Audra Travelbee loved to play school growing up, but there was just one problem—her “students” never wanted to do their homework. Now she puts that to use in her role as an instructional designer in NAU Online. The founder of Culture Connection AZ talks about what’s on her bucket list and what her volunteer organization brings to Flagstaff.
What brought you to NAU?
I first came to NAU in 2006 for a master’s degree in teaching Spanish. I grew up on the East Coast and in the Midwest, so I knew nothing about Flagstaff. I was quite shocked to discover that the snow I thought I was leaving behind in Michigan had followed me out west!
Tell me about a day in the life of your job.
As an instructional designer, I work with faculty to create online courses. It’s really fun! The best part is helping faculty make the course of their dreams into a reality. They share their vision, and I bring it to life with tools and technology.
How and why did you get involved in Culture Connection AZ?
I founded Culture Connection AZ during the first year of the COVID pandemic. It arose out of a need I saw for connecting people of different cultures, backgrounds and lived experiences together. I strongly believe that connection leads to conversation, conversation leads to compassion and compassion leads to community. This is the mission of Culture Connection AZ.
Tell me about the volunteer work you do there.
Culture Connection AZ is an all-volunteer organization with a working board. I serve as the executive director. My work involves creating programming that is responsive to the needs of the community, acquiring funding for these programs through grants and donations and making sure we are meeting our mission and carrying out the vision for the organization.
What’s something you did recently that you’re proud of?
In September, we hosted an interdisciplinary exhibition for downtown Flagstaff’s First Friday ArtWalk, called “From Artemis to Zorya: The Role of the Feminine Divine Throughout History.” The exhibition included 25 visual artists, aerial and fire poi performances, and a storytelling session from the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition on the mythologies behind many of our night sky constellations. More than 200 people attended the event, and it was such a wonderful night of celebrating art, culture and our community.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I think I always wanted to be a teacher, even though I didn’t realize it until later in life. When I was little, I used to play “school” with my friends, and I would make little worksheets that they had to do as the “students.” It was a tough sell; my friends were not as enthusiastic about playing this as I was.
What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
I love to hike in the woods with my partner and our dogs, enjoy a good meal and play board games with friends. In the past few years, I have gotten more into board games; there are so many! My favorite kind are the more social ones like Code Names or Monikers.
What are three items on your bucket list?
First is to see the northern lights. I seem to always miss them when they’re in Flagstaff, but I’d love to see them in Alaska or Iceland!
Second, I would like to visit Japan. It just looks like such a beautiful place, with so much culture and history. I’d love to spend a month there just traveling around and absorbing it all.
Lastly, I’d love to someday be able to play a whole song on a musical instrument (currently working on the baritone ukulele) and sing along. I can get the basic notes out, but when I try to sing too, it’s like trying to pat your head and rub your belly at the same time.
What would you tell others looking to get involved in the community?
I would say, “please do!” There is so much need that goes unfilled. Engaging in your local community is really empowering. It establishes a sense of connection to place. If you have a passion, there is probably a way to connect that to serving the community.
Whether it’s volunteering at a local nonprofit, serving on a local government commission, participating in local theater or music or just attending local events, getting involved fosters a sense of belonging that is often missing in people’s lives. We are always looking for folks who want to get involved with Culture Connection AZ, so please reach out to us at info@cultureconnectionaz.org if you are interested in learning more about what we do!