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Uniting for Safe and Strong Communities in Central Arizona

Open to Arizonans in Maricopa and Yavapai Counties committed to working across differences to make positive community changes: September 2025 - February 2026. This program builds on the 2024 Uniting for Community Safety program.

Program Overview

Uniting for Safe and Strong Communities in Central Arizona (USSC) is a non-partisan civic participation program that brings together an ideologically, racially, generationally, and geographically diverse cohort of Arizona Uniters, residents of Maricopa and Yavapai Counties, to build relationships, strengthen collaboration skills, and address urgent local challenges. Each team of Uniters in Maricopa and Yavapai counties will work with their community partner to implement an intervention that benefits the Maricopa and Yavapai communities.

Program Goals

  1. Strengthen individual collaboration skills

  2. Increase understanding among people with different perspectives and experiences

  3. Build relationships across differences and decrease exclusion

  4. Reduce acceptance of violence as a means of resolving conflict

  5. Address local challenges in collaboration with community organizations

  6. Strengthen community cohesion and resilience

Projects with
Community Partners

Uniters in Maricopa and Yavapai Counties will implement projects in collaboration with community partners to address urgent challenges facing these communities. Our projects make a difference — see examples of previous projects completed by Uniter teams in Central Arizona here.​

Program Schedule

All in-person gatherings will feature a workshop and other activities such as small-group discussions, visits with community leaders, a shared meal, and/or a walking tour.  

September ‘25

PHASE I

Build Relationships and Learn Together

Kick off program. Build relationships across divides and engage in constructive dialogue.

Sept 13 | 9:30AM - 3.30PM | Yavapai Co. | Gathering #1: Relationship building +ABCs

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September - October ‘25

PHASE II

Plan for Action

Analyze economic issues and design projects in collaboration with community partners.

Sept 27 | 9:30AM - 3.30PM | Maricopa Co. | Gathering #2: Problem Tree Analysis


Oct 11 | 9:30AM - 3.30PM | Yavapai Co. | Gathering #3: Project Design

November - December '25

PHASE III

Take Action

Implement projects and gather with Uniters to share successes and challenges.

Nov 6 | 5 - 6:30PM | Zoom (AZ Time) | Gathering #4


Dec 4 | 5 - 6:30PM | Zoom (AZ Time) | Gathering #5

February '26

PHASE IV

Communicate Results and Sustain our Action

Implement projects and gather with Uniters to share successes and challenges

Feb 7 9:30AM - 3.30PM | Maricopa Co. | Final Gathering #6

USSC in Central Arizona Core Team

Joe Bubman.jpg

Program Director

Michelle Gahee.jpg

Program Co-Manager

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Program Co-Manager

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