Community Impact
Arizona is home to a thriving and diverse education, business, arts, philanthropic, and non-profit community. Most notably, there are dozens of organizations and community leaders who are pouring out their time, energy, and resources to ensure that all Arizonans can reach their full potential so our neighborhoods and our state shine. Learn more here about how they have joined forces for good over the years.
Support daca - azdreams.org
After President Trump's administration announced the end of DACA, Pearl Chang Esau and Luis Avila worked quickly in partnership with the Arizona Community Foundation to set up the AZ DREAMs fund, supporting DACA recipients in renewing their status. AZDREAMs.org was born and with the support of numerous business leaders and almost 100 donors, raised over $70,000 in 10 days. To learn more, click here.
Social media graphic from AZDREAMs.org campaign
Achieve60AZ launches
Most jobs in Arizona will require more education or training beyond high school. That is why Achieve60AZ was created - a grassroots community-led initiative that aspires to have more Arizonans attain the education they need to secure high-quality jobs. The Arizona universities, community colleges, the Governor's office, College Success Arizona, Helios Education Foundation, Expect More Arizona, Center for the Future of Arizona and over 70 organizations rallied to launch this initiative. The initiative has now hired its first executive director, Rachel Yanof. To learn more, click here.
Achieve60AZ Launch
Women in leadership
Arizona has wonderful assets including talented and service minded leading ladies, many of whom have been recognized and now continue to mentor and network through the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce's Athena award program.
Athena Reception at the Westin Kierland
education matters
Pearl Chang Esau is a recipient of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Athena Award. Play the video above to hear her talk about the importance of an excellent education for all children and how education changed her life.
The state of black education
The Arizona Community Foundation often convenes and hosts the community for important topics, such as this one. Education leaders from K-12 and higher education gathered together with concerned stakeholders to discuss action steps to ensure that every student has the opportunity succeed.
The State of Black Education in Arizona panel
closing the latino achievement gap
The Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosts luncheon focused on the State of Latino Education
Maricopa Community Colleges, Expect More Arizona, Helios Education Foundation and Univision partner to host an annual Education Fair, providing knowledge and resources to thousands of Latino families.
A dozen leading education and business groups come together to host a welcome reception for the new chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges District. Dr. Maria Harper Marinick is the first Latina and woman to lead the nation's largest community college system.
“Collaborate (verb): join forces, team up, band together, ally, pool resources, put heads together”
happy Chinese new year
Every year the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce hosts a celebration of the Asian American community's accomplishments and progress. This event is not complete without an inspiring keynote speaker, naming multiple awards, a delicious multi-course banquet meal, and a visit from the transitional Chinese dragon dance.
ADVOCATING together
In 2015, Arizona's education and business communities rallied together to pass a major bi-partisan education funding initiative (Prop 123). The coalition was successful and resulted in returning $3.5 billion to AZ public schools over the coming years.
The bi-partisan education and business coalition gather after the success of Prop 123
In this video clip, Pearl Chang Esau discusses support for Prop 123 on election night with AZ Central
Community volunteers gather at United Way to phone bank for Prop 123
SARRC leads the way
Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center is a national model for Autism awareness and support. Co-founded by Denise Resnik and Raun Melmud, and led by President & CEO Daniel Openden, SARRC has changed the lives of thousands of children on the autism spectrum, and given hope for the future to their loved ones.
SARRC Board Meeting (pictured with Daniel Openden)
championing educators
Teachers are the number one most important factor leading to student success. Yet, Arizona is facing a crisis in recruiting and retaining high quality teachers. To learn more about the impact of a great teacher and why we must invest in them, watch this TED Talk presented by Pearl Chang Esau at the Tucson Values Teachers Let's Talk Ed event. Tucson Values Teachers is a partnership with the Southern Arizona Leadership Council of business and education leaders who are making teachers our top priority.
Expect More Arizona hosts a kick-off event to highlight the findings from ASU Morrison Institute's new report on teacher pay
high expectations for all
Over the course of 3 years, Arizona's education and business leaders worked together to ensure higher academic standards for K-12 students. They were successful and Arizona's student achievement has continued to improve steadily.
Arizona Aims Higher campaign launches to support higher academic standards for Arizona's K-12 public schools
teach for America in phoenix
Teach For America in Arizona has one of the largest footprints of any region in its state with its alumni and corps members. In addition, its longstanding partnership with ASU enables corps members to complete a Master's degree. Teach For America is a highly selective program that recruits and trains individuals to teach in high need schools across the country while fueling a pipeline of leaders who become lifelong advocates for educational equity. ASU is one of the highest producers of corps members in the country.
Reception for Wendy Kopp, Founder of Teach For America (on far right) with Katie Tennessen Hooten, Teach For America's executive director (third from right)