About The Book

Kendall Kroesen holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, San Diego. Following postdoctoral research roles, he dedicated over 10 years to serving as the Restoration and Urban Program Manager at the Tucson Audubon Society. Currently, Kendall serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator at Mission Garden. His hobbies include bird-watching, culture, gardening, and history.

Adam Block is an astronomer and award-winning astrophotographer. He graduated from the University of Arizona in Astronomy and Physics in 1996. Following his graduation, he was employed by the Kitt Peak National Observatory to develop the newly created public observatory programs and later founded the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter for the University of Arizona. In 2012, he received the Hubble Award, a prestigious honor for excellence in astro-photography.

Maegan Lopez comes from New Fields in the Tohono O’odham Nation. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona and boasts extensive experience working with the Tribal Health Department. Maegan serves a crucial role at Mission Garden as a Gardener and Cultural Outreach Liaison, leveraging her knowledge to contribute to the preservation and revitalization of traditional agricultural practices.

Luke Safford’s birding passion began at age six in Washington State, nurtured by his grandparents. Establishing a life list early on, he moved to Arizona in 2015, making Sweetwater Wetlands his go-to birding spot. As the Director of

Engagement and Education at the Tucson Audubon Society, Luke leads weekly walks, coordinates events, and shares his love for birds with the community.

Domingo DeGrazia is the youngest son of renowned artist Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and earned his law degree from Oklahoma City University, practicing as a trial attorney in the juvenile court system. In addition to his legal pursuits, Domingo is a respected guitarist and songwriter, blending Spanish, Latin, and Flamenco styles. Furthermore, he has actively contributed to the political landscape, serving as a Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023, representing District 10.

Kyle Trudeau, a Tucson local, developed a passion for bicycles at the age of three. His journey started with BMX racing at five, and soon transitioned to motocross racing until he took up racing bicycles full time at 21. Kyle has achieved success at the highest level of the sport in road cycling, mountain biking, and gravel racing. Notable highlights of his career include representing the USA at the World Championships of Marathon Mountain Bike in 2021, Single Speed Mountain Bike National Champion in 2015, and finishing 4th in the Whiskey Off-Road Pro Backcountry race.

Michael Hultquist Jr., also known as Mikey, is a co-owner of El Torero restaurant, and the previous co-owner of Lerua’s Mexican restaurant which was serving Tucson traditional Mexican food for almost 100 years. In 2015, Michael Jr. earned a degree from San Diego School of Culinary Arts, an intensive six- month program that favors technique over recipes, and mandates studying all aspects of running a successful restaurant.

Raymond V. Buelna is a cultural leader of the Cristo Rey Church on the Pascua Yaqui Reservation in Tucson, Arizona. His role is to help preserve and advance the Yaqui way of life. Beyond his cultural responsibilities, Mr. Buelna serves as a community leader and has been a strong advocate for Indigenous rights at the Mexico-USA international border.

Diana Madaras earned a master’s degree in Bio-mechanics from the University of Arizona and spent 18 years in a high-profile sports marketing company in Tucson, where she promoted major sporting events such as LPGA and PGA golf tournaments. In 1996, she sold her marketing company to pursue a career as a professional artist. Throughout her artistic journey, Diana has received numerous accolades, including being voted Tucson’s Best Visual Artist nine times,

being recognized as philanthropist of the year, and receiving the prestigious Wells Fargo Copper Cactus Award—an esteemed honor in Tucson for community service.

Daniel Buckley arrived in Arizona in 1971 to study lunar and planetary geology at the University of Arizona. Renowned for his roles as a journalist, music writer, historian, and documentary maker, he is also an accomplished photographer, videographer, composer, performance artist and sound designer. Buckley’s multidisciplinary work earned him the recognition of Artist of the Year at the 2014 Arizona Governor’s Arts Awards.

Maya Benita, a Tucson native, found her love for golf at the age of 14 following a soccer injury. Her high-level competitive journey in gold took off with a significant victory at the AZ Division II State Championship during her senior year at Catalina Foothills HS, setting a record for the lowest score in Tucson girls’ state championship history. Notably, Maya is one of three female golfers from Tucson competing at the NCAA Division 1 level. She is pursuing a Finance degree from the Eller College of Business at the University of Arizona and is a 3X WGCA Scholar All-American. Additionally, she currently serves as the voice of student-athletes on the University of AZ Executive Board of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. As the Chair of Community Service, she provides input on institutional, conference and national issues.

Martha Ames Burgess, also known as Muffin, is an ethnobotanist, ecologist, artist, and a great cook. She has a BA from Brown University in geosciences and a masters from the University of Arizona in the field of dendrochronology. Mentored by Tohono O’odham Elders, Martha came into ethnobotany from the inside out, learning how to harvest, prepare, store, and eat many Sonoran Desert edibles. With Tohono O’odham farmers and Native Seeds/SEARCH cofounders, she was taught desert gardening with native heirlooms. She has shared her ethnobotanical knowledge as an adjunct at Tohono O’odham Community College, and through native-foods workshops for Tucson’s Mission Garden.