INTERNATIONAL SONORAN DESERT ALLIANCE
Programs
Program 1 [2020]
ISDA WORKS TO IMPROVE SONORAN DESERT COMMUNITIES THROUGH HOUSING AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. ISDA RESTORED AND CONVERTED THE HISTORIC CURLEY SCHOOL IN AJO, AZ TO 30 AFFORDABLE LIVE/WORK APARTMENTS FOR ARTISTS AND ARTISANS AS A STRATEGY TO CREATE A NEW ARTS-BASED ECONOMIC NICHE IN AJO. THIS IS NOW CALLED "CREATIVE PLACEMAKING- AND ISDA HAS BECOME A LEADER IN IMPLEMENTING THIS APPROACH IN RURAL AMERICA. ISDA ALSO RENOVATED HISTORIC BUILDINGS ON THE CURLEY SCHOOL CAMPUS TO A CLAY STUDIO AND WOOD SHOP, A GALLERY, AND A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN BUSINESS INCUBATOR. ADDITIONALLY, ISDA HAS RENOVATED NEARLY HALF OF AJO'S HISTORIC TOWN PLAZA, RESTORING THE EXTRAORDINARY HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY TO PRODUCTIVE USE. ISDA OPERATES A BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICE CENTER AND CO-WORKING SPACE. ISDA ALSO PRODUCES EXTENSIVE PROGRAMMING IN COMMUNITY ARTS, SEEKING TO BRIDGE CULTURAL DIVISIONS THROUGH CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND TO CREATE AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY. ISDA OPERATES A CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING ABE, ESL, GED, WORK-STUDY, INTERNSHIPS,AND A 4,000 HOUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WHICH USES ISDA'S OWN BUILDING RENOVATION SITES FOR ON-THE-JOB APPRENTICE TRAINING. ISDA PRODUCES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING A BI-ANNUAL TRI-NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM "CELEBRATING THE SONORAN DESERT" WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES IN THE SONORAN DESERT. ISDA ALSO ORGANIZES FIELD TRIPS TO SITES IN THE SONORAN DESERT INCLUDING THE PINACATE BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN SONORA, MEXICO AS WELL AS AND VOLUNTEER PROJECTS IN DESERT RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION. ISDA IS A LEADERSHIP MEMBER OF THE AJO REGIONAL FOOD PARTNERSHIP, WORKING WITH TEN OTHER LOCAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE A HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM. FINALLY, ISDA SPONSORS REGIONAL TRI-NATIONAL FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION AND RESIDENTS OF SONORA, MEXICO TO BUILD COMMUNITY ACROSS BORDERS.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.4MSonoran Desert Community Development
THE INTERNATIONAL SONORAN DESERT ALLIANCE (ISDA) WORKS TO IMPROVE SONORAN DESERT COMMUNITIES THROUGH HOUSING AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. ISDA IS A LEADER IN RURAL "CREATIVE PLACEMAKING" WITH A SERIES OF SUCCESSFUL HISTORIC RENOVATION AND RE-PURPOSING PROJECTS IN AJO, AZ. ISDA RESTORED AND CONVERTED THE HISTORIC CURLEY SCHOOL IN INTO 30 AFFORDABLE LIVE/WORK APARTMENTS FOR ARTISTS, ARTISANS, AND CREATIVE HOME ENTREPRENEURS. ISDA RENOVATED OTHER HISTORIC BUILDING ON THE CURLEY CREATIVE CAMPUS INTO AN INTERNATIONAL RETREAT CENTER, A COMMUNITY KITCHEN, A CLAY STUDIO, AND WOOD SHOP. ISDA IS UNDERTAKING A MULTI-YEAR RENOVATION OF THE HISTORIC TOWN PLAZA, BRINGING BACK THE ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES AT THE HEART OF THE AJO COMMUNITY BACK INTO PRODUCTIVE USE. CREATIVE PLACEMAKING EFFORTS BY THE ORGANIZATION CONSTITUTE APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE ANNUAL REVENUE AND EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.5MTri-National Sonoran Desert Symposium
ISDA SPEARHEADS TRI-NATIONAL CONVENING EFFORTS THAT INCLUDE HOSTING THE BIENNIAL TRI-NATIONAL SONORAN DESERT SYMPOSIUM AND CHAIRING THE WORKING GROUP FOR THE SONORAN DESERT BIOSPHERE REGION - A MEMBER OF THE UNESCO WORLD NETWORK OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES. IN FY 24 THE ORGANIZATION COMMITTED APPROXIMATELY 230,000 TOWARD THESE EFFORTS.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided––
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