TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Just ahead of MLK Day, the public will be able to visit the newest museum on the University of Arizona Campus.
The African American Museum of Southern Arizona calls the Student Union Memorial Center home, but before it fully opens to the public, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will commemorate the occasion on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 10 a.m. - noon.
The 1,100-square-foot space is the vision-turned-reality for co-founding Executive Director Beverely Elliott and her husband, former Wildcat Basketball star, Bob Elliott.
The pair says the museum opened as a virtual experience first, operating online-only beginning in 2021, after their 7-year-old grandson expressed interest in visiting a museum that preserved the history and told the stories of "people that are like me."
The African American Museum of Southern Arizona is KGUN 9's Giving Project recipient for the month of January. We invite you to make a donation of even $5 or $10 to help make a difference.
Our partner in the Giving Project, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, is matching the first $500 in donations again this month.
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Anne Simmons is the digital executive producer for KGUN 9. Anne got her start in television while still a student at the University of Arizona. Before joining KGUN, she managed multiple public access television stations in the Bay Area and has worked as a video producer in the non-profit sector. Share your story ideas and important issues with Anne by emailing anne.simmons@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.
