Access Alumni: Rachel Perlis
Many Access Tucson alumni have used the production skills learned at Access Tucson to start careers in the media entertainment industry. Alumni Rachel Perlis now works as a grip on movies filmed in Louisiana. She also directs her own short films. Her latest short, The Lion's Den is currently hitting the festival circuit and winning awards.
Rachel describes how she got started.
"I am living my dream every single day and Access Tucson was the first step in helping realize my direction."
In the fall of 2005 I moved to Tucson for a position as an AmeriCorps volunteer coordinating Youth Service Learning Projects. I had just graduated from college and was suddenly thrust into the limbo between being done with school and starting the rest of my life as an adult. My older brother was living in Tucson at the time and he had heard about a local access center that had training in video production and equipment available for check out.
Although I had always been interested in video and film production I had never before had the opportunity to explore my little pipe dream. As soon as I heard about Access Tucson I jumped into as many of the classes as I could; Intro to Access Production, Studio Production, and Editing. Later I had the opportunity to volunteer on my favorite Access shows like Local Matters and Community Outreach.
"One of the things that I loved most about Access Tucson was that it helped me feel connected to the Tucson community."
The residents who are able to share their voices and information about local organizations and issues facing the community can be discovered every time you turn on Access. I think it was during this time that I learned the value of community involvement.
In the few years I was with Access Tucson I produced Snap Back! - a show run by middle and high school students about community opportunities, events and resources for the youth of Tucson. I was thrilled to have an amazing group of kids and have always been incredibly proud of that show (you can still check out a few episodes on my YouTube channel - sweetgeishacat). I also got to use Access Tucson equipment to create my first short films, which I premiered at The Loft's First Friday shorts.
When I left Tucson I was saddest to leave behind Access Tucson. My term at AmeriCorps had ended and I heard that the film industry in Louisiana was picking up due to local tax incentives. After interning on a few low-budget films, I made my way into IATSE Local 478, the local union representation, and have been working as a grip and electrician for the last four years on movies such as Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Pitch Perfect, Oblivion, Contraband, Bullet to the Head, and Now You See Me.
I am so thrilled to be working in the film industry. I am living my dream every single day and Access Tucson was the first step in helping realize my direction. A million thanks to all the staff at Access who taught and inspired me.
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Featured Community Organization
 The CareGiver Training Institute (CGTI) has been an organization member at Access Tucson for the past few years. Felipe Jácome, CGTI Vice President says, "our partnership with Access Tucson has created informative programming and public service announcements about CGTI for the community. Our mission has reached the eyes and ears of many more people than we could have imagined."
The mission of the nonprofit CareGiver Training Institute is: to develop person-centered, highly qualified caregivers to meet the increasing needs of elders and individuals with disabilities. CGTI's comprehensive approach to healthcare education addresses 3 significant social ills that affect Southern Arizona:
1) Shortage of trained caregivers: There's a serious lack of professional caregivers to serve the rapidly growing number of seniors and persons with disabilities. By 2030, Arizona's elder population will increase by 255.1%, yet the professional caregiver workforce is expected to increase by only 60%.
2) Poverty: According to the U.S. Census, over 20% of Tucsonans struggle with poverty. At CGTI, 64% of students are from low or extremely low income, primarily single parent households. CGTI offers a direct pathway out of poverty and into self-sufficiency as its graduates experience an average wage increase of more than 210%.
3) Ignorance: CGTI graduates have successfully mastered an academically rigorous and challenging course of study, and as a result, graduates are well-informed, educationally-qualified and better prepared to provide excellent health care.
Since 2000, CGTI has made a name for itself as one of the state's top instructional programs. The school holds the highest first-time pass rate in Southern Arizona on the Arizona Board of Nursing State CNA exam!
 Register Now for a new education series--
CGTI's new community education series will debut on Thursday, April 4th at the Sheraton Tucson and is focused on sharing practical information & resources for seniors, family caregivers and consumers. This half-day forum will feature an expert panel of family caregivers discussing caregiving issues and a keynote speaker who will highlight the considerations necessary to properly plan a loved one's long-term care.
For more information, please contact Carolyn Donges at 520-325-4870, or visit: www.cgtiaz.org.
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Call for Board Candidates
Bob Kovitz, President of the Access Tucson Board of Directors asks you to become a community leader by answering the call for Board Candidates in this two minute video.
The role of the Board of Directors is critical to the health and growth of Access Tucson. While the Board is not involved with the day to day operation, they do provide overall policy direction. This is a great opportunity to support, sustain and impact the future of free speech in Tucson.
Board members attend one meeting a month and serve on at least one committee. See Board job description below.
Three elected positions are open on the Access Tucson Board of Directors, each for a three-year term. Any active member 18 years or older can run for the Board. Candidacy applications are due by 5pm on Saturday March 23, 2013.
Ballots will be mailed out to all active members at the end of March with the results announced at the Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Event at Access Tucson on Tuesday, April 23rd.
The last day to become an active member and thus be eligible to vote in the 2013 Board of Directors elections is 5pm on Monday, March 25th.
If you have any questions or concerns please email lisa@accesstucson.org or call 624-9833 ext. 109.
Board Candidacy Application Instructions:
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Save the Date: Wednesday, May 1st
Access Tucson Community Media presents our 2nd annual Celebrate Free Speech event. Please keep the evening of May 1st open for this Access Tucson fundraiser.
Featuring the theme "eat, drink and speak freely," attendees will enjoy an artistic array of fine foods, a complimentary serving of beer or wine, and entertainment guaranteed to produce great big belly laughs.
More details to follow soon.
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Programming Highlights
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo Parade (1:15:00)
Did the recent cold snap discourage you from attending this year's rodeo parade? If yes, no worries. Access Tucson partnered with KOLD to tape the 88th rodeo parade with Grand Marshalls, former Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly for an encore presentation on the Access Tucson channel.
Rodeo Parade
Saturdays 3/9, 3/16 and 3/23 at noon
Sundays 3/10 and 3/17 at 8pm
20 (Cox) / 74 (Comcast)
This year media students from Pueblo High School job shadowed the production teams from both KOLD and Access Tucson.
Local Matters: Blinded Veterans Association (15:00)
Since 1945, the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) has assisted veterans who live without total or partial vision. In Southern Arizona, the regional division of BVA
promotes the welfare of blinded veterans so that, notwithstanding their disabilities, they may take their rightful place in the community and work with their fellow citizens toward the creation of a peaceful world.
Saturdays through March at 10:30am
Sundays through March at 6:30pm
20 (Cox) / 74 (Comcast)
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Stay Connected with Us
 Find us on Facebook.  Follow us on Twitter. Tweets by former board member Jerry Harwood.  to our eNewsletter. Missed an issue? Go to our archive. 
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Celebrating 29 years, Access Tucson strives to provide the highest level of public media access service to the community. We facilitate the expression of ideas, opinions, and perspectives through electronic media. By tuning in to public access, viewers are discovering their own communities, alternative news and information not influenced by corporate or government interests.
Tucson's public access channel is operated and controlled by Access Tucson. Access Tucson is an independent, nonprofit corporation and is not an agent or affiliate of Cox Communications, Comcast or the City of Tucson.
Cox Communications, Comcast, the City of Tucson and Access Tucson are prohibited by law from controlling the content of programs on public access channels. They are not responsible in any way for the content of public access programs, and are not liable for any material cablecast on public access channels. Public access users and producers are solely responsible for and have complete control of the content of their programs.
You can produce your own program and use this channel to share your message with the community. Go to accesstucson.org or call (520) 624-9833 to find out how.
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