Opportunities for Flagstaff

Since taking office in 2022, I’ve become involved with several organizations that assist me in advocating on behalf of our community and also provide funding opportunities for Flagstaff. I’m interested and deeply committed to supporting and enacting policies in these areas for the benefit of our community.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) is an outstanding resource. They keep me apprised of topics important to Flagstaff on the national front, facilitate access to administration and federal agency staff, offer in-depth policy discussions, plus I learn how other communities are tackling problems similar to ours. Additionally, they provide training and small grants that city staff (such as parks and recreation, sustainability, public safety, and housing) has access to. I’ll be lobbying with the USCM’s task force on homelessness in Washington to urge stronger federal investment in housing and social service programs to move residents out of homelessness and to prevent those who are in danger of losing their housing from becoming homeless. Flagstaff has worked hard to address our housing challenges and have had many successes, but there’s lots more work to be done.

I attended my first Climate Mayors meeting before I was even sworn in thanks to the invitation from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. Like the USCM, the Climate Mayors provides me with critical information and funding opportunities that we can use to help meet Flagstaff’s climate goals. Because I’m a member, they also provide training and other opportunities for city staff.

The Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable provides me with great opportunities to learn more about how we can help support education and workforce development here in Flagstaff. We have engaging discussions about statewide successes and presentations from subject matter experts. Roundtable staff arranged a field trip to the ASU Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence and I learned about all the local data that’s available to us here in Flagstaff. I then invited representatives from FUSD, CCC, NAU, CC Workforce Development Board, city, county, ECoNA, Chamber of Commerce, CAVIAT, United Way, and First Things First down to the decision center to discuss local data that was prepared and presented at my request. Through this, we saw where we’re doing well and where we can improve. Those conversations continue and will expand.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns has helped to inform me about Arizona gun laws and areas where we can work together to ensure greater safety for Arizona’s children and adults. Through their newsletters and opportunities for advocacy, I learn how other cities and states are acting to protect their residents from gun violence and learn how we all can be stronger advocates for common sense gun legislation.

The Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger is an organization close to my heart and through them I’ve learned innovative ways that mayors around the country have raised awareness about issues of hunger and poverty in their communities. Because of ideas I’ve picked up through this organization, I’ve advocated for increased SNAP benefits and school breakfast and lunch programs.

Our Flagstaff City Council is also keenly interested in these and other issues and I love to bring new information to our discussions and appreciate when councilmembers do the same. Each councilmember is an active participant in organizations and commissions that are dealing with issues that are important to all of us. We have many challenges to address, but I hope it brings you some comfort that you have a city council and mayor who are constantly studying, discussing, and learning information that we’re putting to use to benefit you and our community!