Southern Arizona Power Summit:
June 2026
- Friday, June 5th from 9:00am – 3:00pm
- Saturday, June 6th from 9:00am – 12:30pm
- Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona: 3003 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson, AZ 85713
The Elevating Voices Southern Arizona Power Summit is a 2-day advocacy summit designed for neighbors by neighbors with lived experience. The summit is aimed at sparking meaningful action by creating a clear pathway to begin and sustain participants’ leadership and advocacy journey.
OUR GOAL for the Elevating Voices Power Summit is to build the policy and advocacy capacity of the Southern Arizona region. Through meaningful conversations, relational practices, and advocacy strategies, we aim to inspire long-term systems change through civic participation and ensure those most impacted by hunger are at the center of shaping solutions.
During our In-Person Summit, we aim to:
Build Capacity.
We will equip neighbor advocates with leadership skills through intentional trainings that strengthen their confidence and effectiveness. We will also uplift participants to harness their existing knowledge, skills, and lived experiences to respond to and advocate for the root causes of issues in their communities.
Build Community.
We will create a space shaped by neighbors, for neighbors, where people can navigate advocacy rooted in lived experience. We will foster relationships and trust among neighbors, community partners, and decision-makers to support long-term collaboration. This summit is not a one-time event, but a meaningful step in a longer journey to grow collective momentum.
Build Power.
We will support neighbor advocates in confidently engaging with policy and lawmakers by providing practical tools and opportunities to uplift their voices and stories; voices that are too often missing from decision-making tables.
Build Your Knowledge in:
- Introduction of the policy and advocacy landscape
- Learn about state level food policy and advocacy
- What advocacy looks like in practice
- Engaging in social leadership and relationship skills
- Power mapping – Learn who are the key players, experts, and decision-makers in food policy
- Storytelling – Learn about how sharing your story can be powerful and help shape policy
- Exploring community-based solutions with other participants
- Identify opportunities for collaboration and shared issues with other participants
Registration Details
If you are interested in attending, please apply below! Due to the intentional nature of this Power Summit and to maximize opportunities for engagement and participation, we are selecting 35-40 community members.
We are prioritizing participants with lived experience to help navigate the unique perspective of advocating from lived experience, as well as those who are interested in and ready to engage in advocacy efforts. This includes individuals with lived or living experience of food insecurity, SNAP beneficiaries, people experiencing homelessness, and community members working directly on food security and food systems. No prior advocacy experience is required.
In an effort to ensure the full participation of community members and eliminate financial barriers, we are pleased to offer a $400 stipend to participants selected to attend the two-day Elevating Voices Power Summit, as well as cover any travel and lodging costs for participants selected who are traveling from outside of Tucson.
Food and refreshments will be provided for the 2-day event.
All applications will be reviewed by the Neighborhood Advisory Council.
See Our FAQs
More Questions?
Email Claudio Rodriguez: crodriguez@communityfoodbank.org
or Elizabeth Pena: epena@communityfoodbank.org
Meet Our Neighborhood Advisory Council.
Our Council brings together community members to share perspectives, build connections, and help inform the Community Food Bank’s work.
Amy
(she/her) was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. In high school, she discovered the Community Food Bank’s Sowing Remedies program two years ago, stayed involved, and now often returns to participate in the food bank’s events and programs. She is currently attending Pima Community College, majoring in psychology. Amy aims to leave a positive impact on the world by connecting with people and is eager to find solutions to community-based issues.
Francisca
(she/her) has been a community leader for over 15 years in South Tucson. She works to serve and connect families with resources and programs through various agencies based on their needs. Being a community leader has greatly contributed to her personal growth. Knowing that at least one family has benefited from her support is the greatest reward and continues to motivate her to make a difference in her community.
Josh
(he/him) is a native Tucsonan with firsthand experience of food insecurity and how it affects many other aspects of life. He has been married to his wife Tiffany for 30 years and has one son. Since retiring from a career in IT, he has focused on giving back to the community through volunteer work and advocacy.
Miriam
(she/her) was born and raised in Puebla, Mexico. She has lived in Tucson, Arizona, for 23 years and graduated from Pima Community College with a degree in social work in May 2025. She is also a therapist specializing in transgenerational biodescodification. Miriam is passionate about participating in educational projects and seeking solutions that promote the community’s well-being and development.
Suzanne
(she/her) currently works for Arivaca Human Resource (AHR), which she joined in February 2023, and has established a strong record of creating meaningful change in rural Arizona communities. Rooted in the village of Arivaca, Suzanne understands the challenges faced by rural areas firsthand and is dedicated to amplifying their voices at every level. She is passionate about fostering growth, equity, and improving the quality of life for all residents of Southern Arizona.