Rooted in Resilience: Explore Class 4 Visits South Phoenix

Explore Class 4 spent an unforgettable day in South Phoenix, a community rich with history, resilience, and deep-rooted leadership. With transportation generously provided by the Roosevelt School District, our day began at Spaces of Opportunity, where local farmers guided us through a thriving food forest during a scenic hay ride. This oasis in the heart of the city showed us what equity and sustainability look like in action.

From there, we visited the Broadway Family Resource Center to hear from passionate local leaders—Victor Vidales, Darlene Jackson, Matt Steward, and Dr. Dani Portillo—who shared powerful stories of advocacy, empowerment, and unwavering commitment to their neighborhood.

We continued our learning at the Roosevelt School District board room, where we explored educational equity with insights from Jeffrey Zetino of All In Education, Jevin Hodges, and Dr. Portillo. A nourishing lunch from the RSD Wellness Center energized us for an afternoon of cultural and community exploration. At the Girl Scouts Camp at South Mountain, Mary Mitchell welcomed us with stories of leadership development and the importance of safe, empowering spaces for young girls.

Our visit to Sagrado Gallery and the Cihuapactli Collective offered a moving glimpse into art, healing, and Indigenous community work through the voice of Enjolie Lafaurie. We ended the day at South Mountain Community College, where Liz Warren curated a powerful storytelling session with local leaders that helped us reflect on what we learned and how it connects to our own leadership journeys.

Throughout the day, our themes of equity, adaptability, and interconnectedness were brought to life by the people who call South Phoenix home. What resonated most was the overwhelming passion and commitment of the community—a collective determination to preserve culture, uplift youth, and build a thriving future. This experience reminded us that true leadership often starts at the grassroots level, driven by love, pride, and the belief that lasting change is possible when communities lead the way.

Big thank you to all of our South Phoenix partners who made our trip such a success! See all the pictures from our trip on Facebook.