Valley Leadership Selects 13 Arizonans For Explore Class 3

Explore participants will travel over 1,700 miles together to visit and learn about six cities across Arizona.

Valley Leadership has selected 13 Arizonans to be part of the third class of its Explore program. The program takes participants out of their home communities to get to know the great diversity of Arizona and how our most pressing issues show up in rural, urban, suburban, border and Native communities. The cohort, made up of Valley Leadership alumni, represents a diverse cross-section of industries, generations and experiences.

“Being physically present in these places, hearing from the locals, and seeing these cities while learning about them with my own eyes made such an impact that I wish every person in the state could have a similar opportunity” – Explore Class 2 Alumni

Participants will visit six different communities in Arizona and hear from over 90  partners that represent the broad diversity of our state. The destinations will include Navajo Nation, Nogales, Yuma, Mesa, South Phoenix, and Buckeye. 

“We are excited for the third Explore program to launch this March. We know from the first two classes that the participants will not only deepen their understanding of the diversity of experiences throughout Arizona, but will also forge lifelong connections with one another, forever impacting how they show up as leaders in our state.” – Jen Gastelum, Explore Program Manager

The Explore program runs from March to June and travel ranges from single to multi-day trips. Each visit will focus on learning about each community’s various assets, opportunities and challenges. Participants will gain a better understanding and perspective of how lived-experiences in our state vary based on different communities. To learn more about the Explore program, visit www.valleyleadership.org/explore. 

Meet the Class: