Dunbar Coalition

To honor the past, celebrate today, and shape the future of the African American community.

In 1994 the Dunbar Coalition formed to assume ownership of the Dunbar School in Tucson, Arizona. For 30+ years, this was the site of Tucson's African American school under segregation. Despite substandard conditions the school provided a nurturing community where students learned and thrived and many went on to become prominent citizens in our region. When the Coalition took control, the property had been vacant for twenty years and was considered a blighted site in the surrounding residential area, itself a historic African American neighborhood. The two school buildings, one from 1918 and one from the 1950s, needed to be secured and protected from vandals and people seeking shelter. The Coalition moved quickly to secure the campus and completed a master plan to achieve the vision of an African AmericanMuseum and cultural center. Since that time The Dunbar Pavilion has become a viable community facility, providing space for cultural performances, social events, and tenant organizations whose missions are compatible with Dunbar. Now, the Dunbar Coalition is preparing to launch a three-million-dollar capital campaign to complete the major remaining sections of the restoration project. The Catalina Rotary Club and Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation have committed to support this process.