How 2023 Paved the Way for Another Year of Innovation in Arizona
As we welcome 2024, it is with immense pride and gratitude that we reflect on Center for the Future of Arizona’s (CFA) remarkable journey over the past year. In the spirit of progress and collaboration, we are thrilled to share just a few of our team’s highlights that encapsulate our dedication to growth, innovation, and making a lasting impact on the vibrant state we call home.
As we tackle the coming year, CFA is committed to advancing The Arizona We Want, leveraging trusted data and groundbreaking approaches, and fostering expansive partnerships to enrich and realize the full potential of our state.
CFA honored public servants with the annual Gabe Zimmerman Awards. This prestigious event not only recognizes honorees' invaluable contributions but also empowers civic leaders to address critical issues facing our state.
CFA’s League of Arizona Cities and Towns Pre-Conference Session shared reliable data to inform decision making. The session united a range of Arizona officials to share resources and discuss sustainable solutions to build resilient communities and create a sustainable water future in communities across our state.
We advanced student-centered education in Arizona and set a standard for personalized learning in classrooms in public and charter schools with Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District #35, Amphitheater Public Schools, Casa Grande Elementary School District, Casa Grande Union High School District, CITY Center for Collaborative Learning, Mesa Public Schools, Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District, and Yuma Union High School District and KnowledgeWorks Foundation and invited educators from across the state to follow our lead.
We piloted and evaluated the School Participatory Budgeting (SPB) Institute in partnership with ASU’s Participatory Governance Initiative at Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions, onboarding new districts and ten new school communities, expanding our impact to over 75,000 students.
We hosted a successful Southern Arizona Workforce Leadership Academy in partnership with Pima Community College and the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program, empowering workforce professionals to improve workforce development systems in the region and advance economic opportunity for all Arizonans.
As we marked our 20th Anniversary, we reflected on the journey that brought us to this momentous occasion. The celebration was a call to action to shape Arizona’s future. We recommitted to our mission launching a campaign, Building Arizona's Bright Future Together. We’re building a better Arizona guided by what Arizonans want. Join the movement bigger than any one individual.