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Arizona Center for Civic Leadership
Enhancing civic life in Arizona through education, engagement, and leadership programs.
The Center’s cornerstone initiative which includes participation in the Flinn-Brown Academy and Flinn-Brown Network.
Meet the 465 Fellows who make up the Flinn-Brown Network through this searchable directory.
Join us for monthly virtual public policy seminars emphasizing learning and discussion.
A partnership to measure Arizona's progress on civic participation and connected communities—and act.
A statewide resource for organizations strengthening civic leadership by working together on common priorities.
A program helping teens build necessary skills and knowledge as they imagine unique paths to civic responsibility.
Connect with Arizona Center for Civic Leadership: Stay up to date. Join our email list.
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, engagement, and leadership-development programs. Flinn Young Leaders emphasizes civic learning and skill-building and helps teens imagine paths to making a difference. CivEx delivers educational programming for the public to become better-informed on Arizona policy and political topics. The Civic Leadership Collaborative and the Arizona Civic Life Partnership convene organizations that strengthen civic participation and connected communities. The Center’s cornerstone, the prestigious Flinn-Brown Fellowship, is an immersive experience for community leaders from diverse backgrounds. Fellows engage in rich discussions with policymakers and political experts; join a robust professional network; and gain understanding of how to address Arizona’s most pressing issues through public service.
Center hosts CivEx on chronic student absenteeism
The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership hosted the CivEx, “Still Missing Too Much School: A Follow-Up Analysis of Arizona Chronic Absence Trends in Grades 1–8,” hosted by Flinn-Brown Fellows Paul Perrault, Ph.D. (Phoenix, 2016) and Lenay Dunn, Ph.D. (Phoenix, 2017). They examined the effects of chronic absenteeism on students, schools, and the broader community in Arizona.
Drawing on insights from the 2022 report by Helios Education Foundation and WestEd, and the latest data in the 2025 report, the webinar offers valuable perspectives on how these trends, accelerated since the pandemic, are reshaping our educational landscape. [Watch]
Fellow Sara Rose Webber helps preserve Arizona’s history and natural beauty
Sarah Rose Webber is deputy director of Arizona State Parks and Trails, where the 2017 Flinn-Brown Fellow applies her passion for preserving Arizona’s natural and cultural heritage.
In this 15th episode of the Leadership Forward for a Better Arizona podcast by Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation, Webber discusses her leadership in expanding public access to outdoor spaces, her deep appreciation for art and its connection to nature, and how both shape her approach to civic engagement. [Listen]
Mary Venezia dedicated to higher education and student success at U of A
To Oregon-born Mary Venezia, Arizona is home. After spending much of her childhood in Phoenix and graduating from Saint Mary’s High School, she escaped the heat by heading north to Northern Arizona University for her bachelor’s degree. Then she moved south for graduate school at the University of Arizona.
Her deep connection to Tucson is rooted in her career at the University of Arizona, where she has spent the past 15 years in higher education and student success. Currently serving as Chief of Staff, Enrollment Management at U of A, Venezia has built an extensive resume. The 2015 Flinn-Brown Fellow has been recognized as an Emerging Leader by Arizona Women in Higher Education and received the University of Arizona Staff Excellence Award. [Read more]
Flinn-Brown Fellow Dan Coleman a creative leader in the arts
When 2014 Flinn-Brown Fellow Dan Coleman co-founded Modern Works Music Publishing about 20 years ago, he did not just enter the music industry—he helped reshape it. With none other than John Legend as the company’s first signing, Coleman’s vision for bridging artistry and commerce took root.
Nearly two decades later, his contributions have extended far beyond music publishing, earning him a reputation as a creative leader who brings the arts to life in communities across the nation. [Read more]
Alfred Urbina’s lifetime of service, from paperboy to tribal leader
Alfred Urbina describes himself as a husband, father, and grandfather from South Tucson. He’s also a 2013 Flinn-Brown Fellow who started as a paperboy and busboy and went on to serve in the military, as a police officer, and later a prosecutor, Attorney General, and judge for Arizona tribal communities.
In this 14th episode of the Leadership Forward for a Better Arizona podcast, hosted by Dawn Wallace with the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation, Urbina talks about his Flinn-Brown experience, tribal government, his optimism for greater inclusion of tribal leaders, and his hope for integrating Native American history into Arizona history and requiring it be taught in schools. [Listen]
News and Updates
Civic Leadership
CivEx: Still Missing Too Much School
High absence rates continue to undermine teaching and learning—leading to poorer academic outcomes, persistent attendance issues, and a higher risk of dropout, while also challenging teachers’ ability to provide consistent instruction.
Civic Leadership
March 2025 Network News
Many of you know that the Flinn Foundation was established by Dr. Robert and Irene Flinn. Dr. Flinn was a renowned leader of Arizona’s medical community who had a special interest in both medical education and new technology, especially for use in cardiology.
Civic Leadership
Flinn-Brown Fellow Christian Osmeña
Christian Osmeña is a distinguished leader in higher education administration, public policy, and civic engagement. As the Vice President for Enterprise Planning at Arizona State University (ASU), he is instrumental in charting the university’s strategic direction.
Civic Leadership
February 2025 Network News
Super Bowl Sunday in my house holds the same weight as a sacred holiday—rituals are observed, traditions upheld, and loyalties declared. And since Taylor Swift has become the unofficial queen of the NFL, our Swiftie Nation household has decidedly been in the camp of the Kansas City Chiefs.
For information about Civic Leadership, please contact:
civicleadership@flinn.org or (602) 744-6832
