Contact: Chris Chesrown
Media Relations Manager
480-731-8503
June 4, 2001

Lunsford's President Elect for Arizonans for Cultural Development
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Greater Phoenix - Jack Lunsford, Director of Government Relations and External Affairs for the Maricopa Community Colleges, has been elected president-elect for Arizonans for Cultural Development (ACD) for 2001-2002.

Arizonans for Cultural Development is a statewide non-profit organization committed to nurturing Arizona's dynamic arts and cultural environment by uniting government, business, the arts community and citizens of Arizona to support the arts and art education.

Lunsford said ACD's accomplishments are many. "One of the most notable is the work we have done with the Arizona Alliance for Arts Education to ensure that all Arizona children receive instruction in the arts. This was accomplished through the passage of the Arizona Arts Standard adopted in 1997 by the Arizona Department of Education. Now we must al work together getting the arts standards implemented," he said.

ACD collaborated with the Commission on the Arts in establishing Arizona ArtShare, an endowment that provides a new source of long-term financial support for the arts in Arizona through public and private contributions. "We also said in establishing the Arizona Arts Trust Fund which generates about $1.3 million for grants to arts institutions through the Arizona commission on the Arts," Lunsford said.

Lunsford, who directs the lobbying efforts for the community college district on the federal, state and local levels, has served on ACD Board of Directors since 1996. "ACD must continue its efforts to increase state funding for the arts. Our immediate legislative goal of $1 per capita is more than reasonable," Lunsford explained.

The Maricopa County Community College District, the largest community college district in the nation, includes 10 colleges - Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, GateWay Community College, Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale Community College and South Mountain College. The District also includes the Maricopa Skill Center, Southwest Skill Center, several satellite campuses and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves over 264,000 students annually. For more information: 480-731-8000 or www.maricopa.edu

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March 13, 2002