J Stories | The Arroyo Family

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The Arroyo family

Four years ago, Melissa Arroyo was handed a diagnosis that would reshape how she thought about her daughter’s future. Her daughter, Valentina, had autism—and with it came a clear message from doctors: she would need the right environments to truly thrive. School, childcare, even something as quintessential as summer camp, would have to be chosen with care, intention, and trust. 

 

For many families, summer camp is a given. For Melissa, it was a question mark. 

 

Today, that question has an answer. For the last several summers, Valentina has spent her days at Camp J, swimming, playing, and making friends just like any other camper. What once felt uncertain has become a place of belonging, growing, and thriving—at the J, Valentina is not defined by her diagnosis but reaching beyond it. 

 

Melissa and Valentina’s journey is not just a story about one child at camp. It is a window into what becomes possible when the right support systems are in place—and why access to them matters for every family. 

 

“Camp J is a place where every kid, regardless of ability, is empowered to grow and learn in a community-centered environment,” said Cass Johnson, the director of camp and youth at the Tucson J. “Our camp is focused on fostering independence and helping kids to get out of their comfort zone, so they leave with more confidence than when they first arrived.” 

 

Melissa first heard about Camp J from other families in the community. “I asked a lot more questions and I visited the facilities, and what we noticed was that we saw a lot of different types of families… It made us very comfortable as a family to consider bringing our daughter here.”  

 

Melissa reflected that Camp J provided Valentina with the appropriate level of support and attention from counselors, allowing her “to be the child that none of us knew that she could be.” 

 

Camp J takes incredible care in staffing and training counselors, ensuring that campers can get one-on-one support if needed. “Accessibility and inclusion are central to Camp J. We think of families as partners, because when families and camp are aligned, we can create a safer and more successful environment for kids to thrive,” said Cass. 

 

“Every day, my daughter would come home and would have done something different. It was very clear that the program was developed and built specifically for all these kids, giving them the ability to not just do things that they love to do or like to do, but actually try new things.” 

 

Camp J is filled with activities like swimming, cooking, sports, art, and wilderness, allowing campers to engage with their favorites, while having space to explore and embark on new adventures.  

 

As camp went on, Melissa watched Valentina blossom. The family was working on improving her storytelling skills, and at Camp J, Valentina made incredible progress. “[Valentina] would come home with stories all the time. She would know exactly what she was doing during the day… It was a first experience for us being able to see how animated she could get and actually articulate things that she did and was excited about,” Melissa said. 

 

Ultimately, Camp J has given Melissa and her family the one thing that every parent wants—peace of mind. “As a parent of a child who has [autism], to be able to know and feel safe when we leave her and not feel the constant anxiety of wondering how she’s doing, how people are treating her, is she enjoying herself? We always felt safe knowing that she was going to be taken care of and included… because of who she’s being cared for by at the J.” 

 

All children deserve an experience like Valentina’s, filled with the support and space needed to flourish all summer long and to take those skills and memories with them when the camp season ends. The J’s Annual Send a Kid to Camp campaign makes that possible. Donations provide scholarships for those in need, as well as help to make important investments in staff, enhance programming, and contribute to facility updates that make the J a truly child-friendly place.  

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J Stories | The Contento Family

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The Contento Family

From Early Childhood Education and the JCare after school program to Camp J and beyond, the Tucson J offers so much more than the average childcare center—it’s a place where kids grow, families connect, and community is built. For busy families balancing childcare, work, school, and everything in between, having a trusted, enriching environment that fosters lifelong learning can make all the difference.  

 

For the Contentos, and so many others like them, what began as a search for childcare turned into something much bigger. From their earliest days in the Early Childhood Education program, to summers spent at Camp J, the J has become a home away from home for their family—and a place where they found the values, diversity, and sense of belonging they were looking for.   

 

Victoria and Brad Contento initially joined the J for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program for their then 11-month-old son, Lorenzo. “I had heard a lot of good things about the ECE here at the J from coworkers and friends. We came for a tour and checked it out, and decided we wanted to come here,” said Victoria.  

 

That first visit quickly affirmed that they had found the right place.  

 

“From the very beginning, when we were touring the ECE, it was made very clear that our children would be exposed to multiple languages, multiple people, multiple religions, and that was something they made an emphasis to show us and to make sure we would fit in and be part of the community,” said Brad. 

