Barbara Smith
Barbara Smith
Social Justice Reporter, Phoenix
Latest from Barbara Smith

ALL In launches initiative to help Latinx students bridge education gap

PHOENIX - Education activist Luis Avila, after working in education reform for more than 20 years, launched Arizona Latinos in Education on Monday, creating the ALL In initiative to help Latinx students have a fair shot at school.


Phoenix Shanti Group to close, but leaves legacy of AIDS/HIV treatment

PHOENIX – Phoenix’s longest-serving treatment center for HIV+ people in metro Phoenix is set to close in 2020.


Tucson voters handily reject sanctuary city proposition

TUCSON – Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly defeated Proposition 205, which would have declared Tucson the state's first sanctuary city. The vote came amid warnings from the Trump administration of possible federal sanctions costing the city millions of dollars.


No money, no lights: Shutoff of senior woman’s electricity leads to calls for reform

PHOENIX - The Arizona Corporation Commission is spending the next few months pursuing reforms for the utility companies it oversees in Arizona. There is no state government standard as to how and why a user’ who is behind payments on a bill has their utilities shut off.


March for Our Lives Arizona honors gun-violence victims, plans next steps on reforms

PHOENIX – Congressional candidates and members of the Arizona Legislature spoke at a town hall about gun reform organized by 17-year-old Genesis Rivas, director of special projects for March for Our Lives Arizona.