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February 2024

The Arizona We Want: Newsletter
 
Love for Arizona Grows Stronger with Age in its 112th Year
 
 Arizona Celebrated 112th Birthday
 
Arizona celebrated its 112th birthday on Feb. 14! Love for our state is at the heart of CFA, fueling our every endeavor. Celebrating our storied past and statehood each year reminds us of where we’ve come from and inspires us to where we’re going. Energize your commitment to Arizona's future by sharing your story. How have you advanced The Arizona We Want? Have you seen others champion Arizona’s Shared Public Values? Share your memory with us, and we’ll share a CFA memento with you.
 
Arizona Progress Meter Update: Education
Education Forward Arizona and Center for the Future of Arizona recently released the latest update to the Arizona Education Progress Meter, the state’s widely utilized framework for measuring P-20 education.
Discover where Arizona stands on key educational indicators from early childhood to post-secondary achievement. While there has been some progress in early childhood education, the overall trends signal a need for renewed focus and action. These data aim to support our fellow leaders and communities in constructively solving problems and building solutions toward achieving Arizonans’ shared educational aspirations. The latest update calls for examining the unchanged, exploring questions the data points to, and advancing solutions for all students' futures. Join us in understanding these critical insights and help shape the path forward for Arizona's education.
 
In the Community
Local Organizations Commit to Improving Arizona’s Civic Health
Arizona Civic Life Partnership

Clockwise from left to right: Sybil Francis, Ph.D., CFA Chair, President & CEO; Tammy McLeod, Ph.D., The Flinn Foundation President & CEO; Tara Jackson, Arizona Town Hall President; Stephen Richer, Maricopa County Recorder; Gina Roberts, Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission Voter Education Director; and Mike Noble, Noble Predictive Insights Founder & CEO present and engage with attendees at the Flinn Foundation in Phoenix.
The Arizona Civic Life Partnership recently convened over 50 state and national leaders across sectors to connect and advance civic health in Arizona. The day-long event sparked a conversation about the intersection between health and civic engagement, the role election systems play in fostering inclusivity, the power of civic language, and how data from the Arizona Civic Health Progress Meters are informing initiatives across the state. While dialogue is vital, the discussions did not conclude without attendees’ commitments to collaborate with fellow community members. They aligned strategies to multiply their impact and were connected to the National Trust for Civic Life for funding opportunities to make action possible.
Communities Building a Sustainable Future: A Spotlight on Rainwater Harvesting
Among many exciting sustainability initiatives across the state, the Sonora Environment Research Institute (SERI) shines with its rainwater harvesting projects. Thanks to a $40,000 WaterSMART grant under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), SERI's work is a testament to what's possible when communities collaborate on sustainable solutions. Their success in Tucson provides hope for a future where every Arizonan benefits from the thoughtful stewardship of our natural resources. Let's draw inspiration from SERI's journey to envision and enact sustainable practices that enrich our communities and contribute to building The Arizona We Want.
 
Upcoming Events
Arizona Capitol Times Morning Scoop Hosted by Education Forward Arizona: Voters Agree Education Beyond High School is Critical for State’s Success
Feb. 27, 2024, 8:00 A.M.  |  Virtual Webinar  |  Free
 
With enlightening results from a recent public opinion poll of Arizona voters, Education Forward Arizona is hosting a vital discussion about the future of education and economic opportunity in Arizona. Rich Nickel, President and CEO of Education Forward Arizona, will be joined by Dr. Sybil Francis, Chair, President & CEO of CFA, Paul Bentz, Senior Vice President - Research & Strategy High Ground Inc., and Monica Villalobos, President and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Together, they will delve into the poll's findings and the topic of achieving Arizona's educational goals.
Opportunity for School Leaders: Get Support to Implement Student-Centered Learning
The deadline to apply for the third “Launch” cohort, an Arizona Personalized Learning Network pathway for school leadership teams, is fast approaching. The two-year program, designed to help all schools set students up for 21st-Century success, offers participants expert support and technical assistance to initiate or accelerate a personalized, competency-based approach to learning at their schools. Participants will create sustainable transformation, improve academic achievement, and foster meaningful learning experiences.
Don't Forget: Arizona Healthcare Workforce Summit
 
April 4-5, 2024 | ASU Sky Song - Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona Healthcare Workforce Summit

Speakers present at the 2023 Arizona Healthcare Workforce Summit.
Arizona’s healthcare workforce needs to retain young talent, create career pathways, and support economic mobility. Healthcare professionals, educators, leaders, and workforce development partners can tackle these critical needs together at the Arizona Healthcare Workforce Summit guided by expert voices:
  • Amy Lloyd, Ed.L.D. from the U.S. Department of Education
  • Joanne Spetz, Ph.D. from University of California, San Francisco
  • Ian Roark, Ed.D. from Pima Community College
  • Lillian Smith, DrPH, MPH from Northern Arizona University
Thank you to our partners Banner Health Plans, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, Pipeline AZ, and United Healthcare Community Plan.
 
What's next for your future?
CFA's Team is Growing!
Are you eager to contribute to a stronger, brighter future for Arizona? Are you passionate about creating change? This is your chance to be part of something big!
  • Business Operations Specialist
    Application Deadline: Monday, March 4, 2024 3:00 p.m. MST
 
In the News
Catch up with recent news about CFA, our partners,
 
and the priorities of Arizonans:
New Op-Ed: Engaging the Broader Electorate in 2024
CFA Chair, President & CEO Dr. Sybil Francis shares in her latest op-ed with the Arizona Capitol Times, “As we approach the 2024 election, it is crucial for both candidates for office and current elected leaders in Arizona to focus on the issues that matter most to voters.”
Print   Arizona Daily Star, Op-Ed: Elevating Tucson’s Voice in 2024 Elections
 
Video   Education Forward Arizona, Education Forward Arizona Announces Findings of New Poll Alongside Community Members
 
Web   Education Forward Arizona, Report: New Poll Results from Education Forward Arizona Reveal Voters’ Views on Postsecondary Education
 
Web   Jobs for The Future, $15M U.S. Department of Education Grant to Increase Access to High Quality Dual Enrollment Courses for Young Adults; Center for the Future of Arizona One of Three Implementation Partners Across the Country
 
Web   Glendale Independent, Education Foundation Will Honor Those Impacting Peoria Unified; Center for the Future of Arizona to Receive Community Leader Award
 
Web   The White House, Phoenix Workforce Hub Announced Collaborative Efforts with Employers, Colleges, and Others to Support Arizonans in Pursuing Advanced Manufacturing Careers
 
Web   KnowledgeWorks, A Systemic Shift to Standards-Based Grading: How One Arizona School Empowered Educators, Learners, and Families
 
Web   KYMA, AWC Earns Funding to Strengthen Pathways Between Secondary and Postsecondary CTE Programs
 
Print   ASU Thrive Magazine, ASU’s 2023 Year in Review Highlights Contributions to The Arizona We Want Through its Achievements Across Arizona’s Shared Public Values
 
 
Center for the Future of Arizona
Center for the Future of Arizona brings Arizonans together
to create a stronger and brighter future for our state.
 
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