15 minute read
Power Lunch
CARNITAS BANH MI
Carnitas, pickled onions, cilantro straw, jalapeno $15
CARNITAS TAQUITOS
Slow-roasted pork, tomatillo salsa, cilantro slaw, pickled onions, served with salsa verde $18
Erin James is marketing and media manager for Ascend Hospitality Group (www.ascendhg.com), a Black- and female-led, independent restaurant group based in Bellevue, Washington. The restaurant group is a collection of concepts ranging from fine dining to fast casual, and proudly employs more than 600 people in Washington, Oregon, Utah and Arizona. Committed to elevating the communities it serves, AHG invests wholly in both its team members and its guests.
POLLO TINGA TACO
Shredded chicken, sliced jalapeno, cilantro straw, pico, cotija $14
Anoche Cantina Breathes New Life into Mill Ave.
Flavors range from familiar to avant-garde
by Erin James
Highly anticipated restaurant and nightlife concept Anoche Cantina is a perfect example of “right place, right time.” The first Arizona concept for Washington state-based Ascend Hospitality Group, Anoche opened on August 18 in the heart of Tempe’s Mill Ave., when the neighborhood was needing it most.
“We’ve had our eye on Tempe for a while, and when the opportunity arose for us to take prime real estate on Mill Ave., we jumped at the chance,” says Elaina M. Morris, AHG CEO and president. “We couldn’t be more excited to bring what we call the ‘AHG Difference’ to the Valley and join such a thriving community.”
Anoche, meaning “last night” in Spanish, is a modern cantina with an innovative food and beverage program separated into “Loco” and “Classico” categories, along with Arizona’s most Instagram-able, interactive, build-your-own margarita bar. The restaurant consists of 5,000 square feet of indoor/ outdoor dining, with an expansive patio adorned with booths to allow patrons to enjoy the best of Arizona weather. By day, guests savor fresh, Latin-inspired dishes and sip craft cocktails in a sexy atmosphere, and then, after the sun sets, revel in an elevated nightlife experience, backed by top-of-the-line sound, lighting and VIP bottle service.
For AHG — a Black-and female-led, independent restaurant group based in Bellevue, Washington, with other locations in Washington, Oregon, and Utah — Anoche is not only its first concept in Arizona, but its first to be co-created by the company’s director of marketing and brand design, Shelby Elmore.
Anoche’s inventive bill of fare covers a wide variety of flavors, ranging from familiar to avant-garde. Shareables start out the menu with appetizers like Dirty Queso (melty skillet queso, pico de gallo, chorizo), and Crudité & Tajin (carrot, cucumber, jicama, lime, tajin-spiced black bean dip), while the Classico and Loco options shine in the Center of Attention section, which invites guests to select a protein base like Classico Al Pastor or Loco Korean-Style Beef to be served as a choice of tacos, burrito, bowl or salad. Where the culinary team’s creativity shines the brightest is in the Taquitos Loco section, which features flavors like pizza rolls and buffalo chicken, reimagined as craveable taquitos.
Margaritas are the focal point of the drink menu, also as Classico and Loco categories, like the Classico Spicy (jalapenoinfused tequila, lime, triple sec, agave, jalapeno slices) and I Don’t Wanna Grow Up (sour candy-infused tequila, lime, triple sec, simple syrup, pop rocks rim) from the Loco menu. The star of the show, the Build Your Own Margarita bar, allows guests to customize their cocktails, starting with a base of blanco or reposado tequila, mezcal or vodka, then a selection from toppings like dried fruit or sour candies, rim options like tajin or pop rocks, and mix offerings like house or fruity.
At the foundation of Mill Ave.’s resurgence, Anoche is intent on bring an elevated experience to the community, with carefully crafted eats and one-of-a-kind nightlife to breathe new life into the area.
Anoche Cantina
640 S. Mill Ave., Tempe (480) 500-5104 anochecantina.com
FALL 2022 UNITING, STRENGTHENING, AND ADVANCING ARIZONA’S NONPROFIT SECTOR.
