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City High students Chloe and Annalie recently had the opportunity to collaborate with artist Elizabeth (Liz) Burden, former City High student Dorothy Acevedo Green, and community members from across Tucson to help install a new public art piece as part of the SaludArte initiative.

The installation features quotes collected directly from members of the City High community. Each quote reflects personal experiences of recovery, resilience, and healing, highlighting the strength found within shared stories. The artwork also incorporates QR codes that link to audio recordings, allowing visitors to hear the voices behind the words and experience the power of storytelling in a new and immersive way.

This project is part of We Recover Together, a community-driven public art initiative organized by the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona in partnership with the Pima County Health Department. Now in its second year, SaludArte invites artists to creatively address pressing public health issues. This year’s theme, We Recover Together, focuses on the intersections of substance use, harm reduction, recovery, and collective resilience in Southern Arizona.

Artist Elizabeth Burden, known for her multidisciplinary work in painting, video, and installation, brings a research-based approach to her art that examines memory, geography, and social connection. Through this project, she aims to challenge stigma, create space for dialogue, and make visible the strength and complexity of recovery.

City High School is proud to be part of this meaningful collaboration that connects art, community, and wellness. The project reflects City High’s mission to engage students in hands-on learning experiences that build empathy, amplify diverse voices, and strengthen our sense of belonging in the wider Tucson community.

Learn more about the project at WeRecoverTogether.online, and keep an eye out for the upcoming Arizona Public Media feature story highlighting the installation and the people behind it.

City High School seniors had the unique opportunity to welcome acclaimed author Melani Martinez for a special conversation about her newly released memoir. Her visit brought a deeply local and meaningful story right into our classrooms, sparking powerful dialogue about family, history, and identity.

Martinez grew up in Tucson, where her family operated one of the city’s first tamale and tortilla factories, El Rapido. Founded by her great-grandfather in the 1930s, the business expanded over the decades into a neighborhood hub, part lunch counter, part market, where tamales and tortillas were made from corn ground on a traditional molino.

Her memoir, titled after that very molino, weaves together personal history and community memory. Through it, Martinez explores her family’s journey and the lasting impact of the business’s closure, reflecting on themes of resilience, cultural heritage, and the power of storytelling.

Our students were inspired not only by the story she told on the page, but also by the authenticity and warmth she shared in person. Her visit reminded us of the importance of preserving local voices and histories, and gave our seniors a firsthand look at how personal narrative can connect to broader cultural and social issues.

We are grateful to Melani Martinez for spending time with our students and for sharing her work, which continues to honor and uplift Tucson’s rich cultural landscape.

At City High School, we believe in the power of service, and our latest Community Day, proudly sponsored by The Loft Cinema, was a testament to that commitment. On September 17th, our students stepped out of their classrooms and into the heart of Tucson, dedicating their time and energy to meaningful volunteer work throughout the city.

From cleaning up local neighborhoods to supporting vital community organizations, our students made a tangible impact in a variety of ways:

Neighborhood Cleanup: Partnering with Team Up to Clean Up, Park Tucson, and the City of Tucson, students worked to beautify the area around Interstate 10 and Congress, removing litter and improving public spaces.

 Supporting Local Nonprofits: Our students volunteered at Ben’s Bells, the Diaper Bank, More Than a Bed, Casa Maria, the Ironwood Pig Sanctuary, COSIT, El Jefe, Mission Gardens and the Casitas on East Broadway, helping these essential organizations continue their missions of kindness, support, and care for those in need.

Improving Our Own School: Back at City High, students took on projects to enhance our shared spaces—painting classrooms, organizing storage spaces, and getting rid of a lot of junk to make space for bike storage. These efforts ensure that our learning environment reflects the same care and dedication we bring to our greater community.

Community Days are more than just service projects; they are a reflection of our school’s values, reinforcing the importance of civic engagement, teamwork, and the joy of giving back. A huge thank you to The Loft Cinema for their sponsorship and to all the students, staff, and community partners who made this day possible!

We are proud of our students for showing up, working hard, and making a difference in and beyond our school walls! 

This past weekend, we celebrated 20 incredible years of City High School with a beautiful gathering of former staff, founders, students, families, and community members. It was a joyful evening filled with stories, laughter, and connection — a true reflection of what City High is all about.

We are deeply grateful to our event sponsors who made the celebration possible:
Presidio Tucson, The Loft Cinema, La Suprema Works, and DeConcini, McDonald, Yetwin, and Lacy PC.
A special thank you as well to Marcela from The Little One for generously donating the meal, Perche No for donating the coffee, Nadine’s Bakery for the delicious cookies, and Melissa from Green Bee Home Services for donating plants to brighten our garden space.

Thank you to everyone who joined us — here’s to the next 20 years of learning, community, and heart!

We are thrilled to celebrate Annalie Earley Clark for her incredible achievement at the Arizona State Science and Engineering Fair! Annalie placed 3rd in the Plant Science category, earning recognition for her hard work, curiosity, and dedication to scientific inquiry.

Along with her award, Annalie received a cash prize — a testament to the quality and impact of her project. We are so proud of Annalie’s accomplishments and the way she represents City High’s spirit of excellence and innovation. Congratulations, Annalie!