Remembering Congressman Raúl Grijalva

Rep. Raúl Grijalva at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 28, 2022. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images.

We lost a hero this past week, and what a somber time it has been for our community. Congressman Raúl Grijalva was a dear friend to our staff and to so, so many others in this work.

The Coalition will honor his incredible legacy by continuing his work for the Sonoran Desert and its wildlife, open spaces, and landscapes alongside our values of inclusion; increasing equity, environmental justice, and accessibility; and valuing diversity.

Our Co-Executive Director Kathleen Kennedy remembers, “Over a decade ago, when Congressman Grijalva and the Coalition were located in the same office building, he would often wander down the hall to say hello, catch up, and offer his support for our work, always with a warm hug and a smile. His generous heart and humanity – both towards the people he interacted with directly and for the larger southern Arizona and Sonoran Desert community – made a huge impression on me.”

Christina McVie, Raúl Grijalva and Carolyn Campbell on a trip to Washington D.C.

“Raúl was a force of nature and always strove to do the right thing. He brought together a coalition of environmentalists, labor and people of faith to work for social and environmental justice,” remembered our Board President Christina McVie. “Whether it was education, health care, or safeguarding our water and natural resources, he was at the forefront.”

Christina also highlighted one of Congressman Grijalva’s many triumphs, the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. The SDCP celebrates its 25th anniversary next year, and it has had an immense and positive impact on our region in that time.

Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter, states in a recent interview with Lauren Gilger on The Show, “…he put people first, always. And recognized that people are part of the environment, […] his heart was in the Sonoran Desert, and he loved it and he really was visionary in putting forth the Sonoran Desert Conservation plan, something that really has happened nowhere else, and that has protected a lot of the lands in Pima County and, as supervisor, he helped to push through the plan and funding and it’s won many awards and been recognized as something that really had bipartisan support as well on the county Board of Supervisors.”

“RIP to a conservation giant,” added our Board Member Carolyn Campbell. “The community of southern Arizona just got a lot darker today.”

Grijalva joins Carolyn Campbell and other environmental advocates for a press conference at Ironwood Forest National Monument (2017)

Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, daughter of Congressman Grijalva, announced a celebration of life is planned on March 26th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at El Casino Ballroom, 437 E. 26th Street. In honor of his legacy, the Grijalva family has created the Raúl M. Grijalva Scholarship Fund: grijalvalegacyfund.funraise.org

Thank you to those who have made a donation to the Coalition in Congressman Grijalva’s honor. We will continue to fight for the Sonoran Desert and honor his incredible legacy.

READ MORE ON HIS SONORAN DESERT LEGACY: