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ISSUES AND EGGS 2019

6th Annual Issues and Eggs Breakfast Forum

"Aging Not Your Issue? It Will Be." March 1, 2019

Summary of Program LWVGT's sixth annual Issues and Eggs Breakfast Forum featured a program on end-of-life decisions, caregiving and healthcare and positive aging.

Panel

Mindy J. Fain MD, a geriatrician, who is on the UA medical faculty
Lisa Reams, Vice President of Programs and Services at Pima Council on Aging
Sarah Super Ascher, Senior Director of AZ End of Life Care Partnership for United Way of Tucson and Southern AZ
Moderator: Jan Lesher, Chief Deputy County Administrator, Pima County

Program Highlights

There is an improvement in quality of health care provided to older adults. Hospitals have stepped up to provide a broader range of service for seniors.
End of Life care provides many options for people to consider, but first there must be open communication to family of the desires of elderly parents/relatives.
Our community has a variety of resources for those of us who are aging. PCOA has a hotline that is helpful to many.

ISSUES AND EGGS 2018

5th Annual Issues and Eggs Breakfast Forum

Presentation: Health of Our Children in Poverty: Why we Must Care"

Our children are our future. How we invest in their emotional, psychological, and physical health is essential so they can recognize their potential and realize their dreams. Four health policy and program experts provided information on how the lack of health care coverage affects our children; they highlighted successful programs; and shared what we can do as concerned community members. Bruce Dusenberry served as the panel moderator and panelists included Mimi Coomler/ Tucson Medical Center, Dr. Tatyana Farietta-Murray/ Cenpatico Integrated Care, Dr. Francisco Garcia, Pima
County, and Dr. Nancy Johnson/ El Rio Community Health Center.

ISSUES AND EGGS 2017

4th Annual Issues and Eggs Breakfast Forum

"The Impact of Poverty on Academic Achievement K-12", Friday, March 3, 2017

Many factors contribute to the academic achievement of students in our community.

Throughout our history, education has been seen as a child's ticket out of poverty. However, with the rate of poverty increasing, evidence suggest too many children from low-income families are falling significantly behind their peers academically before they complete the 4th grade. This is of particular concern to all who live in Arizona and count on a well educated population to fuel a thriving economy. In 2014, when the poverty rate for the United States was 14.8%, the rate of poverty in Arizona was 21.2%. Tucson was rated the 5th poorest city of its size in the country in 2015. The Federal Poverty Rate for a family of four in 2016 was $25,300.

Panel
Bruce Dusenberry, Moderator
Chris Gutierrez, Principal, Holaway Elementary School
Dr. Mary Joudrow, Advanced Program Manager, PCC Desert View Campus Dr.
David Baker, Superintendent, Flowing Wells School District
Bonnie Bazata, Program Manager, Pima County End Poverty Now Initiative

Topics Covered

Identified the facts and consequences of poverty on academic achievement.
Introduced highly effective local program models in our schools and others designed for the parents of poor children.
Discussed the ways in which state education policies impact poor children.
Described local efforts to end poverty.
Provided examples of how we can all become involved.

ISSUES AND EGGS 2016

3rd Annual Issues and Eggs Breakfast Forum

“What is JTED's Link to Arizona's Economy?”, March 4, 2016

The voter-approved Joint Technical Education District (JTED) in Southern Arizona has helped thousands of high school age people acquire the skills needed to succeed in life. For the past ten years, students in thirteen school districts in and around Pima County have benefited from the specialized education the district provides. But JTED is now threatened after reduced funding the past few years from the Arizona Legislature.

“The League of Women Voters has always had strong positions on education and we support the efforts of JTED and the work it does,” Judy Moll, president of the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson. Panelists highlighted the link between business and education and the role JTED has played. Business leaders, elected officials, educators and members of the public attended the discussion on how the innovative, tuition-free educational opportunity benefits the community.

Panel
Moderator - Bruce Dusenberry, chairman of Horizon Moving Systems
Steven D. Holmes, Superintendent, Sunnyside Unified School District
Carla Lopez, CTE Medical Assistant Instructor, Empire High School, Vail Unified School District
Tina Norton, Assistant Superintendent and COO Pima County JTED
Bob Schlanger, CEO, British Car Service and Governing Board Chairman, Pima County JTED

JTED Information Clik Here

Event Video produced by Content Marketing - Pima County JTED Click Here

ISSUES AND EGGS 2015

2nd Annual Issues & Eggs Breakfast Forum

"Are Arizona's College & Career Ready Standards the Answer? … Common Core: Facts vs. Myths”, March 13, 2015

Common Core has become a controversial subject throughout the country. The League's objective in hosting this forum is that the audience will gain a better understanding of the facts and myths associated with the topic and why these standards were developed by the National Governors' Conference in collaboration with private businesses and top state public school officials across the country. Business organizations have been strong proponents of the standards and have been instrumental in their implementation in Arizona and elsewhere.

Panel

Mike Varney, President and CEO of the Tucson MetroChamber of Commerce
Dr. William McCallum, UA professor & lead writer Common Core mathematics standards
Dr. H.T. Sanchez, TUSD Superintendent of Schools
Brittany Betterton, teacher Elvira Elementary, Sunnyside District and a Rodel Exemplary Teacher of the Year
Bruce Dusenberry, Moderator and president Horizon Moving Systems, community activist

View the Event Video

SPONSORS

ISSUES AND EGGS 2014

1st Annual Issues & Eggs Breakfast Forum

“Jobs Won’t Grow on Cacti … Without Help”, April 11, 2014.

Speakers from business and education discussed the connection between education and jobs. With 2500 local high tech, healthcare, and other technical positions currently open, the region’s employers find it difficult to fill key positions from the local unemployed talent pool and have to rely upon national recruitment and also import costly contract labor.

Many of the region’s unemployed lack the required basic job skills such as critical thinking, communications, and problem solving. Employees must have 21st century skills to enter the competitive job market and meet the demands of regional employers. There is a need for a unified regional strategy to address talent recruitment and retention. We must have long-term plans for job growth including tapping into the pool of local retirees from industry and the military.

Additionally, the community has to come together to focus on our strengths including the region’s already established industries. Local leaders must let local employers know they value and appreciate their contributions.

Education is critical to the overall health of our community. It is essential that school systems and society are in partnership. Citizens need to feel a sense of ownership for what happens in our schools. The data on students who have effective teachers in the primary grades is clear. It sets the stage for continued success throughout their academic careers and into their lives after high school.

We need a system and culture of purpose that includes values, beliefs, fidelity to excellence, and respect (across all strata) from parents to administration, and Boards that trust and protect the school districts.

Tucson Medical Center (TMC) was highlighted as a local business with a culture of on-going education. There is investment and support in core staff and emphasis on specialized critical skills. TMC invests time in its employees. There is an educational mission and culture. TMC has encouraged problem solving within its staff and has invested 117,000 hours in training, nursing orientation, and education.

In conclusion, we must focus on the whole spectrum of job growth. Tucson needs to have more patience and think long-term about job development and growth. Developing and implementing workforce strategies is a key to job stability and growth. The importance of 21st century education to prepare our workers for necessary adaptation in the workplace cannot be over-estimated. We all must be community ambassadors who emphasize the positive strengths of our region.

Panel

Daisy Jenkins, opening speaker
Bruce Dusenberry, moderator
Omar Mireles
Dr. John Pedicone
Julia Strange