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CHRISTINA: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," HOW EFFORTS WITHIN THE STATE LEGISLATURE COULD CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

>>> ALSO WE'LL HEAR FROM A THEATER COMPANY THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

>>> AND HOW THE OWNER OF A MOBILE BOOKSTORE HONORS FEMALE AUTHORS OF COLOR?

THOSE STORIES NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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CHRISTINA: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M CHRISTINA ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.

THE MAN ACCUSED OF INJURING 12 PEOPLE IN SUNDAY'S ATTACK IN BOULDER, COLORADO TOLD POLICE HE PLANNED TO KILL EVERYONE, BUT HAD SECOND THOUGHTS.

MOHAMED SABRY SOLIMAN, EGYPTIAN NATIONAL LIVING IN THE U.S.

ILLEGALLY REPORTEDLY HAD 18 MOLOTOV COCKTAILS BUT THREW TWO DURING THE ATTACK WHICH HE YELLED FREE PALESTINE.

THE DEVICES INJURED HALF OF THE PEOPLE PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATING FOR THE RELEASE OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES IN GAZA.

SOLIMAN'S WIFE AND FIVE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO I.C.E.

CUSTODY.

>>> CNN IS REPORTING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PRIVATELY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES HE APPOINTED.

SAYING THEY ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY SUPPORTING HIS AGENDA.

TRUMP REPORTEDLY IS MOST UNHAPPY WITH JUSTICE AMY CONEY BARRETT WHILE EXPRESSING FRUSTRATION WITH JUSTICES BRETT KAVANAUGH AND NEIL GORSUCH.

THE PRESIDENT'S ANGER AT JUSTICE BARRETT IS FUELED BY RULINGS HE THINKS ARE NOT IN LINE WITH HOW SHE PRESENTED HERSELF BEFORE HE NOMINATED HER.

>>> PALESTINIAN HEALTH OFFICIALS AND WITNESSES SAY 27 PEOPLE ARE DEAD AFTER ISRAELI FORCES OPENED FIRE AS PEOPLE HEADED TOWARDS AID DISTRIBUTION SITE.

THE THIRD SUCH SHOOTING IN THREE DAYS.

THE ARMY SAYS IT FIRED, QUOTE, NEAR A FEW INDIVIDUAL SUSPECTS WHO LEFT THE DESIGNATED ROUTE, APPROACHED ITS FORCES AND IGNORED WARNING SHOTS.

THE NEAR DAILY SHOOTINGS HAVE OCCURRED AFTER AN ISRAELI AND U.S.-BACKED FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED AID DISTRIBUTION POINTS INSIDE ISRAELI MILITARY ZONES.

>>> ACCORDING TO RECENT POLLING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A TOP CONCERN AMONG ARIZONA VOTERS.

TO DISCUSS STATE EFFORTS TO INCREASE HOUSING, WE WELCOME THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ARIZONA MULTIHOUSING ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING US.

CHRISTINA: I WANT TO START WITH HB2447, WHICH MEANS NOTHING TO 99% OF THE PEOPLE BUT IMPORTANT TO YOU, MEANT TO SPEED UP THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

HOW DOES THAT WORK BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT, RIGHT?

>> YES, YES.

FOR ARZ MULTIHOUSING ASSOCIATION, HOUSING ADVOCACY IS SO CRITICAL FOR US, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AS YOU MENTIONED, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY HAS BECOME A TOP ISSUE AMONG ALL VOTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

HOUSE BILL 2447 SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL CARBONE SEEKS TO EXPEDITE THE PLANNING ENTITLEMENT AND ZONING PROCESS BY MAKING PORTIONS OF THAT PROCESS AN ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY.

IN OTHER WORDS, CITY STAFF CAN HANDLE SITE PLAN REVIEWS, FINAL SITE PLAN PLATTS AND REDUCE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THINGS LIKE CUTTING RED TAPE, EVEN IF IT'S A COUPLE WEEKS OR A MONTH OR TWO, EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS AND HELPS MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE.

CHRISTINA: ANOTHER BILL THE GOVERNOR SIGNED, HOUSE BILL 2110, SUPPORTERS SAY IT COULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR MORE VACANT AND UNDERUSED BUILDINGS TO BE USED.

BUT WASN'T THAT HAPPENING BEFORE THE BILL?

>> INTERESTING YOU SAY THAT.

SO 2110 SPONSORED BY A REPRESENTATIVE, THIS IS A CLEANUP BILL TO LAST YEAR'S BILL.

