News & Events Newsletter Archive Newsletter December 2024

December 2024

“I Can Make Things Happen”: Local Student Discusses Civic Leadership

QCUSD implements SPB through its Lead Out Loud (LOL) program. Rylan has been a part of the club since middle school.

Rylan Christian, a sophomore at Eastmark High School, has been transforming her school and community through School Participatory Budgeting (SPB) since she was in eighth grade. In partnership with CFA, Queen Creek Unified School District (QCUSD), has implemented SPB across all districts and grade levels. Students as young as kindergarten can brainstorm, campaign, and vote on school improvement projects, learning democracy by doing. Rylan has seen firsthand how SPB can build communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. She says the leadership skills she’s building now are also preparing her for her future.

Learn about SPB at QCUSD

Arizona Progress Meter Update: Health & Well-Being

Update to Health and Well-Being Progress Meter Shows Areas of Opportunity

As the New Year approaches, health may be top of mind for Arizonans making resolutions. But what about Arizona's health as a whole? CFA recently updated the Arizona Health and Well-Being Progress Meter with new data, offering leaders and decision-makers a clearer view of health outcomes through key metrics like healthcare spending, physical activity, and heart disease rates. These latest data reveal significant disparities in healthcare access and satisfaction, creating barriers to health and well-being for many Arizonans. By leveraging insights from the Arizona Progress Meter, we can foster meaningful conversations and drive solutions that improve quality of life across the state.

What the data say about
Arizona's health and well-being

Providing Value to Arizonans: The Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation Invests in Opportunities

Brown Foundations Grants Director Bobbie Schorr (left) at the 2023 Southern Arizona Workforce Leadership Academy alongside CFA's Tennille Peñaloza-Hagen, Dr. Amanda Burke, and Dr. Aaron Ball.

The Arizona We Want is a vision for success and shared commitment to creating a thriving future for all Arizonans. Achieving this ambitious goal requires collaboration across the state, and in Southern Arizona, we’ve found a remarkable partner in the Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation (Brown Foundations) whose philanthropic focus is naturally aligned with many of our impact initiatives, namely education, workforce, and civic engagement. Learn more about how the Brown Foundations are helping us drive change in Southern Arizona.

Unlocking Potential: NRF’s RISE Up Credential Reaches Students Across Arizona

With nearly 30% of jobs in Arizona connected to the retail sector, retail often serves as a first job experience for high school students and provides valuable opportunities to build foundational workplace skills. To further support these opportunities, the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation’s RISE Up curriculum provides young Arizonans with essential training in customer service, supply chain management, communication, and teamwork—preparing them for success in any career path.

Since 2020, CFA has partnered with NRF to bring the RISE Up curriculum to Arizona, integrating it into Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs in over 50 school districts statewide. This includes students aging out of juvenile detention at Adobe Mountain School, where the RISE Up curriculum empowers them with sought-after skills to support successful reintegration into their communities and prepare them for future educational and professional opportunities.

By addressing skill gaps and fostering professional growth, the CFA-NRF partnership continues to empower Arizona students across the state to strengthen the foundation for lifelong success.

Explore recent updates on
NRF at Adobe Mountain School

Helios Education Foundation Honored as Outstanding Foundation at National Philanthropy Day Leadership Awards

Helios Education Foundation - Outstanding Foundation Award

CFA’s Chair, President & CEO Dr. Sybil Francis (center) joined Helios Education Foundation Founding Chairman Vince Roig (left) and Vice Chair Jane Roig (right) to celebrate at the Awards Luncheon on Nov. 22.

We are thrilled to celebrate our longtime partner, Helios Education Foundation, as the recipient of the Outstanding Foundation Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Arizona Chapter! This well-deserved recognition highlights Helios' 20 years of visionary leadership and commitment to ensuring that every student in Arizona has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.

Helios’ transformative impact spans all levels of education, from early learning to postsecondary attainment. Their investments and partnerships reflect a deep belief in the power of education to create a brighter future for Arizona. We were honored to nominate Helios for their exceptional impact in advancing The Arizona We Want.

Congratulations to Helios and their incredible team on this remarkable honor!

“Arizona’s Future is Ours to Build”: New Op-Ed from Dr. Sybil Francis Outlines Next Steps for Civic Health

Arizonans agree more than they disagree and are eager to solve problems that build a thriving future for all. Civic health is key to moving Arizona forward, bridging divides, and working together. In a new op-ed for the Arizona Republic, CFA Chair, President & CEO Dr. Sybil Francis explains further what civic health is, why it matters, and why it requires attention beyond any single election.

From AZ Republic

Vitalyst Health Foundation Podcast Dives into Arizona Civic Language Study

Strengthening Arizona’s civic health starts with understanding the words we use. How do Arizonans respond to terms like “democracy” and “community,” and what can this tell us about coming together to solve shared challenges? Kristi Tate, CFA’s Director of Civic Health Initiatives, joined Vitalyst Health Foundation's David Martinez III, Flinn Foundation’s Dawn Wallace, and Amy McIsaac of Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) to discuss findings from a recent report that shows Arizonans react more strongly to civic language compared to their national peers and offers many more valuable insights to inform how we engage with one another.

From Vitalyst Spark Podcast

CFA Named Top 10 Finalist by Phoenix Business Journal’s 2024 Best Places to Work

Without a passionate and committed staff, our vital mission of bringing Arizonans together to build a stronger and brighter future for our state would not be possible. See the complete list of this year’s awardees and finalists.

From Phoenix Business Journal

Superintendent’s Office Unveils Directory to Foster Community-School Partnerships

With help from CFA, Yuma County School District created a career exploration directory that will connect local businesses with in-classroom experiences.

From Yuma Sun

Opinion: Arizona Voters Have Spoken-Fund Our Public Schools

“According to Center for the Future of Arizona, 79% of Arizona voters across party lines say they support increasing K-12 funding.”

From AZ Mirror

Agua Fria High School District Achieves Landmark Designation

CFA is proud to support Agua Fria High School District as they advance college and career pathways through innovative career readiness strategies within the classroom.

From Pebble Creek Post

State Agencies Look to Fill Apprenticeship Needs

Apprenticeships will be critical to fill the projected 20,000 construction jobs needed by 2030. Arizona plans to focus on pre-apprenticeship opportunities as early as high school to meet this demand. CFA’s Arizona Pathways to Prosperity supports this work through career exploration and work-based learning for students, helping them gain skills and credentials for long-term success and economic mobility.

From Arizona Capitol Times

Envisioning the Year Ahead

What gets measured gets done!

We’re big fans of setting goals and tracking progress.

We assess how our state is doing on the things that matter most to Arizonans through eight Arizona Progress Meters, which measure over 80 metrics. Understanding where we are helps chart the path to where we want to go.

So, what are you planning to accomplish in 2025? How can you move the needle in making Arizona a great place to live and thrive?

Center for the Future of Arizona brings Arizonans together
to create a stronger and brighter future for our state.

SHARE

Share this newsletter.

EXPLORE

View past newsletters.

GIVE

Help us make a difference.

arizonafuture.org