BEYOND commemorates the tragedy of January 8th, celebrates the spirit of togetherness we felt in the days and months afterward, and commits us to working together to build a stronger community through our actions every day.
Who we are:
The core of this coalition began in the weeks after the shootings. Initiated by members of Gabe Zimmerman’s extended family, the goal was to develop outreach programs to encourage community members to come out into our public lands in the Tucson area to strengthen our sense of community, to take advantage of the natural beauty that makes Tucson so special, and with the full awareness that getting out and active with others promotes physical and mental health.
We have now grown into a broad-based coalition of Southern Arizona groups and individuals, including family members of victims of January 8th; nonprofits supporting children and families; bicycling, hiking and running groups; environmental advocates; federal and state land management agencies; nonprofits celebrating Tucson and Southern Arizona; public health providers; and others.
We are all dedicated to honoring friends and loved ones injured and lost on January 8th, acknowledging how the events of January 8th have changed us, celebrating our community, and committing to building a better future together.
What we are doing:
As the first anniversary of the shootings approached, we wanted to start an event that was consistent with our mission. We thought the day before the anniversary of the shootings would be an appropriate time to bring our community together in a positive way. Thus was born BEYOND: *Commemorate * Celebrate * Commit*.
BEYOND is a series of events on Saturday, January 7, 2012, taking place from sun up to sun down across Greater Tucson and Southern Arizona. On this first anniversary of the tragedy, there will be opportunities to walk, hike, run, stroll, be artistic, learn new skills, and generally come together as a community. BEYOND is a community-wide celebration of health, diversity, goodwill, and inclusiveness, and a great opportunity to celebrate our loved ones and this beautiful place we call home.
This is a bittersweet series of events. On Sunday, January 8, other entities will sponsor more somber remembrances and reflections of those hurt and lost.
Why we are doing it:
The Southern Arizona community’s response to January 8th showed our strength, our resilience, and our commitment to one another. It showed the love we have for this place and for the people who live here. BEYOND will help assure that Tucson is remembered for its response to the tragedy of January 8 and not the singular event.
The physical and mental health benefits of physical activity and mental engagement are well known. Engaging with others strengthens our sense of community and common purpose. This proactively promotes physical and behavioral health. The activities will be fun, positive, and engaging.
We hope BEYOND will motivate people from all walks of life to come together to celebrate us, to embrace the goodness and decency of our community, creating something good and lasting out of tragedy.
We invite you to join us. To find out more, click here.