Letter From the Chief Executive Officer

As we begin 2026, I am deeply grateful for the generosity, trust, and partnership that continue to power The State of Black Arizona (SBAZ). This year we enter with clarity and resolve: to turn data into action, deepen our presence across Southern Arizona, start opportunities in Northern Arizona, and sustain our core work even as we manage new fiscal realities. Below I share three strategic priorities that will shape our work this year and how you can engage.

First, a brief 2025 highlight

In 2025, the State of Black Arizona was proud to support the inaugural Governor’s State Address for Black and African American Arizonans, “Bridging Progress: Governor Hobbs 2025 State Report.” This historic convening created a dedicated platform for dialogue between state leadership and Black communities across Arizona and featured a data-driven presentation from SBAZ. It also reflected the growing role of data in shaping inclusive policy conversations statewide. We released a custom dashboard in collaboration with the Center for the Future of Arizona’s progress meters which serves as an update on Volume V: Driving Local Investment in Black Arizonans over the past four years.

Turning insight into action: Arizona Business Database

The launch of the Arizona Business Database builds directly on the first State of Black Business report released in 2021. Designed as a living, community-driven research tool, the database makes for all small, owned businesses visible and accessible to funders, policymakers, and partners seeking to invest strategically across Arizona.

But data alone is not enough. Over the past four years, we have intentionally paired rigorous research with human-centered storytelling. Our IMPACT Stories through both the State of Black Arizona and Greater Phoenix Economic Council featured small businesses showing how the insights from our reports translate into real support: technical assistance, grant pilots, partnerships, and measurable gains for entrepreneurs. Those stories are the connective tissue between numbers and neighborhood-level change. They demonstrate how targeted investments informed by data produce scalable results.

Deepen Southern Arizona engagement and maternal-infant health

Southern Arizona remains a priority in 2026. We will continue to expand community-based convenings by partnering with Tucson-based nonprofits, grow AALI participation and alumni engagement, and deliver data presentations that equip local leaders to act. Our work in Cochise County and surrounding communities reflects our commitment to place-based leadership and statewide impact.

A key component of this effort is our Maternal and Infant Health initiative. We’ve begun initial meetings with the Pima County Health Department as a data partner to align local health insights with our statewide analysis as a partner around the data. Alongside data and policy recommendations, we are partnering with Postpartum International Support (PSI) - Arizona Chapter to launch an interactive storytelling platform called BirthTok that centers lived birth experiences to humanize the data and build urgency for solutions such as doula access, expanded prenatal care, and culturally-responsive clinical practices.

Housing, resilience, and a decade of impact

We are also preparing to release the State of Black Housing Report this year, expanding our analysis beyond homeownership to examine affordability, stability, and systemic barriers impacting Black Arizonans. Housing remains foundational to both economic and community wellbeing, and this report will guide targeted strategies moving forward.

As we do this work, we are navigating a roughly 40 percent budget reduction. This reality has sharpened our focus: prioritizing core programs, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring responsible stewardship of resources. At the same time, we are preparing to recognize our 10th Anniversary as a strategic moment to elevate impact, share community stories, and secure investments for the next decade.

Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us. Together, we are proving that when data is paired with story and community leadership, it becomes a powerful catalyst for change.

With gratitude,

Teniqua Broughton, M.Ed.

Chief Executive Officer

The State of Black Arizona