Fundraiser:

On Wednesday February 8th, between 9pm-9:30pm a fire started inside in the north wing of the former Julia Keen Elementary School, now known as the Midtown Farm. While there is ongoing investigation into what caused the fire, we understand it to be the result of systemic inequities and decades of divestment in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. The damage of the fire has caused a safety hazard that requires immediate demolition and remediation. TUSD now feels pressured to sell the property to Flowers and Bullets after two years of prolonged negotiation process. We have been stewards of the land since 2016 and now we would like to lead and move forward with the purchase of the property. Due to the fire, our timeline has shortened and our costs have increased. We are launching this fundraiser to raise $150k so we can cover the cost to demolish and create structures that promote a safe space for our community.

Read below to learn more about us:

Flowers and Bullets began as a way reclaim our cultural roots and amplify them through sustainability, art, and rebellion. We began in 2012 as a few friends from Barrio Centro with ideas of how to heal and empower our neighborhood. At the time, we did not have land, money, or other resources to get started, but we knew the systemic challenges our neighborhood was facing: incarceration, racism, chronic health problems, and lack of access to healthy food. We began creating art and selling Tshirts to help our friends who were struggling. More friends and family joined us and we continued organizing. We installed healthy food gardens and rainwater harvesting tanks in neighbors' back yards, created murals, began hosting an annual Barrio Centro Fiesta. Planting trees, Creating pocket parks, and adding shade and cooling to an increasingly hot desert environment. These projects created ways for us to learn support, heal and learn from each other.

in 2016, we We raised funds for the first 3 years and launched the farm, our biggest project yet. Since 2018 we have leased 10 acres from Tucson Unified School District and created the MidTown Farm. The next step is owning the land. Making our investments permanent. Securing this community resource as a place to plant grow An equitable, healthy, empowered, and engaged Barrio Centro.

Help Flowers & Bullets After Fire

Support us in taking over the midtown farm post-fire

Team Members