Pima County Tech Campus to Spotlight Health Fair This Weekend!

Pima County is gearing up for a significant community health fair on Saturday, April 12. The event will take place at the Pima Joint Technology Educational District’s Bridges campus, located at 3300 S. Park Ave., from 9 a.m. to noon.

This fair will feature representatives from several organizations, including the Pima County Health Department and the American Heart Association. They will provide free health screenings such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose tests. Attendees will also receive valuable information on maintaining a healthy diet and the risks associated with skin cancer. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to safely dispose of old medications.

Beth Francis, manager of the district’s health care professions programs, emphasized the importance of engaging with the South Tucson community. “Our goal is to increase awareness about personal health care, reproductive health, vaccine equity, and chronic disease prevention,” she stated.

The JTED programs offer a comprehensive curriculum in various healthcare fields, including nursing and paramedic training. Francis noted that collaborations with community partners make it easier for students to secure jobs once they complete their certifications. “These partnerships help pave the way for students entering the workforce,” she explained.

An exciting highlight of the fair will be the Center for Neuroscience’s Brain Bus, described by Francis as a unique opportunity for attendees to learn about brain health and reflexes. The 100,000-square-foot JTED@TheBridges campus also houses a medical clinic where high school students can develop skills in areas like phlebotomy.

Currently, around 750 to 800 students are actively enrolled in JTED healthcare programs. Hang Le, a junior from Walden Grove High School, shares her experience of attending classes at the Bridges campus. “I love it,” she expressed. “It’s very different from my home school. Here, I’m having fun and learning at the same time.”

Le has found clarity regarding her career path and is now focused on pursuing a future in healthcare, stating, “This definitely helped solidify my decision that this is what I want to do with my life.”

South Tucson Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela expressed her enthusiasm for the health fair, highlighting its role in providing essential opportunities for youth. “The program steers them toward positive futures, away from the risks of drug addiction and crime,” she noted, sharing her personal experience of witnessing its impact on her niece’s life.

In total, JTED offers training across more than 30 programs, including aviation, cybersecurity, and culinary arts. Annually, nearly 3,000 students enroll, with many earning certificates that facilitate immediate job placement or advance their education at institutions like Pima Community College.

The Bridges campus, which opened in fall 2020, features a range of facilities, including welding bays, animation studios, and a commercial kitchen for culinary training. This centralized hub allows multiple school districts to access expensive resources, promoting collaborative learning among students.

While various programs exist, students generally attend classes in the afternoon or evening, either at the Bridges campus or its satellite locations. TUSD also operates Innovation Tech High School at the campus, where students can complete required academic courses alongside JTED electives.

Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Pima County and surrounding areas, the JTED programs are inclusive, welcoming students from public, charter, private schools, and even home-schooled individuals. There are some fees associated with the Empowerment Scholarship Account or Private School Tuition Tax Credit Program participants.

For more information on the JTED programs, interested individuals can visit the JTED website.