ARIZONANONPROFITS.ORG
The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofi ts is an action-oriented group of partners across Arizona — both nonprofi ts and those in the community who support them — dedicated to uniting, strengthening and advancing Arizona’s nonprofi t sector. The Alliance envisions an Arizona where all nonprofi ts are valued, empowered and thriving.
CONTENTS
2 Combining Nonprofi t
Organizations Provides
Additional Strength and
Cohesion
5 New Director of Rural
Programs Focuses on
Numerous Goals
Nonprofi ts and Grantmakers Unite for Greater Good
Three years ago, I delivered a keynote message to hundreds of nonprofi t professionals at our annual ENGAGE Nonprofi t Conference in Phoenix about the importance of nonprofi ts having a “seat at the table” on issues impacting Arizona. In fact, we decided together that it isn’t enough to have a seat at the table. We dreamed of building a new table where everyone has equal voice in creating solutions to serve and include all Arizonans. That very day, we started to envision with excitement what that could look like and what it might mean for our sector and those we served.
Then in 2020, our world changed, creating extreme hardships for nonprofi ts and the people who rely on us for critical services and resources. It changed the way we interacted with the world and created feelings of isolation and even hopelessness. At the same time, this crisis created huge opportunities for change. I heard grantmakers and corporate partners stepping up to the plate asking me, “What do nonprofi ts need most right now?” I witnessed grantmakers and nonprofi ts forming distribution networks to get critical supplies to organizations and communities in need. Grant applications were simplifi ed. More and more grants were unrestricted. In a time of uncertainty and heartache, it was a remarkable example of what is possible when we come together, break out of normal patterns, and focus on needed outcomes.
It was in this beautiful mess that something magical started to happen. The Alliance and Arizona Grantmakers Forum board members began courageous conversations about how to permanently break down the walls between the nonprofi t and grantmaking sectors. We dreamed about what Arizona might look like if the relationships between grantmakers and nonprofi ts became transformational, rather than simply transactional. We committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility in new and deeper ways. We hosted retreats and invited our members to step into each other’s shoes. Nonprofi t leaders learned what it feels like to be a grantmaker struggling to meet demands with limited dollars. Grantmakers understood more deeply what it’s like to fi ll out applications late into the night, hoping at least one will turn into a yes. We realized just how much we have in common.
Then, on August 1, we took a bold, almost unprecedented step
Kristen Merrifi eld, CAE, CNAP
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 toward actually building that new table. We MERGED, so that nonprofi ts and grantmakers can work together to solve complex community problems — not only as grantor and grantee, but as equal partners, sitting alongside each other at our expanding table.
But our work has just begun. As Henry David Thoreau said, “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.” It is the passion within us all that will continue to drive us forward. Over the next year, a new name and a new strategic plan is coming. We will be exploring what our membership models, member benefi ts, programs and advocacy agenda should look like. This new organization will depend on the strength of our relationships, the expansiveness of our vision, and the depth of our willingness to work together. We invite you to come along with us as we create the Arizona we all want and are proud to call home.
Combining Nonprofi t Organizations Provides Additional Strength and Cohesion
by Alliance of Arizona Nonprofi ts The nonprofi t sector is not immune to mergers and acquisitions. And, more often than not, the nonprofi t sector is seeing this occur when organizations envision a stronger, cohesive voice and improved outcomes by bringing existing organizations together.
Arizona continues to see more organizations fi nding this to be true, including the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofi ts and Arizona Grantmakers Forum, who just announced their merger on August 1. Many other organizations are fi nding themselves in new types of partnership, too.
Education Forward Arizona is one of those recent success stories.
Public opinion polls have indicated for several years that education is the top priority for the citizens of Arizona, and yet Arizonans haven’t always agreed on how to achieve the quality education system they say they
want. Despite the collective urgency for meaningful education improvement, Arizonans have tolerated an education system that has underperformed — one that has denied educational, and thus economic, opportunity to many of our citizens. That has, in turn, hampered our state’s growth and has tarnished our reputation.
Frustrated with the pace of change and with an often fractured and inadequate response to education improvement, community leaders came together for 15 months — during the pandemic — to outline the strategic direction of a more robust education advocacy organization. That community planning process was supported by Arizona Community Foundation, Helios Education Foundation and Pharos Foundation.
