News & Events Newsletter Archive Newsletter May 2024

May 2024

2023 Annual Report Now Available

We spent the past year directly contributing to shaping a state where all Arizonans thrive. We are proud to share CFA’s latest annual impact report, highlighting recent strides toward The Arizona We Want. The new report includes noteworthy achievements, program and initiative updates, audited financials, and other developments from our 2023 fiscal year.

Discover Where Arizona Voters Agree in 2024

The 2024 Arizona Voters' Agenda is now available! The findings from the first of two surveys for the 2024 election cycle show where Arizona voters agree in education, immigration, state spending, and housing. Understanding these priorities can help ensure the voices of voters are at the center of the discussion and debates and contribute to building The Arizona We Want. Explore the 2024 Arizona Voters' Agenda and see the big questions we can all ask candidates and leaders based on where voters agree.

Explore findings

Peoria Students Forge Pathways to Success Through Innovative Partnership

In collaboration with the City of Peoria and CFA’s Arizona Pathways to Prosperity initiative, Peoria Unified School District has forged new partnerships to expand Career & Technical Education opportunities in construction for students, as part of building out a path of long-term success. In our latest story highlight, learn how students gained hands-on professional experience at Highway 85 Creative, a local business specializing in construction for tradeshows; and how this work not only addresses industry needs, but also provides students with valuable skills for their future education and career pathways.

School Participatory Budgeting Expands in Northern Arizona

Students at Williams and Flagstaff High School review proposed school improvement projects and vote.

Students from Williams and Flagstaff High Schools piloted their first School Participatory Budgeting (SPB) Vote Days to determine how they will allocate real funds for school improvement projects. It was the culmination of a year-long process in which students collaborated with school and district staff, researched, developed proposals, and campaigned leading up to Vote Day to determine which projects to implement. The process also inspired eligible students to participate in the upcoming elections - 120 Flagstaff High School students registered to vote during the event!

In partnership with schools across the state, the SPB program nurtures civic health and builds a pipeline of civically minded Arizonans by engaging young people in learning democracy by doing. Interested in bringing SPB to your campus or community?

Attend an upcoming info session

Cochise County Leaders Develop Actionable Solutions to Healthcare Workforce Needs

Attendees gather at Cochise College, Douglas Campus, for the 2024 Cochise County Healthcare Community Forum.

Over 100 Arizonans across 46 organizations attended the Cochise County Healthcare Community Forum to address healthcare workforce and education challenges in the region. Leaders in healthcare, K12, higher education, government, and nonprofits collaborated throughout the event to identify and address four strategies:

Fostering Cross-Sector Collaboration – Promote partnerships and joint initiatives across various organizations and sectors.
Enhancing Communication Between Stakeholders – Improve coordination and communication channels between K12, post-secondary, and healthcare employers.
Optimizing Grant Writing Efforts – Facilitate effective cooperation and information exchange for grant writing among county, state, federal, and regional partners.
Improving Data Sharing and Access – Expand capabilities for sharing and accessing data to support informed decision-making and strategic planning.

CFA is proud to be a part of community conversations and collaboration that help build The Arizona We Want.

Insightful Discussions: Dive Into the 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda

With the official launch of the 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda, there are multiple opportunities to join the conversation and explore CFA's latest survey research of Arizona voters.

Morning Scoop with Arizona Capitol Times: What Do Voters Want?
June 4, 8:00 a.m. – Virtual | Free

Join moderator Steve Goldstein, CFA Chair, President & CEO, Dr. Sybil Francis, and HighGround, Inc., Senior Vice President of Research and Strategy, Paul Bentz for a discussion about bringing the voices of voters to the table in this election. The group will explore findings from the Arizona Voters’ Agenda on the desire for candidates to speak about important issues and how media coverage of candidates factors into the quality of election dialogue. The panel will also discuss the findings on the topics that the majority of voters agree on – education, state spending, immigration, and housing.



Dr. Sybil Francis PANELIST Chair, President & CEO Center for the Future of Arizona	Paul Bentz PANELIST Senior Vice President HighGround Public Affairs Consultants	Steve Goldstein MODERATOR

Education Forward Arizona’s Power Hour: How to Participate in Upcoming Elections
June 11, 12:00 p.m. – Virtual

Join Dr. Amanda Burke, CFA Executive Vice President, at Education Forward Arizona’s Education Power Hour. She will discuss how the Arizona Voters' Agenda can empower voters to actively engage in the upcoming elections. Gina Roberts will also guide attendees through using the Clean Elections website, engaging in candidate debates, and understanding what's on the ballot. Plus, the conversation will delve into key questions to ask candidates during debates.



Dr. Amanda Burke Center for the Future of Arizona, Executive Vice President		Gina Roberts Voter Education Director, Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission

Arizona Progress Meter Update: Education

Education Forward Arizona and CFA Release Final 2023-2024 Update to the Arizona Education Progress Meter: Teacher Pay

The updated metric, Teacher Pay, ranks the adjusted median salary for Arizona’s elementary and high school teachers in public, private, and charter institutions, compared with the national median and other states. The most recent update indicates that Arizona’s elementary teachers remain at the bottom (ranked 50th) of the adjusted median pay nationally while secondary teachers have declined from 38th in 2022 to 41st according to the 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics survey.

Learn more

Catch up with recent news about CFA, our partners,

and the priorities of Arizonans:

Why – and How – Educators Learn Best from Each Other
KnowledgeWorks shares how they, CFA, and other partners are positioning peer-to-peer learning as a sustainable strategy to implement personalized, competency-based learning.

AZ Central, What Do Arizonans Care About? Affordable Housing and Immigration Reform, Poll Says

AZ Political Podcast from KTAR, Sybil Francis on Issues Arizona Voters Do Agree On

ABC15, What Issues Matter Most to Arizonans?

AZCentral Recount Newsletter, Which Issues Do Arizona Voters Care About Most?

InBusiness, Majority of Arizona Voters Agree on Key Issues Ahead of Elections

Yahoo Finance, Majority of Arizona Voters Agree on Increased Investment and Improvement in Education

Daily Independent, Report: Voters Support Transparency in Private School Funding

AZFamily Politics Unplugged Podcast, The Arizona Voters’ Agenda

AP News, Arizona Voters Want Better Planning For Future Growth; Firm Against Cuts to Core Services

KTAR, Most Arizona Voters Agree Immigration Reform Is Needed, Survey Finds

PR Newswire, Housing and Homelessness Are Major Issues for Arizona Voters; Strong Desire for State and Local Government to Do More

Casa Grande Dispatch, Central Arizona College Receives Grant for Tech Training

Public News Service, Experts, Officials Discuss Electorate in AZ at Arizona Democracy Summit

The Think Tank with Mike O'Neil, Arizonans Want More Civic Engagement

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

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