The next Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, May 22, will host Kristi Tate, Ian Dowdy and Evelyn Casuga, leaders from the Center for the Future of Arizona.
These leaders and their colleagues are dedicated to bringing Arizonans together to create a bright future for our state, especially by using trusted data to help state leaders and communities drive change around what matters most to Arizonans. Meet them and learn about their cutting-edge work at this enjoyable, informal and informative community event that is free and open to all.
CFA is committed to achieving The Arizona We Want, a set of priorities that express Arizonans’ highest aspirations for the future, discovered by the Gallup Arizona Poll, the most comprehensive study ever undertaken in Arizona.
The results formed the basis for an action-based agenda concerning eight goal areas critically important to the future of the state: jobs, education, young talent, health and well-being, natural resources, infrastructure, civic participation and connected communities.
To better understand how the state is doing relative to these goals, CFA recently launched the Arizona Progress Meters, a portfolio of data-driven tools for measuring state and community progress in each area. The data produced by these Progress Meters will serve as important frameworks for discussion, problem solving and long-term planning for success throughout Arizona. For example, their Education Progress Meter is already being used by government agencies, policymakers, cities, towns and communities across the state to inform and drive actions to improve educational outcomes.
CFA also has launched The Arizona We Want Community Conversations Series across the state to spark discussions and introduce the Arizona Progress Meters.
Kristi Tate is the Director of CFA’s Civic Health Initiatives. Most recently, Tate served with the National Conference on Citizenship, or NCoC, a congressionally chartered organization dedicated to strengthening civic life in America, where she developed and led partnerships for the Civic Health Index, which created reports and initiatives designed to strengthen civic life in communities across the country.
Ian Dowdy directs CFA’s Progress Meters program. He is a certified urban planner with a diverse background working in the public and private sectors, most recently, with the Sonoran Institute, leading the team that focused on improving the quality-of-life, economy and environment of the Sun Corridor megapolitan region of Arizona, which includes Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott.
Evelyn Casuga is CFA’s director of Community and Economic Prosperity. She is a Certified Economic Developer and served for 25 years as general manager of Community Affairs at APS, Arizona’s largest utility. Her responsibilities encompassed community relations, corporate contributions, volunteer programs, economic development and strategic partnerships.
OLLI’s Lunch and Learn will be held Wednesday, May 22, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., in room 34 of Yavapai College’s Sedona Center, located on Cultural Park Place, across State Route 89A from Sedona Red Rock High School. Bring a lunch and drink at 12:30 p.m. and join the conversation or come from 1 to 2:30 p.m. to meet Tate, Dowdy and Casuga and to hear about and discuss what The Center for the Future of Arizona is up to.
OLLI offers academic, not-for-credit programs for adults 50 years old or older at program sites at Verde Valley Campus, Sedona Center and Camp Verde Library. OLLI at Sedona/Verde Valley is a program of the Division of Lifelong Learning at Yavapai College. Spring Term started April 15 and registrations are being accepted now and through the Spring Term.
Contact Linda Shook, associate dean of Sedona Center and OLLI Director Sedona/Verde Valley, at the OLLI office at 649-4275 or ollisv@yc.edu for information about OLLI at Sedona/Verde Valley. Information is also available at the yc.edu.
