The January 8th Memorial
Pam Simon - Survivor
Symbols by artist Rebeca Méndez
Apple and Book
Teacher / Teacher's union rep
Pam Simon taught middle school and high school for 22 years in Seattle, Tucson and the Marana School Districts before retiring in 2006. During her tenure as a teacher she served in a number of leadership roles, including Vice President and President of the Marana Education Association as well as serving on committees with the Arizona Education Association. For several years she took groups of students to Mexico for an educational exchange called “Hands Across the Border”.
Connector
Community outreach coordinator for Gabby Gifford's Congressional Office
Pam served on the district Congressional staff of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords as the Community Outreach Coordinator from 2007 until 2012. She has also volunteered with a community grassroots organization, Pima County Interfaith Council, which organizes faith organizations around social issues. Pam has a passion for connecting people and encouraging others to become activists.
Dove
Peace over violence / Activist
Pam’s faith has been an important part of her life from the time she was a child. She has been a part of many faith congregations and for the past two decades has been a member of St. Francis United Methodist Church. Pam believes that faith needs to be lived out in action and becoming a voice for the voiceless. Most importantly, Pam strives to be a peacemaker.
Mesquite Tree
Favorite tree / Provides shelter for other life / Strong desert tree
Pam and her husband moved from the Pacific Northwest to Arizona in 1972. In Tucson they raised their two children, Fritz and Summer. Pam came to love the Sonoran desert, the hardy plants and trees and the gentle change of seasons. The strong and gnarly Mesquite tree with its deep roots that allow it to survive the worst droughts is symbolic to Pam as it reflects the resilience of the people of the Southwest and inspires her own resilience.
Mama Bear
Moms Demand Action / Voice for the voiceless
After surviving the January 8, 2011 Tucson Mass Shooting during a Congress On Your Corner event, Pam became an activist for gun violence prevention. She has worked on the staff of Everytown for Gun Safety, and later became a leader with Moms Demand Action, and serves as a Fellow on the Everytown Survivor Network. She has also supported the work of Giffords; the Courage to Fight Gun Violence and many other groups with this common goal. Pam has stated that her survival is a miracle and she feels she has the moral authority and obligation to help create a country where people can live in freedom from gun violence.
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