As we prepare for our Annual Meeting and Community Impact Breakfast next month, I’ve been reflecting on what we accomplished together in 2025, and I have to say that the stories and statistics coming across my desk have genuinely moved me.
Because of you — your generosity, your trust, your belief in our region’s children — United Way of Northern Arizona spent the past year stepping up for youth in ways that will shape this community for years to come.
Let me share a few highlights:
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
COCONINO COUNTY — We imagine a world where every person lives in peace and is supported by a thriving, resilient community.
The purpose of CCC&Y is bold and your help is needed.
When you become a member of CCC&Y, your financial contribution helps cultivate and strengthen well-informed communities by providing education and resources, bringing stakeholders together, building new systems of communication and more.
Each week, the Coalition produces a weekly newsletter where we share partner news and events in our blog section and links to community resource meetings.
For families in Northern Arizona, we share information on variety of family-friendly events throughout the county, recent and upcoming information through our stories and photographs to food security, education, health and other programs. We also share links to a variety of resource guides in Northern Arizona.
READ MORE
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon National Park will welcome visitors back to the North Rim for the 2026 summer season beginning at 6 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026.
All paved roadways within the park will reopen, including Highway 67, Cape Royal, and Point Imperial Roads. These scenic drives provide access to many of the North Rim’s iconic viewpoints, including Point Imperial, Cape Royal, Roosevelt Point, Walhalla Overlook, and Angels Window. Vehicles over 22 feet in total length are not permitted on the Cape Royal and Point Imperial Roads due to tight turns, limited parking, and narrow roadway conditions.
Every spring, Health Careers Week at the College of Health and Human Services lets students explore the multitude of health degrees NAU offers—and the many roads they lead to. In celebration of Health Careers Week, four inspiring CHHS alumni shared what they wanted to be when they grew up and how those interests evolved into unique, high-impact careers in the health sector thanks to NAU.
FLAGSTAFF — Denova Collaborative Health, Arizona’s largest outpatient behavioral health provider, is expanding access to behavioral health and primary care services in Northern Arizona with the opening of a new clinic in Flagstaff. The clinic, located at 555 W. Forest Meadows St., Suite 18, is already open to patients and will soon celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce.
The new 1,818-square-foot clinic offers both in-person and virtual care, providing psychiatric services, therapy and primary care in a coordinated setting designed to improve access to timely healthcare for residents of Flagstaff and surrounding communities.
2026 OIE Annual Summit
September 8-10, 2026
Registration is now open!
Interested in presenting? Call for session proposals are now open! We hope to see you there! Visit website to learn more.
Vendor and Exhibitor applications now open – visit website to apply 2026 OIE Annual Summit | Arizona Department of Education
FLAGSTAFF — The Guadalupanas of Our Lady of Guadalupe are seeking advertising sponsors for 100th Anniversary Celebration keepsake “Centennial Magazine” to be produced by the Arizona Daily Sun.
The celebration, to be held beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 16 at the chapel, 224 Kendrick Ave., Flagstaff, supports the preservation of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel.
FLAGSTAFF — Thousands of local residents and visitors are expected to take part in the national NO KINGS III protest from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026 at the Flagstaff City Hall, 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff.
Some past events at the Flagstaff City Hall have exceeded more than 4,000 protesters.The event is being organized nationally by Indivisible and supported locally by Indivisible Northern Arizona.
“There are 3267 events worldwide, 78 of which are in Arizona!,”Indivisible Northern Arizona reported Friday.
Some other Arizona cities that have already scheduled events include Anthem, Casa Grande, Chandler, Cottonwood, Goodyear, Maricopa, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sedona, Show Low and Tempe, according to the national protest map created by Indivisible.
Friday, March 20
Arvel Bird with Wild World Fiddle
Charly’s Pub & Grill
A unique Celtic Fusion concert featuring Arvel Bird and Wild World Irish Fiddle, blending soaring Native and Scottish-inspired violin with Irish and Latin-rooted fiddle and guitar in a high-energy, rhythm-driven live experience.
7 p.m.
Inner Canyon Update: Week of March 16
This week, an Extreme Heat Warning is in effect through Sunday below 4,000 feet, including Phantom Ranch. Visitors are advised to avoid strenuous hiking during the hottest part of the day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.), and to drink plenty of water and eat regularly.
As of Thursday morning, drinking water is now ON at 1½-Mile and 3-Mile Resthouses along the Bright Angel Trail. Many thanks to the Water Utilities team for their hard work in restoring these critical water sources during extreme conditions. You can find the latest updates on water availability across the rim and inner canyon on the park’s Key Hiking Messages webpage.
