I recently had the honor of being a guest on the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce's radio show Bizz Buzz to talk about the United Way of Northern Arizona and our efforts to step up for our youth.

UWNA has been a proud Chamber member for many years. It was wonderful talking with Chamber President & CEO Julie Pastrick and sharing with her audience how we are expanding our efforts in positive youth development.

As I shared with Julie during the interview, those efforts have three distinct areas of focus:



• Leadership development. We want to ensure that our youth gain the fundamental decision-making and problem-solving skills they need to succeed, plus have access to opportunities so they can put those skills into practice.
• Sense of belonging and inclusion. We want to make sure our youth know they are seen, appreciated, and respected, which will allow them to build strong connections with their cultures and community.
• Mental wellbeing. An emerging concern before the profound disruptions of COVID-19, the mental health and development of our youth is at a critical juncture as we emerge from the pandemic.

Many thanks to the Chamber for providing this opportunity to talk about how our community needs to be United in Purpose to ensure the best future for the next generation of northern Arizona residents.