BASICALLY WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOWS COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, THINK OF OFFICE SPACE, RETAIL, MIXED USE THAT IS FUNCTIONALLY ECONOMICALLY OBSOLETE TO BE CONVERTED INTO MULTIFAMILY.

YOU'RE REINVIGORATING PARTS OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DILAPIDATED, A LITTLE RUN DOWN AND YOU'RE BUILDING MUCH NEEDED HOUSING.

THE KEY IS YOU DON'T GO THROUGH THE ENTITLEMENT REZONING PROCESS.

YOU CAN SKIP THAT PROCESS AS LONG AS YOU MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THE BILL.

ONE OF THE OTHER GREAT PROVISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE DID IN ARIZONA THAT'S BEEN DIFFERENT THAN ADAPTIVE REUSE IN OTHER STATES YOU IS DON'T HAVE TO KEEP THE EXISTING BUILDING, SO YOU CAN DEMOLISH ALL OR A PORTION OF THE BUILDING, YOU CAN KEEP THE EXISTING BUILDING, WHATEVER WORKS BEST FOR THAT HOUSING DEVELOPER.

CHRISTINA: HOW DO WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE UNITS, A SIGNIFICANT OR SIZABLE PORTION, WOULD HELP LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS?

>> IMPORTANT QUESTION, AND THIS BILL, BY THE WAY, IT WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL.

A GREAT EFFORT WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATURE AND ONE WE NEGOTIATED WITH THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TOWNS.

A KEY PROVISION IN THE BILL IS YOU HAVE TO SET ASIDE AT LEAST 10% OF THE UNITS FOR AFFORDABLE AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING.

SO ANYBODY BETWEEN 80 AND 120% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

CHRISTINA: ANOTHER BILL FAILED.

IT WAS REFERRED TO AS THE STARTER HOMES ACT.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> SO -- THIS WASN'T A BILL THAT ARIZONA MULTIHOUSING ASSOCIATION WEIGHED IN ON OR GOT ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN BECAUSE IT'S MORE DIRECTED TOWARDS SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, BUT I WILL SAY THE KEY PROVISION IS WE'RE IN A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NEGOTIATE AND TALK WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, AND THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TOWNS, WHICH WE DID IN OUR CASE, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE MEETING THE NEEDS THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND BE SIGNED.

CHRISTINA: CORRECT ME, PLEASE, IF I'M WRONG, I THINK IN LIMBO IS THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS.

>> CORRECT.

CHRISTINA: UNDER GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY.

IT'S GOING TO RUN OUT UNLESS GOVERNOR HOBBS AND THE GOVERNMENT CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

WHY IS IT IN LIMBO?

>> CRITICAL HOUSING IN ARIZONA, AND BEING NEGOTIATED AT THIS JUNCTURE THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH WE HAVE -- WE'RE DOWN TO LESS THAN 30 DAYS TO GET OUR BUDGET DONE, BUT IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

IT WOULD JUST BE AWFUL IF ARIZONA DOES NOT CONTINUE THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.

THAT IS A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR ARIZONA MULTIHOUSING ASSOCIATION AND HOUSING ADVOCATES.

>> PEOPLE WOULD SAY THERE ARE FEDERAL TAX CREDITS IF YOU BUILD FOR LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS AND THIS IS A BONUS ON TOP OF THAT, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

UNDER THE DUCEY ADMINISTRATION WHEN THE PROGRAM WAS PUT INTO PLACE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN 14 PROJECTS BUILT WITH THE STATE FUNDS, ABOUT 1500 UNITS, CONTRIBUTING ALMOST $750 MILLION TO THE STATE ECONOMY, INCLUDING 45 MILLION IN LOCAL AND STATE TAXES.

SO IT'S A PROGRAM THAT ULTIMATELY PAYS FOR ITSELF.

IT'S KIND OF A NO-BRAINER BECAUSE THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT IN ADDITION TO THE HOUSING MAKES THE PROGRAM SO SUCCESSFUL.

CHRISTINA: AS YOU MENTIONED, WE'RE COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE WITH THE BUDGET, WE WILL HAVE A DECISION VERY SOON.

>> VERY SOON.

CHRISTINA: COURTNEY LEVINUS, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THE TIME.

>> IT REPRESENTS WHERE WE ARE NOT PERFECT, AND THE WAY THIS WAS CREATED IS TO REMIND US WE LIVE IN AN IMPERFECT WORLD, BUT COMING TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL.

.

CHRISTINA: DETOUR COMPANY THEATRE PROVIDES TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

LATER THIS MONTH, THEY'LL PRESENT TWO DIFFERENT SHOW.

HERE TO SHARE MORE IS SIMON RIDLEY, DETOUR COMPANY THEATRE DIRECTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN, APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY GOSH, THIS IS A DELIGHT.

CHRISTINA: TELL ME ABOUT THE TWO SHOWS THAT ARE COMING IN?

>> WE HAVE TWO GREAT SHOWS, BOTH ABOUT DREAMS, ONE IS A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

IT FEATURES ORIGINAL MUSIC WRITTEN COLLABORATIVELY BY THE CAST.

CHRISTINA: THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

>> IT WAS A LOT OF WORK AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT WAS REALLY A BLAST.

THE OTHER SHOW IS ALSO PHENOMENAL, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAM COAT.

ONE OF THE NARRATORS IS DEAF AND WE HAVE GREAT NARRATION BETWEEN THE DEAF NARRATOR AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN THE DIRECTOR SIX YEARS?

>> SIX YEARS.

CHRISTINA: WHAT DO YOU GET TO SEE IN THE ACTORS AND WHAT DO YOU SEE BEHIND THE SCENES?

>> ACTORS AND COACHES WORKING AS A TEAM, THE CREW.

CHRISTINA: THE CREW.

ALL OF THAT, WHAT DO YOU SEE DURING THE PERFORMANCES THAT MAKE YOU STOP AND GO WOW?

>> THE BIGGEST THING THEY NOTICE FROM OUR PERFORMANCES IS THE AUDIENCE RESPONSE.

THE MOST COMMON RESPONSE WE GET FROM AUDIENCE MEMBERS, TALK TO THEM AFTER THE SHOW IS SURPRISE, SURPRISE AND DELIGHT.

WE DON'T EVEN REALIZE HOW MUCH WE HAVE BUILT UP EXPECTATIONS ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES UNTIL WE SEE THEM IN ROLES THAT AREN'T TYPICAL IN OUR WORLD.

WHAT'S LOVELY IS PEOPLE SEE THE SHOWS, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, AND THEN THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE EXCEEDED.

CHRISTINA: LAST SEASON, YOU HAD 62 PERFORMERS.

>> CORRECT.

CHRISTINA: WITH DISABILITIES.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DISABILITIES, SOME PEOPLE THINK ONE THING OR ANOTHER, OR A VARIETY OF THINGS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ACTORS AND CREW AND COACHES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DISABILITY, IT'S A VARIETY OF THINGS.

OUR CATCHALL TERM FOR DISABILITY IS ANYBODY WHO THE WORLD IS NOT SET UP FOR YOU.

IF THE WORLD IS SET UP FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS DEAF, SOMEBODY WOULD BE SIGNING ALL THE TIME.

SINCE IT'S NOT, IN OUR SETTING, IT'S A DISABILITY.

THAT'S THE GROUP WE HAVE AND SET UP REHEARSAL SPACE AND PERFORMANCES SO IT IS SET UP FOR THEM.

CHRISTINA: HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

IF YOU'VE GOT 62 PEOPLE WITH 62 DIFFERENT NEEDS OR DISABILITIES, TELL ME THE CORRECT WAY TO SAY THAT.

I SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU BEFORE, I DON'T WANT TO OFFEND ANYBODY.

>> YOU ARE NOT OFFENDING ME, YOU ARE DOING GREAT.

IT'S 62 PEOPLE WHO ARE ARTISTS.

YOU KNOW ABOUT WORKING WITH ARTISTS.

CHRISTINA: YES, CREATIVE DIFFERENCES IS WHAT WE CALL IT, RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER] >> HANDLING THAT SITUATION IS ALL IN THE NAME, DETOUR.

YOU COME IN WITH A SHOW, A PLAN FOR THE SHOW, YOU CAST SOMEONE AND FOR MOST SHOWS THAT'S THE END OF IT, THE DIRECTOR SAYS THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO BE.

FOR OUR SHOWS WE CAST SOMEONE, HOW DO WE MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU, WE TAKE A DETOUR AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

CHRISTINA: I DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK HOW DID THE NAME COME ABOUT.

16 FULL SCALE THEATER PERFORMANCES IN SEVEN DIFFERENT VENUES ACROSS ARIZONA, IMPRESSIVE.

THE NEXT TWO SHOWS COMING UP THIS MONTH, MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM AND AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAM COAT.

HOW CAN PEOPLE SEE THEM.

>> THE GREAT THING ABOUT BOTH SUMMER SHOWS, BECAUSE IT'S SO HOT AND PEOPLE LEAVE ARIZONA IN THE SUMMER, WE'RE OFFERING THEM FREE.

NO TICKETS NEEDED.

SEE THEM.