During that period, three entities — Achieve60AZ, College Success Arizona and Expect More Arizona — came together to outline how to bring the best parts of each of their organizations together in ways that could lead to greater impact and effi ciency.
Putting their own brands aside, they created a new, more robust organization. By pooling their resources and combining teams, funders and Boards, Education Forward Arizona emerged in August of 2021 to address collective community aspirations to: • Create a cohesive case for education and how it benefi ts all
Arizonans, • Align knowledge and interests to create more effective approaches and increase accountability, and • Build public and political will for dramatic education improvement.
Under the leadership of President and CEO Rich Nickel, this new organization aims to change the way people think about and support education as the key to improving the economy and the quality of life in Arizona.
“The launch of Education Forward Arizona was a turning point for education in our state,” said Vince Roig, chair of Education Forward Arizona’s board of directors. “Education and the economy are inextricably linked. To get where we want to go, we need every student to thrive. As a state, we must prioritize supporting our underserved students.”
With support from more than 50 partners from across the state from the education, business, philanthropic, community and nonprofi t communities, Education Forward Arizona’s launch demonstrated how the organization sees its mission being achieved — with all sectors and stakeholders working together to build the public and political will needed to support educational improvements.
In its fi rst year, Education Forward Arizona has been successful in advocating for education policies that advance education equity, as well as growing its programs serving primarily low-income and fi rst-generation students to help them reach and complete a postsecondary education.
Highlights from Education Forward Arizona’s fi rst year along with a look ahead to what’s next for the organization can be found at EducationForwardArizona.org.
Education Forward Arizona is a nonprofi t organization created to change the way people think about and support education as the key driver to improving the economy and quality of life in Arizona. The organization’s work includes providing scholarships and innovative programs to students and advocating for policies and funding that move the Achieve60AZ postsecondary attainment goal and other Arizona Education Progress Meter goals forward. Learn more at EducationForwardArizona.org.
by Laurie Liles The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofi ts and Arizona Grantmakers Forum’s merger unlocks unlimited possibilities for nonprofi t and philanthropic leaders to explore solutions to some of our state’s most pressing challenges.
That kind of problem solving calls for the creativity, scrappiness and innovation nonprofi ts and philanthropy are known for. And it often requires cross-sector collaboration and partnerships with policymakers — the magic that happens when like-minded leaders align around public policy and systems change.
Members of the Alliance and Arizona Grantmakers Forum boards of directors recognized early in our merger talks that nonprofi ts and grantmakers can be a force for positive change when we team up to advocate for the people we serve. Problem solvers by nature, our sector’s leaders have real-world experience grappling with challenges in their communities.
They come to the table equipped with pragmatic, time-tested approaches that can be scaled for greater impact.
Public policy has long been a priority for both the Alliance and Arizona Grantmakers Forum, and we’ve partnered successfully to pass legislation that strengthens the sector. We’ve worked together in recent years to pass federal and state laws that incentivize charitable giving. And we’ve aligned around policies that contribute to a sound economy and promote economic well-being and quality of life for everyone in our state.
But before our merger, neither organization had a team member specifi cally dedicated to leading public policy and advocacy. Joining forces enables our new organization to make collective impact advocacy — advocacy on behalf of the entire nonprofi t and philanthropic sector — a central strategic focus.
That’s never been more vital, as nonprofi ts continue to face unprecedented challenges, from workforce shortages to ever-increasing demand for their services.
That’s why I’m honored to serve in the newly created role of chief public policy offi cer in the merged organization, where I’ll focus on advocacy on behalf of the entire sector while continuing to lead and support our grantmaking members as vice president of Arizona Grantmakers Forum.
Alliance CEO Kristen Merrifi eld and I are excited to realize the vision we began casting more than two years ago. Even back then — when our merger was a twinkle in our eyes — we were dreaming big about what our members could accomplish when they speak with one voice.
We’re eager to strengthen relationships with policymakers and partner with them to address Arizona’s challenges. Behind the scenes, we’re asking our nonprofi t and philanthropic members to identify the top issues where we can make a difference and brainstorm potential solutions.
