Desert Unity Project
Library Details
Organization
Desert Unity Project
Date Created
19 Jun 2025
Public
Public
Authors
Desert Unity Project
Description
As part of the Desert Unity Project, you’ll have the opportunity to design and lead a meaningful community impact project that brings people together, celebrates our shared values, and addresses real needs in Tucson.
To help spark your creativity and give you a head start, we’ve built this library of civic engagement challenges. These are project ideas you can use as-is, adapt, or build upon—designed in partnership with local organizations supported by Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA).
Each challenge represents a real issue or opportunity in our city—from inclusion and aging to interfaith solidarity and cultural celebration. These projects are designed to:
- Foster collaboration across communities
- Address local needs with compassion
- Build your skills in leadership, design, and communication
- Deepen your connection to Jewish values like tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedek (justice)
How to Use the Library
-
Explore: Browse the projects. You’ll find ideas related to art, service, education, food, wellness, advocacy, and more.
-
Reflect: What speaks to you? What community issues matter most to you?
-
Choose or Customize: Pick a challenge that inspires you—or modify one to fit your vision and talents.
-
Build Your Team: Work with peers, mentors, and local partners to shape and carry out your project.
-
Make It Real: You’ll turn your idea into action and present your impact at the end of the program.
Why are these Great Project?
-
Rooted in Community – Does it respond to a local need?
-
Culturally Respectful – Does it uplift the diverse identities of Tucson?
-
Collaborative – Are you working with others meaningfully?
-
Creative – Does it bring a fresh idea or approach?
-
Impactful – Will it leave a mark beyond this moment?
You are not just students—you are changemakers, connectors, and community builders. Let these challenges be your starting point. Tucson is your canvas. Your values are your guide. Let’s build something beautiful together.
Relevant Topics
Community Organization and Social Action
Economic Development, Work and Occupations
Individual and Family Advocacy
Marketing
Operations
Organizational Culture
Public Administration
Purchasing, Logistics, Supply Chain
Strategic Planning
Training & Development
Urban Planning
Skills & Expertise
Agenda Planning
Analytics Framework Design
Archival Research
Audience Persona Development
Audience Segmentation
Best Practices Research
Budgeting
Campaign Branding
Campaign Development
Capacity Planning
Capital Planning
Card Design
Care Package Design
Civic Education
Color Theory Application
Community Engagement
Community Needs Assessment
Community Outreach
Community Research
Comparative Research
Competitive Benchmarking
Concept Sketching
Content Design
Content Synthesis
Cost-Benefit Analysis
CRM Evaluation
Culinary Curation
Cultural Analysis
Cultural Competency
Cultural Sensitivity
Curriculum Design
Dashboard Design
Data Collection
Data Management
Database Design
Dialogue Facilitation
Distribution Planning
Documentation
Empathy Mapping
Employer Outreach Strategy
Equity and Cultural Responsiveness
Ethical Storytelling
Event and Campaign Planning
Event Design
Event Operations
Experience Design
Facilitation Design
Facilitation Planning
Facilities Planning
Facility Design
Feedback Analysis
Feedback Collection
Financial Modeling
Food Education
Fulfillment Workflow Design
Fundraising Strategy
Gap Analysis
Grant Research
Grant Writing
Historical Research
Human-Centered Design
Impact Measurement
Impact Modeling
Implementation Planning
Inclusion & Representation Strategy
Inclusive Marketing
Inclusive Program Design
Infrastructure Planning
Instructional Design
Instructional Writing
Interactive Learning Activity Design
Intercultural Communication
Intergenerational Program Design
Inventory Management
Inventory Management Strategy
Inventory Planning
Kit Design
KPI Development
Leadership Development
Localization
Logistics Planning
Low-Cost Sourcing Strategy
Marketing Strategy
Materials Planning
Mentor Training Development
Message Writing
Multilingual Communication
Narrative Development
Needs Assessment
Operational Analysis
Operations Strategy
Oral History Collection
Organizational Analysis
Outreach Planning
Packaging and Labeling
Packaging Design
Parent and Community Communications
Participatory Design
Partnership Development
Phasing Strategy
Process Mapping
Procurement Planning
Product Prototyping
