News & Events Newsletter Archive Newsletter October 2024

October 2024

Engaging Northern Arizona in The Arizona We Want

Dr. Sybil Francis meets with NAU President Dr. José Luis Cruz Rivera, Honors College Professor Dr. Rima Brusi, and students, faculty, and staff on NAU’s campus in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Dr. Sybil Francis, Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) Chair, President & CEO, joined over 100 engaged Northern Arizonans as part of the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Presidential Speaker Series during a special two-day event Oct. 1-2. Thanks to the invitation of NAU President Dr. José Luis Cruz Rivera, Dr. Francis connected with students, faculty, and community members to discuss how our Shared Public Values can help build The Arizona We Want. Drawing upon CFA’s Gallup Arizona Survey and Arizona Voters’ Agenda data, the Lumberjack community took a closer look at our collective roles in driving Arizona forward and how coming together can propel progress.

Don Budinger: Celebrating a Founding Visionary and Champion for Arizona

As we continue to celebrate and reflect on CFA's 20th Anniversary milestone event we are grateful to those who helped pave the way and laid the strong foundation that fuels our work and impact today. A critical and early champion of CFA was Don Budinger, whose support as a founding donor and his vision for CFA were pivotal in establishing CFA’s statewide reach and impact.

Don’s contributions extend far beyond his financial investment—his thought partnership and guidance have been essential to shaping CFA’s mission and ensuring that the organization could deeply engage with communities across Arizona to take on some of the state’s biggest challenges. As Founding Director and Chair of the Rodel Foundation and a dedicated philanthropist and community leader, Don has been a driving force in advancing education, economic opportunity, and overall quality of life in Arizona. His leadership and commitment to our state are reflected in the values and vision that continue to guide CFA’s work today.

Showcasing Arizona’s Leadership: CFA’s Cindy Erwin Presents at National Convening on Dual Enrollment

Jobs for the Future’s Congressional Staff Network & Executive Branch Network Convening

CFA Director of College & Career Pathways, Cindy Erwin (center, orange dress), gathers with dual enrollment experts in D.C. including, from L to R, Meredith Hills, JFF Senior Policy Advisor, Joseph Echols, Technical College Systems of Georgia Dual Enrollment Director, Alex Perry, Foresight Law + Policy Education Policy Advisor, Becky Stewart, Ohio Department of Education Director of College Credit Plus, Tony Harl, Indiana Commission for Higher Education Associate Commissioner for K-12 Strategy, and Erica Cuevas, JFF Director of Policy & Advocacy.

We’re excited to share that Cindy Erwin, Director of College and Career Pathways at CFA, presented at the Jobs for the Future's (JFF) Congressional Staff Network & Executive Branch Network Convening in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 26. This high-profile gathering brought together representatives from the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor, state policymakers, and national education leaders to discuss strategies for advancing college and career readiness.

In her presentation, Cindy highlighted Arizona’s approach to dual enrollment expansion as well as CFA’s leadership over the past decade in championing and implementing dual enrollment as an intentional part of college and career pathways. Dual enrollment, which allows high school students to earn both high school and college credit, has been a cornerstone of CFA’s work in the Arizona Pathways to Prosperity initiative. By helping students start college early and reduce costs, CFA has been instrumental in building seamless pathways from high school to higher education and into the workforce. Our leadership in this area has brought Arizona to the forefront of national conversations, underscoring the critical role dual enrollment plays in meeting the needs of both students and employers.


	WHAT THE DATA SAY Dual enrollment is a priority for Arizonans. According to CFA’s Arizona Voters’ Agenda survey, 93% of voters support expanding access to dual enrollment and other early college opportunities, and 85% want to see more students pursuing post-secondary education. By enabling high school students to earn college credits, dual enrollment helps students achieve post-secondary success, reduces costs for families, and contributes to building a robust talent pipeline critical for Arizona’s future.

Digital Credential Pilot Ushers Future of Arizona’s Workforce Development

Arizonans want good-paying jobs and the opportunity to build and grow careers. Building on CFA’s longtime relationship with Karsten’s Ace Hardware through our Retail Employer Network and deep partnership with ASU Enterprise Technology, the local Ace Hardware piloted CFA and ASU’s innovative digital credential app, My Skills Pocket (Android & Apple). This digital wallet, currently used in pilot testing, goes beyond traditional diplomas and certificates—providing users with a verified and easy-to-access record of their skills, education, achievements (professional and extra-curricular), and employment history in one secure phone app that will depict the user's lifelong learning journey. With My Skills Pocket, employees market themselves more effectively, convey their qualifications confidently, and operate with a professional digital resume that employers can trust. The app ensures transparency and legitimacy, allowing employers to see verified credentials and giving employees an edge in today’s competitive job market.

