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United Way of Northern Arizona — Recommitting to Positive Youth Development

by Community Contributor • October 5, 2023 • Comments Off

Since United Way of Northern Arizona shifted focus to Stepping Up for Our Youth and Communities, we have successfully rallied around early childhood development with programs like KinderCamp™ and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

This year with our annual campaign theme of United in Purpose – 365 Days a Year, we are recommitting to the goal of also supporting programs and initiatives that promote positive youth development and refocusing our efforts on a comprehensive approach that encompasses our youth from birth through early adulthood.

From the desk of:

Liz Archuleta

President & CEO

At our annual campaign kickoff last week, I had a chance to provide a detailed vision of how United Way of Northern Arizona can support our community and partners to foster opportunities for our youth at all ages. I envision it as a circle where we as a community wrap ourselves around our youth and can step in at any point of a youth’s development and make a difference.

UWNA is focusing its efforts on the mental wellbeing of children, including early childhood development programs, initiatives that support parents, and programs that foster healthy relationships, social/emotional learning, and physical health.

As children grow up, the focus shifts to ensuring that all northern Arizona youth have a sense of well-being and inclusion. This includes building their self-confidence, making sure they feel accepted and respected, fostering a positive peer culture, and connecting them with mentors.

Finally, a successful community will shepherd adolescents into adulthood by helping them become leaders, with a focus on decision making skills, self-management, problem solving, and goal setting.

We would be so grateful to you if you donated to this campaign so we can continue to Step Up for Our Youth at any age and any stage of development today, and 365 days a year.

Thank you so much for your commitment to living United in Purpose!