 

“ECE has exposed our children to phenomenal instructors and a great curriculum to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond,” added Victoria. 

 

As their kids’ involvement at the J grew, so did its role in their daily lives.  

 

“The Tucson J gives us a third space to be at—a place to work out, a place to have fun with the kids, not just for daycare and preschool, but also swimming lessons and birthday parties. It’s a big part of our lives at this point,” said Brad. 

 

The family found friends, made memories, and today, Lorenzo is eight years old, spending his summers at Camp J, while the littlest member of the family, Arlette, is a thriving ECE student, and Victoria is back at work part-time.  

 

Victoria and Brad say that, like any transition, moving from ECE to Camp J had its challenges, but “it was a lot easier being familiar with the staff and the facility than it would have been otherwise.” Camp J makes the switch from preschool to summer camp seamless, with a designated group for rising kindergartners, called Noar. This age group relies on familiarity and routine, so each day, camp schedules follow a structured schedule that includes a rest period, splitting up the morning and afternoon activities, so that campers can truly ease their way into kindergarten and big-kid camp. 

 

“A big memory that stands out for me from Camp J was the first time that Lorenzo came home with a virtue card. A virtue card is a card that staff members give out to campers when they have displayed the virtue or the theme of the week that they’re trying to drive home at camp. That first day that he got that virtue card, he came running out, holding it in his hand, so excited.” said Victoria.  

 

That excitement was just the beginning for Lorenzo. By the end of the summer, it was clear how much camp meant to him and to his camp community.   

 

“I remember how emotional [the end of summer] was for the children and the counselors and how deeply they were all affected by it. And it just showed how much they liked being there and how important it was to them,” added Brad. 

 

While Camp J is filled with pool days, art projects, sports, cooking, and so much more, it is all of the moments in between the activities that set it apart: at Camp J, character is built, leadership skills are developed, and children grow into their most confident, kindest, and best selves. Every child deserves the opportunity to shine—this is why the J is committed to making Camp J accessible for all. Through scholarships provided by the Send a Kid to Camp campaign, our community comes together to ensure no child is turned away for lack of funds.  

 

Inspired by their own journey at the J, the Contentos are passionate about giving other families the same meaningful experience.  

 

“We would encourage people to invest in the Tucson J. We hear about the scholarships and opportunities that it can give to other families to come to camp or to be a part of the ECE. We want everyone to have that opportunity to come here,” said Victoria, as she looked at her family with a smile. 

 

From preschool to after school and summer camp to swim lessons, the J is proud to be a place where the Contento family—and every family—can grow, finding support, wellness, and community through every age and stage. 

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J Stories | Marlene and Blaine

Caretaking, especially for loved ones, can be a rewarding yet isolating experience. But when you find a community of people going through the same thing, everything feels a bit lighter, which is exactly what Linda Travis, director of healthy aging at the Tucson J, intended when developing the Movement/Arts Immersion program. The program is one of several offerings at the Tucson J designed to support the well-being of aging adults; others include the Parkinson’s Wellness Exercise program, an Aging and Social Connections discussion series, and programs focused on bone health and mobility. 

 

“The Movement/Arts Immersion program here at the J is focused on participants living with early to mild stage dementia and their family members. It’s six hours a week— two, three-hour sessions,” said Linda. “We focus on things like arts, whether it’s coloring, sometimes it’s glassware, clay, and then we have an hour of fitness.” 

 

While creative expression and movement are central components of the program, Linda says the relationships formed among participants and caregivers are just as important. The program creates opportunities for families to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of living with dementia. 

 

The program also focuses on caregivers and loved ones, “the caregivers learn to connect with each other. They get tips from each other like, ‘hey, how do you handle being in a restaurant?’” Linda said, adding that, “it’s very relaxing for the caregiver and the person being cared for. They can make friends, and they don’t have to worry about making mistakes.” 

 

For families navigating dementia, that sense of acceptance and belonging can be life-changing. 

 

“I praise God for the day that Linda let us in here, because it’s been a big, big help for our lives, a good part,” said Marlene Nickolai, who travels nearly an hour to the program each week with her husband, Blaine Patrick, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2012. 

 

Marlene first heard about the program through a friend, “I just thought it would be good to be with other Alzheimer’s people… and he just loves it here. I have a hard time even getting him out of the room!” Marlene said, smiling at Blaine.  