There’s so much good we can do when we join forces. As change agents — and advocates — we’re stronger together. We can’t wait to get started.
BOARD CHAIR Torrie Taj, Child Crisis Arizona
CO-VICE CHAIR Yvonne Moss. Make a Wish
Foundation of America
CO-VICE CHAIR Wendy Erica Werden
Tucson Electric Power/Unisource Energy
CO-TREASURER Mario Aniles, Aniles & Company
CO-TREASURER Matt Ellsworth, Flinn Foundation
SECRETARY Kate Thoene, New Life Center
BOARD MEMBERS
Len Gutman, Jewish Family & Children’s Service
Penny Allee Taylor, Consultant
Annie Clary, Yuma Family YMCA
Mesha Davis, Arizona Foundation for Women
Maria Echeveste, Bank of America
Kate Jensen, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona
Jared Langkilde, HonorHealth Foundation
Myriah Mhoon, New Life Center
Monica Nuvamsa, The Hopi Foundation
Jeri Royce, Esperanca
Patti Stoner, HR Strategies AZ
Glenn Wike, Arizona Community Foundation
Eric Wolverton, Habitat for Humanity Northern Arizona
Liz Barker Alvarez, First Things First
John Amoroso, The David & Lura Lovell Foundation
Margaret Hepburnm Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona
Terry Hines, The Hopi Foundation
Marcus Johnson, Vitalyst Health Foundation
Andrea Moreno, Salt River Project
Alliance of Arizona Nonprofi ts
333 E Osborn Rd #245 Phoenix, AZ 85012 Phone: (602) 279-2966 www.ArizonaNonprofi ts.org
New Director of Rural Programs Focuses on Numerous Goals
Angelica Hernandez-Williams is our new director of Rural Programs. She has a background in nonprofi t management and workforce training specializing in rural communities. She has a passion for elevating the heart of nonprofi ts in the many rural communities throughout Arizona. Here is a highlight of the areas she will working on in her role.
Since 2010, the Alliance has held an AmeriCorps VISTA grant. HernandezWilliams will become the new program director and continue to help servant leaders reduce poverty in rural Arizona. Our current grant has capacity for 16 VISTA Members and one VISTA Leader.
Hernandez-Williams is a co-host with the director of Marketing and Events on the Illuminate AZ Nonprofi t Podcast. She helps coordinate guests, develop questions and build exposure throughout Arizona. This is another opportunity to raise the voices of nonprofi ts and consultants for nonprofi ts throughout Arizona. This is done in partnership with the entire marketing department.
Growing the capacity of rural nonprofi ts is a priority of this role. Ensuring rural nonprofi ts have a main point of contact, know they can receive assistance from the Alliance, and increasing attendance in trainings are key pillars that this position is aiming to establish.
With a grant award from Coors Light Líderes, Hernandez-Williams
ALLIANCE OF ARIZONA NONPROFITS STAFF
Kristen Merrifi eld CEO
Colleen Holman Executive Assistant to the CEO
Laurie Liles Chief Public Policy Offi cer, AAzNP; Vice President, Arizona Grantmakers Forum
Erin Owen Director of Member Engagement & Education, Arizona Grantmakers Forum Lisa Hodge Finance & Operations Manager, AAzNP Lilly Gonzalez Communications & Operations Manager, Arizona Grantmakers Forum
Jennifer Purcell Senior Vice President & Director of Development, AAzN
Natasha Lopez-Rodriguez Director of Community Engagement, AAzNP Angela Palmer Director of Events & Marketing, AAzNP is partnering with our director of Community Engagement to build a Latino group focused on increasing leadership diversity within the nonprofi t sector. Arizona United Latinos Nonprofi t Council (AZUL) is kicking off in October.
Corina Yeh-Hilliard Events & Marketing Manager, AAzNP Maria Mejia Digital Marketing & Communications Manager, AAzNP
Jennifer Blair, Director of Membership, AAzNP Robyn Reyff, Membership Manager, AAzNP Angelica Hernandez-Williams Director of Rural Programs, AAzNP Kate Norman VISTA Leader, AAzNP
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