activities · 19
what they do
direct service · 5
- Community Engagement on Maternal and Infant Health Maternal & Perinatal Health Equity InitiativesIncreases awareness of Black maternal and infant health through data access, white paper publication, community meetings, and an awareness campaign focused on Black Maternal Infant Health in Arizona.
- Community Recognition and EventsRecognizes "Unsung Heroes" at Community Luminaries Ceremonies and hosts events such as a Middle School STEM Summit.
- Deliver direct community services and programsHosts community meetings on Black maternal and infant health, convenes youth STEM summits, recognizes community leaders through the Community Luminaries Ceremony, and coordinates grant pilots such as the BIPOC Manufacturing Grant Program in Tempe.
- Grant Program CoordinationCoordinates and evaluates grant programs, such as the pilot BIPOC Manufacturing Grant Program for the City of Tempe in 2022.
- Recognition of Community ContributionsRecognized "Unsung Heroes" at a Community Luminaries Ceremony and hosted a Middle School STEM Summit to celebrate contributions and inspire youth.
advocacy · 6
- Advocacy for Black Businesses Community Data Reporting & Action InitiativesImplemented action steps to address challenges facing Black businesses in Arizona and tracked progress on those initiatives, including support for the inaugural Governor’s State Address for Black and African American Arizonans.
- Advocate for policy and systemic change in Black communities Maternal & Perinatal Health Equity InitiativesLeads advocacy initiatives including data-driven presentations to state government, awareness campaigns on Black maternal and infant health, and partnerships to advance healthcare equity and economic opportunity, such as supporting the Governor’s State Address for Black Arizonans and launching BirthTok with PSI-Arizona.
- Awareness and Advocacy for Rare DiseasesRaises awareness of rare diseases, particularly their disproportionate impact on the African American community, as part of its mission to gather data and information on issues affecting African Americans in Arizona.
- Black Maternal and Infant Health Advocacy and Awareness Maternal & Perinatal Health Equity InitiativesIncreases awareness of Black maternal and infant health through data access, white paper publication, community meetings, and advocacy campaigns. This includes creating calls to action for healthcare improvements and partnering on interactive storytelling platforms to advocate for solutions like doula access.
- Support for Black Businesses Community Data Reporting & Action InitiativesImplements action steps to address challenges facing Black businesses in Arizona, tracks progress, and publishes reports highlighting financial gaps and opportunities. The organization also launched the Arizona Business Database to make small, Black-owned businesses visible and featured businesses in IMPACT Stories to demonstrate the impact of research insights.
- Support for Governor's State Address for Black and African American Arizonans Community Data Reporting & Action InitiativesSupported the inaugural Governor’s State Address for Black and African American Arizonans in 2025 by providing a data-driven presentation.
research · 5
- Black Entrepreneurship Analysis Community Data Reporting & Action InitiativesPublished a comprehensive report analyzing Black entrepreneurship rates, access to capital, and undercapitalization in Arizona, including the second State of Black Business Report.
- Produce research reports on key issues affecting Black Arizonans Community Needs Assessment & ResearchConducts and publishes comprehensive research across domains including education, economics, health, justice, civic participation, and the arts, producing multi-volume reports such as "The State of Black Arizona" and issue-specific analyses to document disparities and opportunities.
- Research and Publication of Reports on Black Arizonans Community Needs Assessment & ResearchProduces and publishes comprehensive reports, data snapshots, and white papers on key issues affecting African Americans in Arizona across multiple domains including Education, Economics, Health, Justice, Civic Participation, and Arts and Art Education. These publications disaggregate data to reveal truths, challenges, and opportunities, serving as a historical record of African American contributions.
- Research on Civic Participation Community Data Reporting & Action InitiativesPublished a nonpartisan report documenting obstacles to Black civic participation and recommending community investments, alongside a report on the state of Black civic participation in Arizona.
- Research on Key Issues Affecting African Americans Community Needs Assessment & ResearchProduces and publishes data snapshots on key issues affecting African Americans in Arizona across multiple domains including Education, Economics, Health, Justice, and Civic Participation.
capacity building · 3
- Build capacity in Black communities and organizationsSupports Black-led initiatives through technical assistance, leadership development, and infrastructure building, including expanding community convenings, growing alumni engagement via AALI, supporting Blax Friday’s statewide reach, and establishing nonprofit governance structures.
- Capacity Building Initiatives Community Data Reporting & Action InitiativesProvides reports, publications, and leadership initiatives in Black communities across Arizona, including expanding community-based convenings and delivering data presentations to equip local leaders.
