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.
Blaise Caudill serves the customer as public affairs analyst for Southwest Gas
Blaise Caudill, a 2014 Flinn-Brown Fellow, is a public affairs analyst for Southwest Gas Corporation. Caudill serves as a problem-solving catalyst for the utility’s customers and provides education on what Southwest Gas is doing on key emerging issues within energy such as renewable natural gas and carbon-negative energy.
Caudill says the favorite aspect of what he does is being able to genuinely engage with and meet people from all walks of life. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree from Arizona State University. [Read more]
Health-care entrepreneur joins Flinn Foundation board
Heidi Jannenga, one of Arizona’s most accomplished health-care-technology entrepreneurs, has been elected to the Flinn Foundation board of directors.
Jannenga, co-founder of Phoenix-based WebPT, the leading software provider for electronic medical records and practice management for rehabilitation therapists, brings to the board premier expertise in the clinical and business currents shaping Arizona’s health-care and technology sectors. She also serves as secretary of the board of directors of the Arizona Community Foundation, as a trustee of the Arizona Science Center, as a board member of the Arizona chapter of Conscious Capitalism, and as a board member of the Arizona School for the Arts. [Read more]
Karen Francis-Begay supports Native students, programs, and faculty at UArizona
Karen Francis-Begay is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and Assistant Vice Provost for Native American Initiatives at the University of Arizona. Francis-Begay, a 2013 Flinn-Brown Fellow, coordinates and supports the Native student programs and Native faculty and works closely with Enrollment Management, Student Success & Retention Innovation, and Faculty Affairs.
Public policy has been a vital part of her career in higher education. She graduated from the Eller College of Management at UArizona in public administration and earned a master’s degree in American Indian studies, and now is close to completing a doctorate in higher education. [Read more]
Civic Health Progress Meters to guide data-driven dialogue
The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation and the Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) have announced a partnership to bring together partners in data-driven dialogue about civic life today in Arizona.
This new partnership will be driven by use of the Civic Health Progress Meters of Civic Participation and Connected Communities, part of the Arizona Progress Meters launched by CFA to measure progress and frame conversations. The organizations will identify opportunities for action that will ensure more Arizonans are engaged in creating solutions for their communities and a stronger future for our state. [Learn More]
News and Updates
Civic Leadership
Blaise Caudill serves the customer as public affairs analyst for Southwest Gas
Blaise Caudill (2014) Public Affairs Analyst Southwest Gas Corporation Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram 1. Can you please describe your work and how public policy impacts how you manage your organization? Working public affairs/government relations is like the perfect mix of going on endless first dates, being a walking encyclopedia and phonebook, and hosting a really large party where […]
Civic Leadership
June 2021 Network News
Thoughts from Dawn Wallace Hello Fellows, Recently, my almost teenager and I took our first solo road trip. Charged with curating our travel playlist, she produced an eclectic discography that featured her favorite modern artists and her version of the “classics” she thought I might enjoy. Included were iconic songs from the Stones, Beatles, Springsteen […]
Civic Leadership
Health-care entrepreneur joins Flinn Foundation board
Heidi Jannenga, one Arizona’s most accomplished health-care-technology entrepreneurs, has been elected to the Flinn Foundation board of directors. Jannenga, co-founder of Phoenix-based WebPT, the leading software provider for electronic medical records and practice management for rehabilitation therapists, brings to the board premier expertise in the clinical and business currents shaping Arizona’s health-care and technology sectors. “The Flinn Foundation helps research discoveries today become startups and therapeutics tomorrow,” said Dr. David J. Gullen, chair of the Flinn Foundation board. “Heidi understands what’s necessary for such translation better than almost anyone, and her experience and […]
Civic Leadership
Karen Francis-Begay supports Native students, programs, and faculty at UArizona
Karen Francis-Begay Assistant Vice Provost Native American Initiatives, University of Arizona LinkedIn | Facebook Describe your work and how public policy impacts how you manage your organization. I have the privilege of working to coordinate and support our Native student programs and Native faculty at the University of Arizona. I work closely with Enrollment Management, Student Success […]
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