Initiatives
While Ron Barber was in the ICU recovering from two bullet wounds, his family began to ask the following questions:
What are we going to do to make a difference?
How can do we help in healing and creating a healthier community in Southern Arizona and beyond?
The family discussed the importance of preventing bullying, eliminating stigmas about mental illness, and the need to promote individual and collective civility. As music and film lovers, Barber’s family deeply believes that various art forms bring communities together. Their dream was to bring music and film to the community to help it heal and grow.
From these discussions in the ICU, the Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding was born. The family invited friends and 
leaders in Tucson and Southern Arizona to form an advisory board. The response was immediate and enthusiastic. Task force were began to address each of the family’s concerns and they branched off from the Advisory Board, beginning the building of a healthier Southern Arizona community. There are now over 100 volunteers working with the fund to support and grow the three initiatives. The fund has also formed partnerships with national and local musicians, venues, concert promoters and a local independent film house to bring music and film to Southern Arizona.
All of this has led Ron to joke that we should “be careful what you dream up in the ICU.”
The Funds Main Initiatives are:
- Mental Health Awareness and decreasing the stigma around mental health issues
- Preventing bullying in all forms
- Promoting civility individually and collectively