Program Design
Program Evaluation
Project Management
Public Art Analysis
Public Speaking Training
Purpose Statement Development
Qualitative Research
Recipe Development
Recruitment Strategy
Reflection Design
Religious Literacy
Replication Planning
Research on Senior Isolation
Risk Assessment
Safety and Hygiene Protocol Design
Scalability Planning
Scenario Planning
Site Analysis
Site Selection Analysis
Social Media Content Planning
SOP Development
Sourcing Strategy
Space Utilization Analysis
Stakeholder Analysis
Stakeholder Coordination
Stakeholder Facilitation
Stakeholder Interviews
Story Mapping
Storytelling
Storytelling and Documentation
Storytelling Strategy
Strategic Planning
Supply Chain Design
Survey Design
SWOT Analysis
Symbolism & Iconography Design
Toolkit Development
Urban Planning Considerations
Vendor Coordination
Visual Communication
Visual Design
Volunteer Coordination
Volunteer Onboarding
Volunteer Recruitment
Workflow Design
Workforce Development Strategy
Workshop Design
Youth Engagement Strategy
Youth Mentorship Program Design
Zoning & Regulatory Analysis
Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center
Community Storytelling Through Public Art: Designing a Mural of Resilience and Unity
The Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center is a cornerstone of historical preservation and cultural education in the American Southwest. As a community deeply shaped by Jewish heritage, migrant journeys, and interfaith cooperation, Tucson offers fertile ground for an artistic tribute to shared resilience.
This project invites students to conceptualize and design a large-scale public mural—either on-site at the museum or in a local communal space—that weaves together narratives of Jewish perseverance, local Tucson history, and broader themes of interfaith unity. Students must approach this with an understanding of muralism as public memory-making, engaging deeply with local voices, symbols, and the socio-political weight of storytelling in public spaces.
The challenge lies in honoring historical trauma without retraumatization, uplifting resilience without flattening complexity, and designing collaboratively for public meaning rather than aesthetic novelty.
Iskashitaa Refugee Network
Designing Dignity: Tucson Refugee Welcome Kit Drive and Cultural Integration Guides
Every year, Tucson welcomes hundreds of refugee families from around the world—fleeing war, persecution, and climate displacement. Many arrive with limited resources, unfamiliar with local systems, and in need of immediate material and emotional support.
Jewish Family & Children’s Services (JFCS) and organizations like the Iskashitaa Refugee Network serve as critical lifelines, helping families get settled in safe housing and begin new lives. However, the first days and weeks are often the most disorienting. That’s where Welcome Kits—bundled packages of essential items and cultural guidance—play a vital role.
This case study challenges students to research, prototype, and operationalize a refugee-centered Welcome Kit program that goes beyond basic supplies. In addition to assembling kits, students must co-design culturally responsive “local life” guides with multilingual instructions and practical tips that foster trust, belonging, and agency for new arrivals.
The goal is to build a sustainable, community-informed delivery system that reflects the dignity and diverse needs of the families it serves—while teaching students logistical coordination, supply chain design, and cultural humility.
Al Basha Grocery
Sacred Sustenance: Designing an Interfaith Kosher & Halal Food Education and Cooking Demo
In a world often divided along religious lines, food offers a profound path to unity. Kosher and Halal dietary laws—observed in Judaism and Islam, respectively—share core values of discipline, ethical slaughter, and ritual preparation. However, they are often misunderstood or oversimplified.
This open innovation case study challenges students to design a public culinary demonstration and interfaith dialogue that highlights the values, similarities, and distinctiveness of Kosher and Halal food systems. Hosted in partnership with Al Basha Grocery (a Middle Eastern market and halal butcher) and Jewish community stakeholders, the event should be intellectually enriching, culturally respectful, and logistically feasible.
The project blends research, event design, food education, and intercultural engagement, encouraging students to model a replicable event for building bridges between Jewish and Muslim communities—starting with a shared table.
