each “Climate Conversation” will provide resources for Arizonans to effectively advocate for needed climate action at the local, state and federal levels.

Making Arizona is supported by the Arizona Institute for Resilience, the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, the College of Fine Arts, and the School of Theatre, Film, & Television. It is also funded in part by the Southwest Center, the Southwestern Foundation for Education and Historical Preservation and Arizona Humanities.

For more information, visit https://environment.arizona.edu/making-arizona
Promotional photos and videos can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/188qenNL1c4xtQrUaWMLcJmZNubxgLWQB 

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Olivia Miltner, Arizona Environment Program Coordinator
(P) 520-626-2621
(E) omiltner@arizona.edu

Making Arizona is a documentary and educational program by filmmaker and UArizona Associate Professor Michael Mulcahy. The program highlights the intensifying effects of global climate change in Arizona and showcases stories of Arizonans experiencing and addressing aspects of climate change. The documentary series makes use of the existing knowledge of local climate experts to boil down the often daunting scope of global climate change to a local level. Screenings of the films around the state, in combination with discussions, are designed to spark community dialogue. Alongside the films, climate scientists at UArizona will help develop supporting material for existing community groups to augment and amplify their work. Lesson plans for middle and high school will help to fill teachers' need for engaging teaching material on climate change.

Arizona Humanities is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the Arizona affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Since 1974, Arizona Humanities has supported public programs that promote understanding of the human experience with cultural, educational, and nonprofit organizations across Arizona.