Southside nonprofit educating farmworkers celebrates 57 years

As he opened the door of a large teal school bus called the Tortuga in their museum, John Arnold, had a rush of memories come back to him. Starting 57 years ago, he used the school bus to go around Southern Arizona to educate farmworkers.

“Started going to farm labor camps, the brazier migrant camps, and that became our school,” Arnold described.

He named his non-profit and high school after the bus, calling it Portable Practical Educational Preparation. Their museum and high school are both located on the Southside.

“Education creates opportunities and today some of those people and their children are leaders in legislature,” he said. “They’re working as directors of libraries, working in hospitals…all because of this bus gave them an opportunity.”

Those opportunities took a group effort and it’s what allowed him to expand from a simple school bus to the high school.

“Over the years, all the staff, all of our 40 board members that have made a difference. We’re a team here. There’s no individuals,” Arnold said.

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