The Community-Driven Archive Initiative (CDA) and Labriola National American Indian Data Center are excited to welcome the second cohort of memory keeper fellows to Hayden Library. This is also the final cohort funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Six fellows from Maricopa Community Colleges and two from Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC) have been accepted for the 2024-2025 fellowship year.
During the fellowship, students will be introduced to the basics of Library Information Science with a strong focus on community archiving. The new cohort will work with Black Collections and the Chicano/a Research Collection under CDA. The Labriola Center, in partnership with TOCC on the Tohono O’odham reservation, will host two fellows at the library located in Sells, AZ. Having fellows work with the different collections and colleges, CDA and the Labriola Center hope to see more diverse perspectives in each of the collections.
Jessica Salow is the assistant archivist for Black Collections and one of the Project Investigators and mentors for the fellowship. When asked to share what she hopes her mentees will gain from this fellowship and how she hopes to impact them for this academic year, Salow said, “I am so excited for this year's fellowship cohort. We have an amazing group of folks who are already doing amazing work within their communities. I hope each one of them gain the confidence and experience to further the advocacy of their community and family history. And of course, I am also very hopeful that this experience will lead them to the Library and Information Science profession as more diversity is absolutely needed within this field. The mentorship component of this fellowship experience helps the fellows understand from a professionally trained archivist perspective what to expect in this profession and it is my honor to be a mentor to the fellows in this program,” said Salow.
Each student was asked to introduce themselves and share a bit about themselves and their future aspirations.
Shantia Estes attends South Mountain Community College, Phoenix College and Glendale Community College and is majoring in music.
Shantia Estes attends South Mountain Community College, Phoenix College and Glendale Community College, majoring in music. Shantia Estes (they/she) is a fourth-generation Black Arizonan, a queer chef, writer, musician and certified teaching artist. They have taught workshops for a range of age groups, focusing mainly on creative writing with some visual art. Shantia is finishing up a curriculum for a six-week Cooking 101 course and recently launched their own catering business, Estes Catering Co. Their first chapbook, “The Privilege of Softness,” was published in 2021 through fiikbooks as an offering to their first students at Durango Juvenile Center. Shantia’s work centers on healing relationships with self and loved ones, building community through honest conversations about how anti-Blackness impacts daily lives, and recognizing our deservingness of joy.
Taelor Bishop attends South Mountain Community College and is majoring in behavioral sciences.
Taelor Bishop attends South Mountain Community College, majoring in behavioral sciences. Taelor Bishop is a community advocate passionate about preserving history and capturing the stories of marginalized communities. They have a background in archival work, having assisted with the Northern Arizona Black History Project’s “Otherside of the Tracks,” which explored the relationship between the Black community in Northern Arizona and the historic Green Book in 2018. As Historian for the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Arizona State University Chapter, Taelor researched, documented and preserved sorority history at the local and regional levels for two years. Currently pursuing a degree in behavioral health sciences, Taelor focuses on researching barriers that prevent people of color from engaging in work within their communities, such as post-traumatic slave syndrome and other systemic issues. Outside of academia, they work with the Disabled and Deaf+ communities, developing programs and advocacy opportunities while supporting their families and loved ones. Taelor is eager to gain experience through an archivist internship and learn how preserving Arizona’s Black history can make a meaningful impact on the world.
Kari Quintero attends Mesa Community College and is majoring in sustainability and environmental studies.
Kari Quintero attends Mesa Community College, majoring in sustainability and environmental studies. Kari Ann Quintero (they/them) is a proud non-binary, first-generation Latinx student pursuing a degree in sustainability and environmental studies from Mesa Community College. Their educational journey has included various roles at Mesa Community College, with the most recent being the 2023-2024 Club President of M.E.Ch.A. De at MCC.. Kari is passionate about income inequality and its impact on sustainability within communities of color and is dedicated to achieving higher education within the STEM field.
Viviana Jaquez attends Archuleta Paradise Valley Community College and is majoring in psychology.
Viviana Jaquez attends Paradise Valley Community College, majoring in psychology. Viviana is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, and is a first-generation parenting student with a three-year-old son. She is pursuing an associate degree in psychology while also working towards becoming a certified paralegal. Her ultimate goal is to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, followed by two terminal degrees: a Juris Doctorate and a PhD in Cognitive Psychology. Viviana aspires to empower others to achieve their American dreams by practicing as an immigration attorney and psychologist.