- Community Capacity Building and Leadership Development Community Data Reporting & Action InitiativesProvides reports, publications, and leadership initiatives to Black communities across Arizona, expanding community-based convenings and delivering data presentations to equip local leaders. The organization also builds organizational infrastructure and supports other organizations in achieving statewide exposure.
strategies · 21
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Advocacy for Improved Data Collection and Definition advocacy for data collection and definitionSeeks to improve the quality and specificity of data on Black communities in Arizona by advocating for better collection practices and clearer definitions to address gaps that hinder policy and program effectiveness.
- Advocacy for Improved Data Infrastructure advocacy for data collection and definitionChampions better data collection practices and definitions specific to Arizona’s Black population to address gaps in research, inform policy, and ensure equitable program design.
- Black Business Ecosystem Development business_supportStrengthens the economic infrastructure of Black communities by building comprehensive directories of Black-owned businesses and expanding access to capital, education, and collaborative opportunities.
- Black Business Ecosystem Development business_supportStrengthens economic resilience by building infrastructure—such as directories, capital access, and startup support—to grow and sustain Black-owned businesses in Arizona.
- Community-Engaged Empowerment and Dialogue community-engaged advocacyCenters lived experiences and community input in research and advocacy by fostering dialogue, collaboration, and civic responsibility through storytelling, essays, and stakeholder engagement to drive collective action and leadership development.
- Community-Engaged Mobilization and Dialogue community-engaged advocacyCenters lived experiences and community input to drive collective action, using facilitated dialogue, storytelling, and collaboration to empower African American communities in advocacy, leadership development, and health equity initiatives.
- Community-Engaged Research and Mobilization community-engaged advocacyCenters lived experiences and community input in research and advocacy efforts, using dialogue, storytelling, and collaboration to empower African American communities and drive collective action.
- Data and Storytelling Integration data and storytellingCombines rigorous data analysis with human-centered narratives to make research more accessible and compelling, translating insights into support for policy, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
- Data-Driven Advocacy and Action Planning data-driven advocacyUses data collection, analysis, and dissemination to inform advocacy, policy, and community action by translating research into actionable strategies across health, economic, civic, and educational domains.
- Data-Driven Advocacy and Action Planning data-driven advocacyUses data collection, analysis, and dissemination to inform advocacy, policy change, and community action planning, with the goal of driving systemic improvements in health, economic, and civic outcomes for Black Arizonans.
- Data-Driven Advocacy and Action Planning data-driven advocacyUses data dissemination, research, and storytelling to inform advocacy, catalyze systemic change, and link findings to actionable strategies across economic, health, civic, and educational domains by equipping organizations and community leaders with evidence for decision-making.
- Documentation and Preservation of Black History in Arizona documentation_and_preservationPreserves and promotes the historical contributions of African Americans in Arizona through publications and commemorative events, ensuring cultural legacy and visibility.
- Equity Framework Adoption and Localization health_equity_framework_localizationAdopts and localizes national health equity frameworks—such as the Mom & Baby Action Network model—to align stakeholders, dismantle systemic racism, and improve clinical access and outcomes in Black communities.
- Health Equity Framework Localization health_equity_framework_localizationAdapts and implements national health equity frameworks—such as the Mom & Baby Action Network model—at the local level to address systemic racism, improve healthcare access, and support Black maternal and infant health in Arizona.
- Historical Documentation and Cultural Preservation documentation_and_preservationDocuments and preserves African American contributions in Arizona through publications and events, creating a lasting historical record that reinforces community identity and legacy.
- Historical Documentation and Cultural Preservation documentation_and_preservationDocuments and preserves the contributions of African Americans in Arizona through publications and events, creating a lasting historical record and reinforcing cultural identity.
- Localized Health Equity Framework Implementation health_equity_framework_localizationAdopts and localizes national health equity frameworks—specifically the Mom & Baby Action Network model—to engage Black stakeholders, dismantle systemic racism in healthcare, and improve maternal and infant health outcomes through coordinated community action.
- Replication of National Models for State-Level Impact replication of successful modelsModels its flagship reporting and research approach on the National Urban League’s "The State of Black America" to ensure credibility, consistency, and national alignment in assessing and addressing conditions in Black Arizona.
- Replication of Proven National Models replication of successful modelsModels its flagship research and reporting initiatives on established national frameworks, such as the National Urban League’s “The State of Black America,” to ensure credibility and strategic alignment.