 

For Marlene, the program has allowed her to meet and become friends with other caregivers. Recently, caregiver meetings have been added to the program, allowing the caregivers to gather while their loved ones are safe and happy with Linda and program volunteers.  

 
“I love that we all go around and tell where we’re at in our lives and what problems we’re having. And we help solve each other’s problems,” said Marlene. “It’s wonderful because most caregiver groups don’t allow the spouses to come. And so we can’t get into any others because I can’t leave him.” 

 

For Blaine, the program provides more than activities—it offers connection, purpose, and community. In a welcoming environment where he is encouraged to participate and build relationships, Marlene has watched him become more engaged and confident. “He walks in the room, and he doesn’t even sit by me. He goes back and talks to other people. So it’s a world of difference,” Marlene said. 

 

Marlene’s feelings extend beyond the Movement/Arts Immersion program and reflect the entire Tucson J community, “I just love the feeling here. It’s just warm and comfortable, and everything’s caring… I love it when I see the little babies coming in the carts. All ages are covered here at the J,” she said.  

 

But at the end of the day, Marlene’s dedication to the J is tied to her devotion to Blaine, “I want to do what’s best for him… he knows he matters during the program.” 

 

This is Linda’s hope for everyone. “Throughout all Healthy Aging programs, we have two goals, which are to enhance people’s independence so they can live fully in the community, but also their social connections. We want to decrease their isolation. We want to increase their social connections.” 

 

Feeling connected and involved is important for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Linda added that it’s important to remember that for older adults, “people still find relationships meaningful and satisfying.”  

 

It’s never too late to find your community, and the J makes it easier to connect with others navigating the same stage of life, ensuring that you have a supportive network to celebrate the wins and navigate the challenges — every step of the way.  

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J Stories | Disability Program Services

“It’s a really warm and comforting place,” said Iris, a Taglit B’Yachad day program participant. “There’s a lot about community, and they’ve become my friends here.” 

 

Iris is one of over 100 adults and teens with developmental disabilities that the Tucson J serves each year. The J is home to a comprehensive Disability Program Services (DPS) department, composed of one of the largest and most well-respected day programs for adults with developmental disabilities in Arizona, Taglit B’Yachad (discovery together); a summer camp for youth with developmental disabilities; and a new vocational program for adults with developmental disabilities, Pathways to Employment. 

 

In Taglit B’Yachad, participants spend Monday through Friday at the J, socializing, creating art, exercising, cooking, and enjoying trips out into the community, all while supported by compassionate and expertly trained staff. Inclusion and belonging are central values of the Tucson J, and providing enriching experiences to all people, especially through the DPS programs, brings meaningful impact to our community. 

  

“The Tucson J has a very reputable day program,” said Charlie Paige, Senior Director of Disability Program Services. “It’s been around for almost 20 years. And we have built it up to offer services for 65 adults.” 

 

In September 2025, DPS introduced a new opportunity for day-program participants— vocational education. Along with training, participants operated the JShop Retail Store, selling merchandise like hats and towels, and the JShop Coffee Cart, selling hot and iced coffee and tea. 

 

This program garnered enough interest to begin building out Pathways to Employment, “a new program separate from our day program, which offers vocational job training to some of our adults in our day program, but more importantly, to additional people in our community with disabilities to learn and have these job skills opportunities here at the J,” said Charlie.  

 

Pathways to Employment officially launches in August 2026 and will focus on skill development and job training while actively placing participants in job exploration experiences within the community. The goal is for participants to graduate from the program and pursue a job where they can thrive and will be available for all eligible DDD members residing in Southern Arizona. 

 

“Most adults that have developmental disabilities have not been given the opportunity to develop job skills with the goal of placing them in a job in their community. Every adult deserves to work that wants to work, and we’re proud to be able to offer this experience to them,” said Charlie. 

 

While Pathways to Employment will expand DPS’s impact to even more adults, DPS has already had an enormous impact on current participants. Hannah has been coming to Taglit B’Yachad at the J for over 10 years and said that the J has become a “home away from home.” 

 

DPS programs, along with program innovation like Pathways to Employment, are only possible thanks to generous support from our community. When you donate to the J, you allow our programs to grow and meet the changing needs of the people we serve.  

 

“People with developmental disabilities are an important and large part of our community,” said Charlie, “and I think it is important to support programs and services and the communities that recognize this and want to provide impactful and quality programming for everyone in our community.” 

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