TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) – The historic Dunbar Pavilion, a former segregated school founded in 1918, is moving into the future with the opening of a new career readiness training space equipped with brand new technology. This new space is designed to provide the community with access to tools and training that can improve their job prospects and skills development.

Featuring virtual reality (VR), 3D printing, and a volumetric capture stage, the Workforce Readiness Room offers community members the opportunity to explore and learn about advanced technologies that are gaining importance every day in today’s job market.

Courses installed on laptops in the room help users improve their skills for better job opportunities without the need for a traditional college education.

Freda Marshall, Executive Director of the Dunbar Pavilion, emphasized the importance of this new space.

“This lab is designed to help people get comfortable with AI, take away their fears, and use it to their advantage. Whether it’s tutoring in school or improving skills to get a better job, this place will help members of our community grow and develop,” she said.

The Dunbar Pavilion has undergone significant changes since it closed as a school in 1951. Today, it serves as a cultural center for African-American arts and community engagement and is home to various organizations and small businesses.

Barbara Lewis, Dunbar board member and former student, reflected on the pavilion’s transformation and expressed her hope that it will continue to live up to its heritage while allowing for new advancements.