Roberto Bedoya is a writer and cultural activist. He is the former executive director of the Tucson Pima Arts Council, Tucson AZ, where he has instituted the innovative P.L.A.C.E. (People, Land, Arts, Culture and Engagement) Initiative, a civic engagement/placemaking platform that supports artists' projects that address critical community issues. He has consistently supported artists-centered cultural practices and advocated for expanded definitions of inclusion and belonging throughout his career.