Tucson Hebrew Academy
Civic Superstars: Designing a Youth Mentorship Event for Aspiring Changemakers
Leadership isn’t just for adults—it’s a skill that can and should be nurtured early in life. But many middle school students lack exposure to youth mentors who reflect their energy, potential, and lived experiences. Civic participation, advocacy, and public speaking can feel intimidating without relatable role models or hands-on practice.
This case study challenges students to conceptualize and pilot a one-day “Civic Superstars” mentorship event, where high school and college students mentor middle schoolers in leadership, advocacy, and project planning. Hosted in partnership with local educational and community institutions such as the Tucson Hebrew Academy and Tucson JCC, the program should blend inspiration, interactivity, and skill-building into a vibrant civic experience.
The outcome is not just an event—it’s a movement to cultivate the next generation of civic-minded leaders by equipping them with the tools, stories, and confidence they need to make a difference.
B’nai Brith Covenant House
Cards of Care: Designing an Intergenerational Campaign to Combat Isolation and Foster Connection
Social isolation among older adults is a growing public health concern, often described as an epidemic with emotional and physical consequences. Homebound seniors and elder residents of assisted living facilities—especially those without regular family visits—are especially vulnerable to loneliness.
This case study invites students to design and prototype a scalable campaign that delivers handmade cards and care packages to isolated seniors in their local community. While inspired by the mission of organizations like B’nai Brith Covenant House and Jewish Family & Children’s Services, students are challenged to independently build the concept from the ground up—designing the branding, crafting strategy, logistics, and impact model.
This is not just about holiday cheer—it’s about designing dignity, empathy, and continuity into a grassroots community care initiative.
DK Advocates (DKA Tucson)
Expanding DKA’s Collections Capacity to Grow Client Opportunity Inventory
DKA (DK Advocates / dkajobs.com) is a Tucson‑based employment services organization focused on supporting individuals with barriers to employment—including limited work experience, disabilities, homelessness, criminal histories, and substance abuse—by helping them become employable and employed through training, job development, and placement services. DKA also operates business units like Pak Mail and Archive Advantage to provide hands‑on training environments. DKA offers a range of training programs and worksite experiences aimed at building skills and confidence for people facing obstacles to workforce participation. These include computer training, worksite internships, merchandise management, janitorial skills, front‑office operations, and more.
While impactful, DKA’s current inventory of training experiences, employer partnerships, and community resources remains limited in scale relative to the size of the populations it serves. To better support clients and expand its mission reach, DKA needs to increase its collections capacity: the set of program partnerships, worksite inventories, employer relationships, and community resources that clients can be referred to or placed with.
This project challenges student teams to help DKA design a scalable collections strategy — expanding the inventory of opportunities while enhancing the organization’s ability to track, manage, and promote those opportunities to current and prospective clients. The work should account for both internal inventory (training positions, business units, on‑site experiences) and external community opportunities (employers willing to offer internships, placements, job opportunities, and pro‑bono or subsidized work experiences).
DK Advocates (DKA Tucson)
Facilities for the Future: Optimizing DKA’s Physical Footprint for Impact and Scale
DKA (DK Advocates / dkajobs.com) is a Tucson-based employment support organization that prepares individuals with barriers to employment for job success through skills training, in-house businesses, and personalized coaching. With two existing locations and growing community need, DKA is at an inflection point: deciding whether to consolidate operations, expand, or rebuild to better serve more clients in the future.As DKA seeks to expand its capacity to serve more clients and deliver a broader range of training and placement services, it faces the challenge of operating across two separate locations that may no longer be ideal for long-term growth. These facilities—originally adapted to available spaces—now limit operational efficiency, collaboration across programs, and the scale at which clients can be served.
The leadership team is evaluating several options:
- Consolidating both current locations into one updated facility
- Expanding at an existing site through renovation or adjacent property acquisition
- Relocating entirely to a new site built for scale, client flow, and organizational sustainability
The goal is to develop a strategic facilities plan that takes into account current program needs, growth projections, financial realities, and the geographic distribution of DKA’s client base and workforce partners.