Policy, systems, and environmental change efforts have never been more important than now. In addition to significant COVID-19 responsive investments over the past year, Vitalyst is honored to be investing $525,000 in three Systems Change Grants partners who are directly addressing challenges that have been heightened by COVID-19: access to care, housing, and quality affordable food. This year’s funded partners are the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, the Pima Community Land Trust, and Local First Arizona.

The  University of Arizona Cooperative Extension,  in partnership with Southwest Institute for Research on Women, Southwest Recovery Alliance, and Sonoran Prevention Works, will work to achieve equitable access to drug treatment for Arizonans with opioid use disorder. The “Evidence to Action” project’s goal is to expand  access to proven and highly-effective medications, which means changing key state policies and financing.

Pima County Community Land Trust and Cuadro, LLC  will increase access to affordable quality housing by establishing an Accessory  Dwelling Unit (ADU) Incentive Program. This partnership includes the City of Tucson and  multiple neighborhood associations.  The program is focused on countering displacement using tools like infill incentives and neighborhood leadership to support diverse, mixed-income neighborhoods.

Local  First  Arizona,  as a member of  the  Coalition for Farmland Preservation, will tackle challenges facing local agriculture such as developing new polices and regulations that support sustainable growth and health equity.  With the fourth fastest growing county in the US, Arizona’s long-term access to affordable farmland is a serious challenge, leaving local farmers and our local food system vulnerable. Additional partners include TigerMountain Foundation, Maricopa County Food System Coalition, Pinnacle Prevention, Blue Sky Farms, and Arizona Land and Water Trust.