IT'S A GIFT TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO STICK AROUND IN ARIZONA DURING THE HOT MONTHS.

AND WE'RE DOING TWO DIFFERENT VENUES, ONE AT GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY, PERFORMING AT THE EFFINGTON THEATER ON JUNE 13, 14, 15.

AND PHOENIX COLLEGE IN THE JOHN PAUL THEATER, THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND.

CHRISTINA: YOU HAVE NOT JUST THE PERFORMANCES BUT OTHER PROGRAMS THROUGH THEATER AS WELL.

DETOUR ON TOUR?

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> WE HIT ALL THE DIFFERENT VENUES.

WE WRAPPED UP OUR MOST RECENT TOUR.

WE GET A SMALL GROUP OF ACTORS AND DO ONE OF THE SMALLER MUSICALS.

LESS BIG AND LOTS OF PRODUCTION VALUE, SOMETHING THAT CAN TRAVEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

OUR MOST RECENT ONE WAS THE 21st ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, A TIGHT LITTLE SHOW WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION AND TRAVELED UP NORTH TO PRESCOTT VALLEY, TUCSON TO LIVE THEATER WORKSHOP AND ALL OVER THE PHOENIX AREA AS WELL PERFORMING IT.

CHRISTINA: A ANOTHER PROGRAM IS DETOUR ACADEMY, WHAT'S THAT?

>> DETOUR ACADEMY STARTED AS THEATER TRAINING FOR PEOPLE.

MUSICAL THEATER TRAINING, ACTING TRAINING, THEATER, IT EXPANDED TO HUMANITIES AS WELL.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF CLASSES TAUGHT BY A PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR ON BIGGED YES, AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT BIG IDEAS AS A GROUP.

JUST LIKE THEATER IS FOR EVERYONE, HUMANITIES IS AS WELL.

CHRISTINA: YOU MAKE ME ENERGIZED, YOU HAVE GREAT ENERGY.

>> LOVELY FEEDBACK.

THAT'S GREAT.

CHRISTINA: BEFORE WE GO, TELL PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN GO TO GET INFORMATION?

>> DETOUR COMPANY THEATRE.ORG.

CHRISTINA: SIMON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, CHRISTINA.

.

CHRISTINA: THE LIT TWIS'T IS ARIZONA'S FIRST BLACK-OWNED MOBILE BOOKSTORE.

THROUGH EVENTS AND COLLABORATIONS HONORS WOMEN AUTHORS OF COLOR.

TO LEARN MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY PETRA SHERBIN-FOX, THE OWNER OF THE LIT TWIS'T.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CHRISTINA: THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN, YOU WERE COMMITTED TO THIS IDEA.

HOW IS IT GOING?

>> IT'S GOING.

I HAD AN IDEA I WAS SITTING ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

DO I WANT TO DO THIS?

DO I WANT TO DO THIS?

AND MY HUSBAND, I GIVE HIM CREDIT, YOU CAN DO THIS PETRA, AND WE DID IT.

WE LAUNCHED JANUARY 26 OF THIS YEAR.

CHRISTINA: WHY A MOBILE BOOKSTORE SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON WOMEN OF COLOR?

>> THE MOBILE BOOKSTORE, WE ARE A MILITARY FAMILY.

WE CONSTANTLY MOVE.

WE'LL BE HERE FOR TWO YEARS AND NEXT TO THE DUTY STATION.

THIS IS A WAY TO TAKE IT WHEN I GO.

HIGHLIGHTING BLACK WOMEN AUTHORS PARTICULARLY WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF REPRESENTATION IN PUBLISHING.

THE DIFFICULTY WHEN I WOULD GO LOOKING AT THE BARNES & NOBLES AND LOCAL BOOKSTORES THAT I HAD TO SIFT THROUGH IT LOOKING THROUGH THE PARTICULAR BOOKS.

I WANTED TO MAKE IT EASIER AND INCREASE THE VISIBILITY FOR THE BOOKS.

CHRISTINA: YOU SAID THAT THE LIT TWIS'T IS NOT JUST ABOUT CURATING BOOKS BUT ABOUT CREATING CHANGE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?

>> I AM -- MY GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE VISIBILITY FOR OUR BOOKS.

WE ARE OBVIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT LITERACY BUT BUILD COMMUNITY HERE.

LITERACY IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND THAT WAS NOT GIVEN EARLY ON, IN OUR EXPERIENCES, AND SO FOR OUR ANCESTORS AND FOR OUR HEALING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE LITERACY WHEREVER WE CAN, AND SO NOT ONLY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BOOKS BUT ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS, SHARE EXPERIENCES AND STORIES AND CREATE A SAFE SPACE.

