Center for the Future of Arizona — Northern Arizona teens champion mental health through virtual Internship

	Students, Bobbi Seaton and Tyra Dixon, pose with United Way of Northern Arizona President and CEO Liz Archuleta after receiving awards from UWNA for their outstanding contributions.

High school students Bobbi Seaton and Tyra Dixon of Navajo County helped advance The Arizona We Wantby envisioning a data-driven solution to improve teen mental health. Through a paid virtual internship with CFA’s Arizona Pathways to Prosperity and the Work-Based Learning Alliance, they worked alongside a mentor from United Way of Northern Arizona(UWNA), gaining hands-on experience that resulted in much more than resume-building.

Their internship work sparked positive change: UWNA and Grow Arizona are building a youth center to support local teens with academic, career, and mental health resources.

Through meaningful work-based learning, Tyra and Bobbi had the tools and community support to turn ideas into action, develop critical skills, and create lasting impact in their communities.

As we celebrated Arizona Statehood Day, we reflected on the legacy of those who have shaped our state and the leaders who are investing in its future. Building a prosperous and thriving Arizona takes all of us, and it starts with individuals stepping up to take action.

That’s why we are honored to recognize Gary & Diane Tooker, Phil & Nita Francis, Chuck & Chris Michaels, Mike & Cindy Watts, John & Kathleen Graham, and Sharon Dupont McCord— community champions supporting CFA’s Building Arizona’s Bright Future Together campaign. These dedicated Arizonans care deeply about their communities and our state. They are committed to providing opportunities for families and neighbors to thrive and know that we must all work together to chart a bright future for Arizona.

First row from left to right: Phil & Nita Francis, John & Kathleen Graham, and Chuck & Chris Michaels. Second row from left to right: Gary & Diane Tooker, Sharon Dupont McCord & Dr. Sybil Francis, and Mike & Cindy Watts.

Just over one year into the campaign, their generosity is already having an impact, fueling CFA’s ability to elevate the voices of Arizonans, equip leaders with trusted data, and drive meaningful action. Their insights, expertise, and commitment to Arizona and CFA’s mission are a powerful force for positive change.

The Building Arizona’s Bright Future Together campaign is a three-year initiative to raise $7 million to advance bold ideas and actions that meet the needs of Arizona’s future.

	CFA’s Ian Dowdy and Dr. Sybil Francis join State of Black Arizona CEO Teniqua Broughton at the Arizona State Capitol.

State of Black Arizona (SBAZ) unveiled the Volume V Progress Metrics Dashboard at Governor Katie Hobbs’ February convening with state agencies, a gathering focused on advancing opportunities for Black Arizonans. Built in partnership with Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA), the dashboard provides real-time data on education, economic opportunity, healthcare, infrastructure, and civic engagement, empowering leaders, policymakers, and community members to assess progress and make informed decisions.

Since the release of SBAZ’s Volume V: Driving Local Investment in Black Arizonans report in 2021, data has been a key tool in guiding efforts to increase opportunities for Black communities. The new dashboard expands on this work, ensuring that progress can be measured, challenges addressed, and accountability strengthened.

At the event, SBAZ CEO Teniqua Broughton and CFA Director of Strategic Data Initiatives Ian Dowdy presented key findings from the dashboard, highlighting areas of stagnation across critical indicators and reinforcing the need for data-driven action. Their discussion underscored the dashboard’s power as a resource for community leaders and policymakers to track progress and drive meaningful change. CFA Chair, President & CEO Dr. Sybil Francis joined the event in support of this ongoing collaboration.

	High school and middle school students participated in over 17 immersive employer demonstrations.

CFA and Yuma County Public Works hosted their third annual Career & Technical Education (CTE) Career Day, welcoming nearly 240 students from Yuma Union High School District, Antelope High School, Centennial Middle School, and Crane Middle School to explore career pathways with over 20 employers, including APS and the Yuma County Emergency Response Unit.

CFA’s Arizona Pathways to Prosperity initiative leverages high-quality career exploration — along with early college opportunities like dual enrollment and work-based learning — to help students connect education with real-world opportunities. By engaging with industry leaders, students gain insight into high-demand careers while employers invest in their future workforce. With record participation, CTE Career Day continues to build stronger bridges between education and industry, empowering students to see themselves in Arizona’s future.

Throughout 2024, Arizona’s 116th Town Hall examined how Arizona’s voting and election systems influence the state’s future. More than 1,200 Arizonans participated in 35 discussions statewide.

As a culmination of these efforts, Arizona Town Hall convened public policy and civic leaders for a robust exchange on the 2024 elections, key challenges, and opportunities for strengthening Arizona’s electoral system. Experts provided analysis, explored solutions, and facilitated discussions among participants to drive meaningful action.

CFA’s Director of Community and Economic Prosperity Evelyn Casuga and Director of Civic Health Initiatives Kristi Tate brought essential data to the discussion, sharing insights from CFA’s Arizona Civic Health Progress Meters and survey research. Their contributions highlighted where Arizonans find common ground and how Arizona is doing — key insights to inform efforts to strengthen civic participation, ensure responsive systems, and foster collaboration that benefits all Arizonans.

CFA’s workforce initiatives meet Arizonans where they’re at with tools to utilize talents and build futures that help our state thrive. Last month, CFA and the National Retail Federation Foundation (NRF Foundation) convened our quarterly learning circle with educators to discuss the RISE Up retail credential curriculum and the state of retail in Arizona. Local leaders of Dick’s Sporting Goods shared their retail journeys to inform educators who are shaping curriculum.

“We want teachers to hear directly from people who have built fulfilling careers in the retail industry so they can share these examples and opportunities with their students,” added Marisa Mitchell, NRF Foundation’s Senior Manager, Partnerships & Outreach.

Thanks to CFA and the NRF Foundation’s partnership, RISE UP is in CTE programs at more than 50 Arizona school districts and 25 organizations providing adult education. The industry-recognized curriculum builds retail workers’ skills so they can excel and grow their careers in retail and beyond, meeting the growing demands of the retail sector along the way.