A case study from Aspen Institute’s Upskill America illuminates the pilot’s success, including how innovation & collaboration can develop a workforce that meets both employee and employer needs. Aspen Institute has been a long time partner with CFA on various initiatives over the years including Reimagine Retail, Workforce Leadership Academies and providing education on Learning & Employment Records (LERs). This is the new frontier of workforce development—ushering in the future of how we validate, communicate, and leverage our skills for success.

Explore key takeaways

New Strategic Partnership with the Southern Arizona Leadership Council

We are excited to announce a new strategic partnership with the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC), building on our longstanding relationship and shared commitment to advancing Arizona’s future. All of CFA’s work is built on the belief that we can achieve so much more for Arizona when we come together around our shared interests and goals. This collaboration will strengthen our work in key areas such as education, workforce development, and civic engagement. Under the leadership of President & CEO Ted Maxwell, SALC has been a driving force in creating positive change for Southern Arizona and beyond. We are proud to partner with SALC and know that by working together, we will advance The Arizona We Want.

Resources to Advance The Arizona We Want

New Report Illuminates How Arizonans Respond to Civic Language

What we say and how we say it matters! A new report from CFA’s Arizona Civic Life Partnership (ACLP) with the Flinn Foundation explores how Arizonans respond to civic terms. The Arizona Civic Language Perceptions Project found that words such as ”liberty, unity, justice, and citizen” resonate more positively with Arizonans than Americans across the country. These findings also show that Arizonans who have received civic education are more likely to respond positively to civic language. This work is an important step forward in the ACLP’s ongoing efforts to strengthen civic life and improve the Arizona Civic Health Progress Meters. With this deeper understanding of what inspires and motivates Arizonans, we can work together to foster civic health and engage communities beyond the election season.

Read the report

CFA's Civic Leadership Featured in New Report by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Civic life is the foundation of a resilient democracy. While polarization often dominates the conversation, a new report from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences provides key ingredients for building stronger, more connected communities. Habits of the Heart and Mind: How to Fortify Civic Culture features the work of CFA and our partners as a leading example of how local action can drive positive change. The report draws on insights and contributions from a distinguished steering committee, including CFA’s Chair, President & CEO Dr. Sybil Francis, and underscores our strategic efforts–from the Gallup Arizona Project and Arizona Progress Meters to our Civic Health Initiatives–as a model for building a healthy civic culture. By developing narratives of shared purpose, using data to evaluate and strengthen civic culture, bringing partners together, promoting the free exchange of ideas, and fostering civic love and joy, our collaborative work is showcased as a recipe for cultivating a thriving civic ecosystem. The inclusion in this new report reflects CFA’s longstanding partnership with the Academy’s Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship and its ongoing commitment to advancing civic health and culture.

Read the report

From Dr. Sybil Francis: Prop 140 Ends the System That Pushes Arizona Politics to Extremes

In a new op-ed with the Arizona Republic and picked up by USA Today, Dr. Sybil Francis challenges the meta narrative of Arizonans’ division and makes the case that our election system is partially responsible for the state’s partisan outcomes.

More Op-Eds from Dr. Sybil Francis

Dr. Sybil Francis confronts cognitive dissonance sharing why leaders must bridge the disconnect from voter priorities and policy outcomes and calls on Arizona's business community to channel voters' voices to move the state forward in new op-eds with AZ Capitol Times and Phoenix Business Journal.

2024 Women Achievers of Arizona Announced

We are proud to share Dr. Sybil Francis was named Woman of the Year alongside other recognitions of remarkable Arizona women moving the needle toward a more prosperous future.

From Arizona Capitol Times

Opinion: Sick of Your Arizona Election Choices? Then Change How We Get Them.

Arizona Republic’s editorial board endorses Prop 140, “Make Elections Fair Act.”

From Arizona Republic

Opinion: How Arizonans Are Closing Margins in the State

“A recent survey from the nonpartisan Center for the Future of Arizona found about 60% of Arizonans want candidates who compromise and work across the aisle to find bipartisan solutions and 77% believe the state’s primary system rewards the most extreme candidates and should change.”

From Fast Company

New Poll Shows Arizonans Demand Action on Increasing Access, Affordability to Education and Training After High School

“This new data is also bolstered by the 2024 Arizona Voters' Agenda, a recent survey released from the CFA who is a partner with Education Forward Arizona on the state Education Progress Meter.”

From Education Forward Arizona

Nonprofit Dedicated to Helping Formerly Incarcerated Women

The episode highlights one of Arizona’s Shared Public Values as discovered in CFA’s The Arizona We Want research. Arizonans widely share a commitment to Fair, Just, and Equitable Systems, which includes prison reform with a focus on re-entry and rehabilitation.

From Arizona PBS

Telehealth Trends Shaping Arizona’s Healthcare Future

The episode highlights Arizonans’ Shared Public Value of Health and Wellbeing, as discovered in CFA’s The Arizona We Want research. Arizonans want affordable and accessible healthcare.

From Arizona PBS