Arizona Illustrated

Finding Fitness during COVID: Navigating the effects of the pandemic, including following mandatory measures to create a safe workplace, has been challenging for locally owned small business owners - some closing their doors, others laying off employees indefinitely, some going out of business for good. For Tucson entrepreneur Chris Gartrell, sustaining his business has also resulted in strengthening the community… by Finding Fitness during COVID. Chess King: Jonathan Martinez started playing chess at eight, a few years later he became the Arizona state chess champion. His passion for chess is matched only by his drive to serve the community. Seventeen year old Jonathan teaches chess online to fellow kids and senior citizens. He believes in chess as a powerful tool to create community and empower change. Fireball: Astronomer Erika Hamden says there is one consistent facet of her work: failure. She fails all the time, just like most people who work in her field. And like most, she keeps going. Why? Because that’s how discoveries are made.