Center for the Future of Arizona

08/28/2026

Strong local leaders who respond to Arizona’s shared priorities matter more than ever. We recently convened local leaders at our AZ Cities Pre-Conference Session.

Together we:
🔵 Explored the issues Arizonans want leaders to prioritize, where common ground exists across our state, and ways to take action.
🔵 Explored new insights from CFA’s 2026 Voters’ Agenda and the Good Elections Project.

By bringing together research, local stories, and peer perspectives, leaders exchanged ideas, found actionable solutions, and left with new strategies to strengthen public trust and continue to serve their communities – even stronger.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined the conversation and showed what's possible when leaders come together with the same commitment to building .

08/28/2026

We’re excited to share that Sybil Francis has been named the 2026 Linda M. Herold Lifetime Honoree by In Business Magazine Phoenix alongside so many other remarkable women. Her visionary leadership, service, and dedication to our state are clear in her work advancing The Arizona We Want, a shared vision of success focused on what matters most to Arizonans.

Congratulations, Sybil! 🎉

Celebrate Sybil at the Women of Achievement Luncheon on October 23 at the Arizona Biltmore:

Greater Phoenix In Business Magazine is proud to announce its 2026 Women of Achievement honorees, an extraordinary group of women whose leadership, professional accomplishments and commitment to community are helping shape Arizona’s future. The 2026 Women of Achievement will be honored at the maga...

08/27/2026

Take a look at what we've accomplished, what's ahead, and how you can stay involved. Here’s what to know:
🗳 The Arizona Voters Agenda is here

🌆 Highlights from the League of Arizona Cities and Towns Pre-Conference Session

🌵How Local First Arizona is helping build The Arizona We Want and more!

Read the latest issue and subscribe today: bit.ly/3tqViTd

08/20/2026

Arizona voters are thinking about the future & long-term water supplies are top of mind. The 2026 Arizona Voters’ Agenda found that

• 78% support strengthening groundwater protections in rural parts of the state
• 78% support limiting new housing development in areas without a long-term water supply

It’s clear Arizonans want long-term thinking, problem-solving, and leadership focused on preparing the state for the future. Will leaders respond?

Share this research: Bit.ly/AVAwater

08/19/2026

08/14/2026

Arizona voters agree: housing costs are one of the state's most pressing challenges. In the 2026 Arizona Voters' Agenda, 52% of likely voters say housing costs are creating the greatest financial strain for people in Arizona, ahead of wages not keeping pace with inflation (44%) and groceries (28%).

That finding holds across political affiliations and every age group, making housing one of the clearest shared concerns in Arizona’s affordability conversation.

Bring this data and more into conversations with candidates, leaders, and your community to keep Arizona voters’ priorities at the center: bit.ly/AVAhousing

08/13/2026

Out Now: The 2026 Arizona Voters’ Agenda identifies the priorities that earn support across political affiliations and generations, providing a trusted, nonpartisan look at where Arizona voters agree.

From affordability and housing to water, immigration, and education, the findings provide a framework for the questions candidates answer, the decisions leaders make, and the progress Arizonans expect long after Election Day.

Arizona voters have made their priorities clear. The question is: Will Arizona’s elected leaders respond to voters’ priorities?
arizonafuture.org/ava

08/10/2026

What does it take to build ?

It starts with public servants who show up every day to serve their communities with purpose, dedication, and compassion. Last month, through the Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards, we recognized individuals putting these qualities into action. Meet the 2026 leaders who are making a difference across Arizona:

• Kelsey Lamphier, Library Director, City of Surprise
• Ana Urquijo, City Manager, City of Douglas
• Billy Kovacs, Director of Federal Relations, State of Arizona, Office of the Governor
• Christopher Avery, Principal Assistant City Attorney, City of Tucson

Explore the recipients’ stories and watch their remarks from the awards ceremony: bit.ly/4gfBOHg

08/07/2026

What do Arizona voters want leaders to prioritize?

The Arizona Voters' Agenda returns on Aug. 12 with its latest statewide research identifying the priorities that earn broad support across political affiliations and generations.

The findings will explore affordability and housing, water, immigration, elections, education, and other issues critical to Arizona's future.

Be among the first to see what Arizona voters want leaders to prioritize: arizonafuture.org/ava

08/04/2026

Arizona's future workforce depends on helping learners translate their skills into opportunity. That's the vision behind My Skills Pocket, a digital wallet developed by Arizona State University with support from CFA, that allows individuals to store and share verified skills and credentials earned throughout their learning and career journeys.

We're proud to support innovative solutions that help Arizonans turn their skills into lifelong prosperity. Read about the pilot's impact and learn more about this exciting work: tln.asu.edu/blog/my-skills-pocket-app-advancing-career-mobility-retail-workers