The story of the farmworker movement did not begin with monuments, school names, or holidays. It began in the fields, in the dust, the heat, and the long days of exhausting labor endured by men and women whose work fed this country even as their humanity was too often ignored. It was built by Filipino and Mexican farmworkers in Delano who came together in common cause, by families who sacrificed paychecks and security, by organizers who turned a local strike into a national boycott, and by workers whose courage helped win contracts and lay the foundation for legal protections for collective bargaining and the right to organize.
Following the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires, which devastated more than 200,000 acres on the Kaibab Plateau, Coconino County hired AC Disaster Consulting to develop a long-term recovery plan for small businesses, community stakeholders and residents impacted. The process included nine public listening sessions held across Coconino County in December and a community survey that helped shape the final plan.
FLAGSTAFF — The Downtown Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library window replacement project is set to begin on March 23. Interruptions to library operations will be kept as minimal as possible and the library will remain open during construction.
There may be changes to some scheduled programs while the community room, youth services, and adult services areas are under construction. For those who are sensitive to dust or noise, the East Flagstaff Community Library will remain open during this time and holds from the Downtown location can be sent there for pick up.
Registered voters in the City of Flagstaff will be asked to vote on whether to ratify or not ratify the Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045 in a special election held on May 19, 2026. The special election will be a vote-by-mail only election. There will be no polling places on election day.
Did your household receive this card in the mail? If so, a member of your household is registered to vote in the May special election.
Connecting the classroom to the field
Students in the NAU Global Health Field School program traveled to Peru and Malawi to put their coursework to use real-world settings and work on public health interventions aimed at addressing health disparities in underserved communities. The goal was to provide an immersive academic program that prepares students to understand global health systems and connect with patients in unfamiliar environments
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
The year is 3035, and humanity has been given one last chance to start anew on one of Jupiter’s moons. Champions from different disciplines will argue that their area of study is the most indispensable for Europa’s new civilization. You choose who survives. The Great Survival Debate is back at NAU, bringing together knowledge, craft and talent for a night of fun and mischief.
Next weekend, the stage will come alive with imagination, music, and the joyful energy of young performers as Theatrikos Theatre Company’s Education Department presents its newest TheatriKids and Stage Buddies production, Seussical Jr.
This year’s production will be performed at Coconino High School, marking an exciting partnership between Theatrikos and the school. The collaboration provides young performers the opportunity to perform on a larger stage while strengthening the connection between local arts organizations and the educational community.
Reading-action Group: Mass Surveillance & Data Collection
Starts March 31st
Reading-action Group: Octavia Butler’s
Parable of the Sower
“The book everyone should read now…”
Starts April 4th
Recently, more than 100 ninth graders from Blue Ridge, Coconino, and Flagstaff High Schools walked into the du Bois Center at Northern Arizona University and emerged knowing something truly special: that leadership isn’t a title, a trophy, or a spot on the student council.
It’s a mindset – and it belongs to all of them.
That was the heart of our very first Youth Experiencing Success (YES!) Leadership Summit, and I couldn’t be more proud of what our team and partners created together.
100 Years of Interpretation at Grand Canyon National Park On March 6, 1926, the first issue of Grand Canyon Nature Notes was published, marking the beginning of NPS interpretation at Grand Canyon National Park. The bulletin was created by…
Art Classes and Workshops
at Sedona Arts Center …and Online!
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
2026 Ramada Reservations
for the Summer Season
Ramada reservations for the 2026 summer season began on March 2. Ramadas are great for your events like school graduations, birthday parties, and celebrations of life.
Reserve online.
Fabulous Friday & Florals
with Elizabeth St Hillaire
April 14–16, 2026, Tuesday — Thursday
Be inspired by beloved Mexican painter Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón aka Frida! You do NOT need to know how to draw faces, I will teach you a photographic transfer technique that works like magic in order to start with a good proportional likeness.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
Registration is open for community partners to table at the Flagstaff Early Childhood Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026 at W. F. Killip Elementary School.
In celebration of the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s “Week of the Young Child,” https://www.azaeyc.org/connect/woyc/, we invite you to participate in the fair.
Please click here to complete this application to participate as a vendor. Each vendor must provide an interactive activity related to S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). Vendors set up at 8:30 a.m.
Applications are due by 03/30/26. You may direct any questions to kfarretta@azhs.gov We look forward to your participation in this community event.
Thank you to W. F. Killip Elementary School for hosting this free event for community partners to share resources and families to attend.
READ MORE
FLAGSTAFF — The League of American Bicyclists has honored the efforts of Flagstaff to build better places for people to bike with a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award. The award recognizes Flagstaff for its commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit residents of all ages and abilities while encouraging a variety of transportation choices.
Data centers house the computer servers that run our increasingly digitized world. These centers can be stand alone facilities or portions of a building used to house computer systems, servers, networking equipment, and other infrastructure used for the storage, processing, management, or distribution of digital data. The construction of data centers is on the rise across the US.
