United Way of Northern Arizona — The News from the Northeast

We recently received a progress report from Northeast Arizona Representative Tempy Wessel about the region’s efforts to redefine its future.

Tempy joined United Way of Northern Arizona earlier this year at a pivotal time for Navajo and Apache counties.

Historically an economically challenged area, the region has faced additional pressures due to imminent power plant closures. Stakeholders are hoping to create new jobs, address workforce development, and increase the supply of workforce housing.

UWNA is focusing on positive youth development and building the capacity of community nonprofit organizations after receiving community input that substance abuse/mental health, affordable childcare, and afterschool programs are among the top priorities for Northeast Arizona. The creation of the Northeast Arizona Representative position is part of UWNA’s commitment to the region.

“It’s a huge effort to help support community vitality and positive youth development is critical to that effort,” Tempy said. “Youth are our future workforce and leaders.”

The region includes Winslow, Holbrook, Joseph City, Snowflake-Taylor, Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Springerville, Eagar, St. Johns, and surrounding areas.

“The northeastern communities are working together to seek federal funding that may be made available through grants to help with this economic transition,” Tempy said. “UWNA is at the table as a collective impact partner.”

• A community-wide cleanup in Eagar to spruce up the town as it works towards future tourism, taking advantage of its temperate weather and the natural beauty of the White Mountains.
• Funding for full-tuition scholarships for behavioral health at Northland Pioneer College. Sixty students have already committed to earning their degrees and working in behavioral health in the northeast for a minimum of two years.
• Plans for the upcoming centennial of Route 66 and the collaborative efforts of Winslow, Holbrook, and Joseph City to leverage the celebration of “The Mother Road” to attract more visitors and economic investment in the area.

“These are exciting opportunities to implement a ‘collective impact model’ to engage a wide variety of organizations, community members, nonprofits, and institutions as Northeast Arizona looks to the future,” Tempy said.

UWNA wishes to thank APS, which provided significant funding for the Northeast strategic plan, and Salt River Project, which provided the grant to initially fund the Northeast Representative position.