CHRISTINA: YOUR AUDIENCE GOAL IS WOMEN OF COLOR, BUT YOU'VE SAID YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PERSON OF COLOR TO SUPPORT THE LIT TWIS'T IN ANYWAY, BUT YOU DO HAVE CERTAIN CRITERIA.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN?

>> SO ANYBODY CAN COME AND EXPERIENCE THIS, RIGHT?

I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO SEE THESE STORIES AND TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THEM.

THE ONLY CRITERIA I HAVE FOR BOOKS IN THE BOOKSTORE ARE BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN.

MY HUSBAND DID CONVINCE ME TO GET THREE BOOKS WRITTEN BY MEN IN THE BOOKSTORE.

I DID CAVE, AND I GAVE HIM A LITTLE CORNER SHELF, BUT IN TERMS OF ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME AND EXPERIENCE THE LIT TWIS'T VIBE, EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

CHRISTINA: YOU SAID THAT YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE CULTURALLY CONSCIOUS AND UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF EQUITY AND EQUALITY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IF SOMEBODY IS COMING TO GET A BOOK, DO YOU WANT THEM TO GO AWAY WITH HEY, I HAVE A NEW BOOK.

>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS.

WHAT PROMPTED ME TO OPEN THIS, THEIR LOVE FOR BOOKS, GENRES, AUTHORS, THINGS WE LEARNED.

SOME OF MY DEEPEST HEALING HAS COME FROM READING.

I THINK THE CONVERSATION PIECE IS I REALLY, REALLY ENJOY BECAUSE I LOVE WHEN PEOPLE ARE -- WE'RE SITTING AROUND AND TALKING ABOUT, HEY, THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK, WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE BOOK, WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEARN AND GROW FROM, SO IT'S MY LOVE LETTER, THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY, TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR EXPERIENCES AND HAVE AMAZING CONVERSATION PIECES THAT HONESTLY IS MY FAVORITE PART OF HAVING THE BOOKSTORE.

CHRISTINA: AND HOW DOES THE BOOKSTORE OPERATE?

WHERE ARE YOU AND HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU?

>> FIND ME ON INSTAGRAM.

WE MOVE AROUND A LOT.

THIS MAY WAS REALLY BUSY.

MY SON GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

CHRISTINA: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> MY DAUGHTER WENT TO KINDERGARTEN AND SON WENT TO COLLEGE.

IT'S GOING TO BE HOT SO WE'LL BE ON A VERY SPORADIC SCHEDULE FOR THE SUMMERTIME BUT WE HAVE BOOKS AND BRUNCH, A MONTHLY MARKET THAT WE DO AT ARIZONA CENTER, BUT EVERYWHERE WE ARE, IT'S ALWAYS ON THE INSTAGRAM.

CHRISTINA: WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE REACTIONS?

THAT'S HOW I FOUND YOU IS THROUGH INSTAGRAM.

AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIKE YOUR POSTS AND ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU OR WERE YOU LIKE -- I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO HIT.

>> I WOULD BE LYING IF I SAID I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HIT.

I KNEW I WAS GOING TO LOVE IT BUT I WASN'T SURE.

WHEN WE HAD OUR LAUNCH, IT WAS NICE AND WARM THAT DAY.

WE HAD A LINE THE ENTIRE FOUR HOURS, WHICH MADE ME CRY, AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, BUT IT HAS BEEN SO WELL RECEIVED.

WE MADE GREAT CONNECTIONS, WE HAVE A CONNECTION WITH AISHA BEAZLEY, WHICH WE ARE SO GRATEFUL.

THE ART MUSEUM, ARIZONA CENTER, A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAVE COME FROM IT.

WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO MOVE FROM A HARD SPACE, THIS IS A PASSION FOR ME.

I LOVE BOOKS AND I SAW A NEED AND WANTED TO CREATE A SPACE TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS BEEN SO WELL RECEIVED AND HONESTLY, I WAS NOT PREPARED.

CHRISTINA: PETRA, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CRY WHEN YOU MOVE.

THEY ARE.

>> I HOPE TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE, BUT, YES, I KNOW.

CHRISTINA: IF YOU GET ORDERS TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU'RE GOING TO GO.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON AND THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

CHRISTINA: THE LIT TWIS'T.COM ALSO, RIGHT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

CHRISTINA: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

CHRISTINA: AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M CHRISTINA ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

- Hello, I'm Alice Ferris, and we hope you enjoyed "Arizona Horizon."

For more than 40 years, viewers in Arizona have relied on "Arizona Horizon" for in-depth coverage of issues of concern to our community.