The City of Flagstaff will be discussing proposed changes to the zoning code for data centers starting this week. The first meeting will be a work session with the Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday, March 11 at 4:00. This meeting will be the start of a discussion and the city would like to hear from the public as well as commissioners.
The Flagstaff Festival of Science is still accepting applications until Monday at midnight.
The Program Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing all programmatic components of the Flagstaff Festival of Science’s annual 10-day science festival and related initiatives. …
This opportunity closes March 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Thursday-Wednesday, March 5-11
Call of the Colorado Plateau
Museum of Northern Arizona
Explore the profound impact of nature on the human spirit in this multisensory exhibition. 10 am.
New Podcast Episode Highlights North Kaibab Trail Recovery and the Work Ahead
A new podcast episode of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show was released this week featuring Trails Supervisor Adam Gibson, offering an in-depth look at the condition of the North Kaibab Trail following the Dragon Bravo Fire and outlining what recovery efforts may look like through 2026 and beyond.
Upcoming Classes Writing and Renewal Wednesday, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 1:30 to 3 p.m. Through writing prompts, the group will reflect, renew, share stories, and enhance their creativity. Seasoned and beginning writers alike are welcome! Writing – Learn…
March is a wonderful time to reconnect with the Colorado Plateau, and I invite you to visit the Museum to experience two of our latest exhibitions.
Call of the Colorado Plateau summons us to slow down and engage all our senses through art, sound, and scent. The exhibit shares the stories of writers, artists, and explorers who have been shaped by this expansive, remarkable landscape and ultimately invites us back outdoors to see the land not as a backdrop, but as a living presence.
Please join United Way of Northern Arizona on Thursday, April 30th as we celebrate a year of impact and achievement and the many things we have done – together – to ensure that all can thrive in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.
This past year saw the 20th anniversary of KinderCamp™ and a major expansion of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. It marked the launch of a teen center for the northeast and a region-wide youth leadership summit.
Engineering Camps are now open for registration in collaboration with the Northern Arizona University College of Engineering! These camps are designed for current middle school students and run Monday-Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. No experience is required, and each camp is $290. Students can choose from exciting topics like Robotics and Video Design or Civil & Environmental Engineering and Semiconductors & Microelectronics.
Indigenous STEM Project
Registration is now open for the OIE Indigenous STEM Project (ISP)! All events are free! Registration is required.
FLAGSTAFF — Dive into the rich and diverse stories of the Latino communities — Mexican, Basque, Spanish, Chicano — that have shaped the vibrant tapestry of Flagstaff. This interactive course offers a dynamic introduction to the people, traditions, industries, and historic sites that have played a vital role in the city’s development.
From prominent families and community celebrations to hidden histories and cultural legacies, you’ll uncover the often-overlooked contributions that continue to define the beauty, strength, and spirit of Flagstaff. Whether you’re new to the area or a lifelong resident, this journey through local heritage will deepen your connection to the city and its multicultural roots.
Across Arizona, public educators know how to help their students succeed, but they often think they can’t make meaningful change without permission from the state. Permission Granted, a new tool co-developed by NAU’s Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy, aims to show schools there’s more flexibility than they think—and they can use it to their advantage to adjust bell schedules, launch career-readiness initiatives and more.
Art Classes and Workshops
at Sedona Arts Center …and Online!
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
COCONINO COUNTY — Please join CCC&Y for its
next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 5. Our next guest speaker will be Brandy Stuhan, Coconino County Youth Behavioral Health Center Clinical Director.
Our meetings provide our coalition partners with the opportunity to share the latest news about their projects that support children, youth and their families in Northern Arizona.
The Council meets the first Thursday of the month.
Want to be a guest speaker at our next meeting? Send an email to CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie at coalition@coconinokids.org to be placed on the agenda or to receive a Zoom link to our next meeting.
READ MORE
The Flagstaff Festival of Science proudly announces its 2026 theme, “Driven by Curiosity,” celebrating the exploration and innovation that propel discovery and shape our world. The 10-day festival will run September 25 – October 4, 2026, bringing together scientists, educators, students, and lifelong learners for engaging programs across Flagstaff and beyond.
The Festival will open on September 25 with the W. L. Gore & Associates Keynote Presentation in NAU’s Ardrey Auditorium by technology leader Kirk Dunsavage, whose talk explores the intersection of science, engineering, and the human spirit of exploration.
March 7-28, 2026
Youth Arts Exhibition Opening Reception March 7, 4-8 pm
Youth Talent Showcase CCA Theater March 7, 5-7 pm
This year’s exhibition features a record number of 510 pieces by over 300 regional youth artists!!
Coconino Center for the Arts’ 2026 Youth Arts Exhibition invites local youth artists from Coconino County and the regional community to exhibit their recent artwork at CCA. The exhibition is open to and inclusive of all artwork submissions by youth artists, Pre-K to 12th grade, that reflect the theme From Ordinary to Extraordinary.
