Center For The Future Of Arizona

Workforcein fy24, cfa advanced workforce development efforts to empower a competitive workforce by strengthening economic mobility and job readiness statewide. Through regional leadership development, workforce technology innovation, and targeted industry partnerships, cfa worked to expand economic opportunity, strengthen talent pipelines, and improve workforce systems.cfa hosted its first-ever southern arizona workforce leadership academy in collaboration with the aspen institute and pima community college, equipping workforce leaders with the skills and (con't on sch o) strategies needed to address regional workforce challenges. Fellows developed actionable solutions to education and skills gaps, business support, and cross-sector collaboration, fostering a more resilient and adaptive workforce system in the region. Cfa also expanded workforce innovation through retailworks az, securing a $750,000 grant to integrate my skills pocket, a digital credentialing platform, with pipeline az, increasing access to skills-based hiring and career advancement.additionally, cfa partnered with local first arizona to launch the northern arizona good jobs network, a four-year initiative to strengthen talent practices and workforce opportunities in five rural counties. Cfa is leading efforts to develop upskilling resources and improve job quality standards in the retail and hospitality sectors, ensuring long-term workforce success and economic prosperity for arizona.

The arizona we wantin fy24, cfa continued advancing the arizona we want-- a shared vision built on the priorities of arizonans-- by engaging leaders, sharing data-driven insights, and convening communities to drive action on the priorities arizonans agree on most. The year was anchored by cfa's 20th anniversary celebration, which brought together state and community leaders to reaffirm arizona's shared public values and launched the building arizona's bright future together campaign, a three-year, $7 million initiative to propel bold solutions forward.cfa also led critical public engagement efforts, (con't on sch o) including the 2024 arizona voters' agenda, which identified voter priorities across party lines and elevated them through media, webinars, and outreach ahead of the election. Additionally, cfa hosted high-impact convenings such as the arizona democracy summit, which brought national and local leaders together to discuss election systems and civic engagement, and the league of arizona cities and towns pre-conference session, which equipped local leaders with tools to advance sustainability and infrastructure. A key resource in this work, the arizona progress meters, remained a widely accessible and continuously updated public tool, providing data on jobs, education, health, natural resources, infrastructure, civic participation, and more. Cfa also deepened direct partnerships with communities and organizations to support data analysis, planning, and decision-making. This included new efforts to strengthen civic engagement statewide, expand education access for students with disabilities, and equip southern arizona leaders with data-driven strategies to advance local priorities. These efforts, along with cfa's ongoing partnerships and statewide programs, continued to turn arizonans' aspirations into action and foster collaboration toward a stronger future for arizona.

Civic healthin fy24, cfa advanced its work in building healthy communities through civic engagement and democratic participation, leading statewide initiatives, expanding student civic education, and championing public service. The arizona civic life partnership, co-led with the flinn foundation, launched the arizona civic collaboratory, a model for community-driven solutions to civic challenges. Cfa also joined a national cohort with citizen university, bringing best practices in civic engagement from across the country to arizona.cfa expanded school participatory budgeting (spb), growing into new districts, launching a professional development hub, and engaging more students in real-world decision-making. In collaboration with asu's participatory governance initiative, cfa led a rigorous evaluation of spb's impact and co-hosted the first-ever student voice institute to strengthen youth civic leadership. A $1.5 million, three-year grant from the u.s. Department of education further ensured the sustained growth of this high-impact civic education initiative.cfa also recognized the vital role of public service through the gabe zimmerman public service awards, honoring non-elected public servants whose dedication to civic engagement and community building strengthens arizona.through these efforts, cfa continues to champion civic participation, leadership, and public service as the foundation of connected, engaged communities with responsive systems - pillars of a thriving democracy.