- Replication of Proven National Models replication of successful modelsModels its flagship research and reporting after nationally recognized frameworks like the National Urban League’s “The State of Black America” to ensure credibility, consistency, and strategic alignment with broader movements.
- Support and Advancement of Black-Owned Businesses business_supportStrengthens Black economic development by creating infrastructure—such as a statewide business directory—and expanding access to capital, education, and collaborative research to support entrepreneurship and business growth.
named programs · 5
what they call their work
BIPOC Loan Fund
Community-managed, character-based lending program offering microloans from $500 to $10,000 to Black and other minority entrepreneurs in Tucson, expanding to Phoenix and Yavapai County.
BIPOC Manufacturing Grant Program
Pilot program in Tempe providing $25,000 grants and mentoring to early-stage BIPOC manufacturers to support product development, equipment, and business growth.
Blax Friday
Statewide online directory and app listing over 1,500 Black-owned businesses across Arizona, promoting visibility, collaboration, and consumer support.
Impact AZ
Three-year supplier diversity readiness program offering strategic planning, mentorship, and corporate partnerships to help Black-owned businesses win contracts and scale.
State of Black Business Reports
Research publications analyzing the status, challenges, and opportunities for Black-owned businesses in Arizona, used to inform policy and program development.
relationships · 37
who they work with
- APS Funder — Sponsored the written report for Volume I.
- APS’ Network for Urban Engagement (NUE) Group Partner — Partnered to host a Middle School STEM Summit.
- ASU Foundation Funder — Sponsor of the Maternal and Infant Health White Paper Series.
- African-American Women's Giving & Empowerment Circle Funder — Sponsor of the Maternal and Infant Health White Paper Series.
- African-American Women’s Giving & Empowerment Circle (AAWGEC) Partner — Commissioned the State of Black Arizona to publish "The Health and Well-Being of Black Girls and Women in Arizona report".
- Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce Partner — Impact AZ is a signature program of the Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce.
- Arizona Community Foundation Funder — Provided support for the organization's work.
- Arizona Complete Health Funder — Sponsor of the Maternal and Infant Health White Paper Series.
- Arizona State Representative District 24 Partner — Celebrated as a local champion of rare disease for commitment to public policy, awareness, early diagnosis, and access to healthcare.
- Arizona State University Partner — Associate Professor in the School of Social Transformation led efforts to publish Volume III; Director of School of Social Transformation led efforts to publish Volume IV.
- Arizona State University Partner — Does not represent their official stance on opinions expressed in essays.
- Arizona State University Partner — Supported the launch of Volume I and provided support for Volume II and III.
- Arizona State University Foundation Funder — Provided support for the organization's work.
- Biltmore Cardiology Partner — Celebrated as a local champion of rare disease for commitment to public policy, awareness, early diagnosis, and access to healthcare.
- BlueCross BlueShield Arizona Funder — Sponsor of the Maternal and Infant Health White Paper Series.
- Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology (CGEST) Partner — Leadership for the Center led efforts to publish Volume III.
- Center for the Future of Arizona Partner — Collaborated on a custom dashboard using their progress meters.
- City of Tempe Partner — Partnered to coordinate and evaluate the BIPOC Manufacturing Grant Program.
- Dignity Health Funder — Sponsor of the Maternal and Infant Health White Paper Series.
- GPEC Partner — Collaborated to co-release the State of Black Business Report for Arizona.
- Greater Phoenix Economic Council Partner — Featured small businesses in IMPACT Stories.
- Greater Phoenix Urban League Partner — Extended gratitude for making the project a reality and does not represent their official stance on opinions expressed in essays.
- Greater Phoenix Urban League Partner — Extended gratitude for their work on Volume I of "The State of Black Arizona."
- Greater Phoenix Urban League Partner — Supported the launch of Volume I.
- Hustle Phoenix Partner — Served on a committee with the City of Tempe to identify BIPOC-owned manufacturers.
- Local First Arizona Partner — Collaborates on initiatives to support Black entrepreneurs, such as the We Rise Business Accelerator.
- March of Dimes Partner — Collaborates on an awareness campaign focusing on Black Maternal Infant Health in Arizona.
- March of Dimes Partner — Collaborates with March of Dimes by utilizing and localizing their Mom and Baby Action Network Health Equity Framework.
- Maricopa County communities Partner — Works with communities in Maricopa County to advance mission through reports, publications, and leadership initiatives
- Mayo Clinic Partner — Celebrated as a local champion of rare disease for commitment to public policy, awareness, early diagnosis, and access to healthcare.
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