September 1, 2017 / Modified sep 1, 2017 5:34 p.m.

Episode 153: Mentoring and Caring For Tucson's Kids

Exploring the different organizations and efforts working to serve youth in Southern Arizona.

In this episode of Metro Week we explore how Tucson is doing at caring for its children.

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild has been making a push to get adults to become mentors to kids. On Metro Week, he discusses about that initiative and the reasons child poverty levels remain so high in Tucson.


A list of organizations in Southern Arizona are working to provide mentorship for young people, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson and Youth on Their Own.

The Pascua Yaqui Boys and Girls Club has its own, long-established mentorship program, and Metro Week visits with a mentor and the kid he spends his Monday afternoons with.


While mentoring’s a way to help kids develop critical skills, a more basic need is housing. Casa de Los Niños has taken kids into its emergency shelter since its founding in 1973. The organization announced this week that the shelter will close, which they say is a good thing.


Often at odds, U.S. Reps. Martha McSally and Raúl Grijalva joined forces this week to show support for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.


In Southern Arizona, four out of five children lack access to high-quality early education programs. The organization Make Way For Books is trying to change that.

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