Tiffany Marks attends Tohono Oodham Community College and pursuing an associate of sine arts.
Tiffany Marks attends Tohono O’odham Community College, pursuing an associate of fine arts. Tiffany Marks is an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Her mother is of the Hopi tribe, making Tiffany a member of the Greasewood and Roadrunner clans. Her background in both tribes provides her with a broad spectrum of cultural beliefs and traditions to pass forward. Tiffany is pursuing an associate degree in fine arts at Tohono O’odham Community College. She has always had a passion for her native cultures and is interested in continuing her education in museum studies at the Institute of American Indian Arts.
Tiffany believes her education will help preserve cultural elements of the past, present, and future. She is inspired to pursue this field as time is running out to sustain the Hopi and Tohono O’odham languages. Tiffany believes preserving these cultural elements is crucial for finding and reconnecting with lost traditions. “With my generation, most of us understand our native language but do not speak it. We have stopped performing certain ceremonies because the knowledge was not passed down. Although we cannot bring all these ceremonies back, we can try to preserve what we have now.”
Heidi Blaine attends Tohono O'odham Nation and is majoring in fine arts.
Heidi Blaine attends Tohono O’odham Community College, majoring in fine arts. S-ke tas! Añ:ǐ añ hab ce Ṣudagi Hewel, Ces-tohă Heidi Alyssa Blaine. Ñ- Gamhu amged Sacaton tam 3 cekson ed. (Good day! My name is "Wind Water", Heidi Alyssa Blaine. I come from Sacaton District #3,). Heidi’s traditional name is “Wind Water,” and her government name is Heidi Alyssa Blaine. Her paternal roots are with the Tohono O’odham Nation, while her maternal side is from the White Mountain Apache tribe.
Raised in Sacaton on the Gila River Indian Reservation with her grandparents and thirteen siblings, Heidi grew up helping with wheat and alfalfa fields and livestock. She is studying Fine Arts and plans to transfer next year to Georgia State University to major in Museum Studies. In Sacaton, Heidi developed a passion for art, preserving life, and understanding her role in society. While she was certain her academic focus would not be on irrigation or agricultural fields, she found these subjects fascinating due to their connection to her daily life. Her true passion, however, always led her to the library, where she was captivated by cultural intricacies and often created vivid sketches inspired by her imagination. As she pursues her education in museum studies, Heidi plans to bring this knowledge back to her native country. She aims to teach the younger generation the importance of perseverance and balance, ensuring that knowledge is accessible to a broader audience and fostering inclusivity in museum and library education.
Emily Perez attends South Mountain Community College and is majoring in information technology.
Emily Perez attends South Mountain Community College, majoring in information technology. Emily Perez loves technology and history. Her previous studies at ASU, especially Greek and Roman courses, greatly influenced her, leading her to a deep passion for history. Now, Emily is interested in how technology can change and improve the world. However, her love for history continually draws her back to explore how the world has evolved through the centuries. Learning is her biggest motivator, and she believes everyone has the right to learn. Emily is also an office assistant in the IB program at Betty Fairfax High School, where she is enthusiastic about helping high school students succeed in their academic and future endeavors.
Alexis Alonso attends Phoenix College and is majoring in anthropology and sequential art.
Alexis Alonso attends Phoenix College, majoring in anthropology and sequential art. Her journey began with a background in anthropology from Mesa Community College, where she explored cultural studies and race relations. This experience reshaped her view of her identity as a Mexican-American in East Mesa and sparked a deep commitment to preserving and honoring her ancestral legacy. Alexis’ passion for storytelling and archival work was inspired by the Arizona Memory Project and personal experiences highlighting the importance of documenting cultural roots. To commemorate her Indigenous roots, she is driven to use her art and archival skills to celebrate and preserve her heritage. Alexis is excited about the possibility of continuing her education in art and archival studies at the University of Arizona or Arizona State University. Her goal is to contribute to projects that empower and commemorate underrepresented voices in the community and to support initiatives that keep cultural narratives and historical knowledge alive.