Watch our conversation with Sam Gomez, Executive Director of The Sagrado Galleria, as part of VL’s National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight. Sam shares the inspiration behind The Sagrado, the only community arts organization and gallery in South Phoenix, and how art and design serve as tools for cultural identity, equity, and community resilience.
Explore Class 4 wrapped up their statewide leadership journey with a day of deep reflection, creative expression through zine-making, and a celebration of connection, growth, and purpose-driven leadership across Arizona. Read more about their final Reflection Day and graduation celebration.
Explore Class 4 embarked on a transformative three-day journey through the Navajo Nation, learning from Indigenous leaders driving cultural preservation, economic sovereignty, and environmental justice. From off-grid education at the STAR School to groundbreaking initiatives like Light Up Navajo, the experience highlighted the power of leadership rooted in tradition, resilience, and innovation.
This was the first Explore cohort to visit the Gila River Indian Community. The day offered a powerful experience of cultural learning, environmental innovation, and deep connection. From the Solar Over Canal project to the Huhugam Heritage Center, each moment highlighted leadership rooted in tradition, resilience, and stewardship.
Explore Class 4 spent the day in Downtown Mesa learning how local leaders are honoring the city’s history while building a more inclusive, creative, and equitable future. From community-led development to arts-driven revitalization, each stop showcased the power of place-based leadership and innovation.
Explore Class 4 visited Buckeye to learn how the city is navigating rapid growth while striving to preserve its heritage and community values. From historical insights to planning for future infrastructure and sustainability, the day highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of intentional development.
Explore Class 4 participants spent the day immersed in the resilience and rich leadership of South Phoenix, learning from local leaders shaping their community. From food justice to cultural preservation, each stop highlighted the power of grassroots leadership and collective action.
Learn about Explore Class 4’s journey to Nogales, AZ & Sonora, discovering cross-border collaboration, cultural richness, economic insights, and humanitarian realities that exemplify equity, adaptability, and interconnectedness.
Explore Class 4’s first trip was to Yuma and San Luis, an area known as the “Winter Salad Bowl Capital.” This trip was such an incredible way to start the program, as our partners are consistently supportive and the experience runs smoothly while being informative and fun! Learn more about all the places we stopped in our latest blog post.
The first Explore program day is always a joyful and fun experience, bringing together the cohort for the first time, learning about Arizona’s history and water, and engaging in some nontraditional team-building experiences while learning more details about what to expect throughout the program. Read more about Class 4.
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Applications for Explore Class 5 are now open! If you’re looking to get to know the great diversity of our state and learn how our most pressing issues show up in different communities, we encourage you to apply today.