From first cue to final bow, Jacks take the lead
Students in NAU’s theater program don’t just perform—they also produce. Every theater production runs entirely on student power, with Lumberjacks stepping into the spotlight, building sets, programming lights, mixing sound, patching costumes, promoting shows and managing the chaos. It’s all about teamwork, community and hands-on learning.
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget proudly recognizes these exceptional teachers for their passion, innovation and unwavering commitment to students and their communities.
The winners will be revealed at the 13th Annual Coconino County Teacher of the Year Awards on Thursday, April 9 at 5 p.m. at the High Country Conference Center in Flagstaff — an evening dedicated to celebrating the educators who make a lasting difference in the lives of Coconino County students.
Friday-Sunday, Feb. 28-March 1
The Dumbwaiter and Los Vendidos
The Studio Theater
The one act play highlights the use of fear and a sense of unease to create humor. Various times.
Learn More
VIDEO: The canoe bug hypothesis
Jut Wynne, assistant research professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, set sail on a 1,700-nautical-mile voyage across the South Pacific in search of new species of invertebrates that could help timestamp the movements of early Polynesians across the islands. Watch his journey and find out what he discovered.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
COCONINO COUNTY — While summer seems far away, it’s time for families to start checking out potential summer camp programs in Coconino County.
The following is a listing compiled by CCC&Y. Contact individual programs for more information on their 2026 summer camps.
Please check with individual organizations to confirm times, dates, other information. Please visit the links below to see if registration is still available. Registration deadlines may have already passed for some programs.
If your organization would like to be added to this listing, please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org
READ MORE
Art Classes and Workshops
at Sedona Arts Center …and Online!
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
Get ready to set the stage for an unforgettable summer! Theatrikos Education is thrilled to announce our 2026 Summer Camp season, a vibrant lineup designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and foster lifelong friendships. From the magic of fairytale storytelling and the high energy of Broadway hits to the technical artistry of makeup and puppetry, there is a spotlight waiting for every young performer in Flagstaff. Whether your student is a seasoned regular or stepping onto the stage for the first time, join us for a season of growth, collaboration, and theatrical wonder!
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Effective immediately, Grand Canyon National Park is implementing water conservation measures on the South Rim following a power outage that impacted the SCADA system at the Havasupai Gardens pumphouse. As a result, water is currently unable to be pumped to the South Rim.
All park residents and visitors are required to conserve and reduce water usage wherever possible in homes, hotel rooms and campgrounds.
Water conservation measures include:
FLAGSTAFF — Community members and organizations are being asked to rally to support local cultural icon — Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff.
The organization has launched a fundraising campaign after it reported it may lose more than $13,000 in funds due to the bankruptcy of the Oakland-based fundraising platform Flipcause Inc.
“Storms don’t break real teams. They reveal them,” the Ballet Folklorico reported on its Facebook page.
“We want to be real with you all about where we are right now.”
Flipcause has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations owed more than $29 million.
Also see:
• State of California Dept. of Justice — Funds Being Held by Flipcause? You Are Not Alone: Attorney General Bonta Announces Guidance for Affected Nonprofit Organizations
• Oakland Voices — Flipcause files bankruptcy, owing $29 million to nonprofits across country
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. “Flag Happs” is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights of the week.
VIDEO: Run like a girl
Looking to swing your axe of service this year? Local nonprofit organization Girls on the Run is looking for coaches who can help teach perseverance, inner and outer strength and the joy of physical activity to girls in third through eighth grade. Watch a video to learn more about Girls on the Run, then visit NAU’s Axe of Service website to get involved.
Winter Weather Update for Residents and Employees
Hello, winter! Yesterday’s winter storm brought 3-4 inches of fresh snow to the South Rim. As of this afternoon,Desert View Drive remains closed due to icy road conditions and is likely to remain closed for the remainder of the day on Feb. 19 due to incoming predicted snowfall. As of this morning, admin travel for Desert View Drive has been lifted—however, roads remain icy and snow-packed. For the latest road status updates, call the park roads line at 928-638-7496.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
COCONINO COUNTY — We imagine a world where every person lives in peace and is supported by a thriving, resilient community.
The purpose of CCC&Y is bold and your help is needed.
When you become a member of CCC&Y, your financial contribution helps cultivate and strengthen well-informed communities by providing education and resources, bringing stakeholders together, building new systems of communication and more.
Each week, the Coalition produces a weekly newsletter where we share partner news and events in our blog section and links to community resource meetings.
READ MORE
Join us for a night of celebration, reflection, and school-spirit–level pride as we honor the individuals and organizations who have helped shape our community and move it forward. Think: a reunion with purpose, a celebration of growth, and a reminder of just how far we’ve come—together.
