Civic Leadership
Strengthening civic leadership statewide through the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership.
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The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership
The nonpartisan Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation enhances civic life in Arizona through civic education, leadership, and engagement programs. The prestigious Flinn-Brown Fellowship fosters civic leaders in Arizona by building knowledge, skills, and a robust network to find solutions for Arizona’s long-term issues. The Arizona Civic Exchange—CivEx—creates opportunities for the public to become better informed and educated on political and policy topics impacting their communities. The Center promotes civic engagement through the Civic Leadership Collaborative by convening Arizona’s leadership-development organizations to advance the goal of building strong leaders in every community in the state.
‘Media and the Message’ theme of 2021 Flinn-Brown Convention
The annual Flinn-Brown Convention, an invitation-only event for the entire network of Flinn-Brown Fellows, is set for Nov. 12 at the Heard Museum in Phoenix. The all-day event will feature a moderated panel, breakout sessions, a skills workshop, keynote speakers, the Flinn-Brown Awards, a celebration of the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership’s 10th anniversary, and a reception.
With a theme of “Media and the Message,” the event will focus on the role of the media in communicating and influencing public policy; showcasing the inter-relationship between the media, the public and policymakers; understanding diverse media platforms; and identifying opportunities to expand information access. [Learn more]
Flinn-Brown Fellow Robert Navarro helps oversee operations of state’s child safety department
Robert Navarro serves as deputy director of operations for support services for the Arizona Department of Child Safety, which includes oversight of the department’s budget, business operations, comprehensive health plan, and information technology to ensure the front-line staff and vendors have the tools needed to serve Arizona families effectively and efficiently.
Navarro, a 2017 Flinn-Brown Fellow from Chandler, supports opportunities for the public to engage in learning about government programs and services to drive a more constructive conversation regarding civics in Arizona. [Read more]
Arizona rural economic development is theme of latest CivEx
The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership hosted a continuation of the CivEx series on rural Arizona economic development with a virtual event Sept. 29 featuring Flinn-Brown Fellows Mignonne Hollis, executive director, Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation, and Russ Yelton, president, Yelton & Associates.
The one-hour webinar included several special announcements about new Arizona rural economic development projects launched during the pandemic, and discussed how rural development is often challenged by demographics, access to capital, health care, and a skilled workforce. [View the webinar]
Flinn-Brown Fellow Kathryn Leonard works to conserve and enhance Arizona’s rich heritage
Kathryn Leonard was appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey in September 2016 to the role of state historic preservation officer, where Leonard administers the State Historic Register and the State Historic Preservation Act and works with both state and federal agencies to help conserve and enhance Arizona’s rich heritage.
Leonard, a 2016 Flinn-Brown Fellow, has found that most people agree that we have a beautiful state with rich history that is worthy of preservation. She believes historic preservation projects and initiatives provide the perfect backdrop for civic engagement as the very enterprise of preservation is to make the past relevant for the future. [Read more]
CivEx webinar focuses on gaming expansion in Arizona
The CivEx conversation about recent state actions to expand gaming in Arizona highlighted key components of the amended state gaming compact and associated law changes enacted by the Legislature earlier this year, which allows sports betting under licenses issued to tribes and pro sports teams.
Kirk Adams, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, hosted the Aug. 25 conversation with panelists: Anni Foster, general counsel, Office of the Arizona Governor; Governor Stephen Lewis, Gila River Indian Community; State Representative Jeff Weninger; State Senator Rebecca Rios; and Amilyn Pierce, vice president of government affairs, Arizona Diamondbacks. [View the webinar]
News and Updates
Civic Leadership
Flinn-Brown Fellow Robert Navarro helps oversee operations of state’s child safety department
Robert Navarro (Chandler, 2017) Deputy Director of Operations for Support Services, Arizona Department of Child Safety LinkedIn 1. Can you please describe your work and how public policy impacts how you manage your organization? Currently, I serve as Deputy Director of Operations for Support Services for the Arizona Department of Child Safety. My current role includes oversight of […]
Civic Leadership
September 2021 Network News
Thoughts from Dawn Wallace If we make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, we will have done a great service for mental health – Mr. Fred Rogers (Senate Testimony on PBS Funding, May 1969) Recently, during a Flinn Foundation team building exercise, our facilitator challenged us to note a single point of certainty… […]
Civic Leadership
Flinn-Brown Fellow Kathryn Leonard works to conserve and enhance Arizona’s rich heritage
Kathryn Leonard State Historic Preservation Officer, Arizona State Parks LinkedIn 1. Can you please describe your work and how public policy impacts how you manage your organization? I currently serve as the State Historic Preservation Officer, appointed by Governor Ducey in September 2016. The State Historic Preservation Officer is a bit of a unicorn position […]
Civic Leadership
August 2021 Network News
Thoughts from Dawn Wallace One of the most awe-inspiring moments of every Olympic Games is the Athletes Parade. Watching each athlete march into Olympic Stadium under the cover of their country’s flag—I’m always struck by the joy and exhilaration on their faces and how powerfully their emotions exude from the screen. The remarkable history of […]
For information about Civic Leadership, please contact:
civicleadership@flinn.org or (602) 744-6832
Dawn Wallace
Vice President, Civic Leadership
Sara Larsen
Program Manager, Arizona Center for Civic Leadership
Danielle Underwood
Program Coordinator, Arizona Center for Civic Leadership