Civic Health

Vitalyst continued its work to strengthen systems that increase community organizing and advocacy. We produced the AZ Town Hall Creating Vibrant Communities Background Report and helped sponsor more than thirty Community Town Halls around the state. This process engaged an approximate 1,276 people.

We also promoted authentic community participation and research. Vitalyst made an investment in 2020 in Community Based Participatory Action Research (CPBAR). This provided a foundation for community groups to reimagine safety and advocate for investments in alternative practices, infrastructure, and resources to create true safety, healing, and health in our communities. More than 10,000 surveys were conducted in the CPBAR work in Maryvale. A link to their final report can be found here.

In 2020, Vitalyst deployed nearly $100,000 in grants to partners in hard-to-reach areas for the Census and we also helped to generate $1 million from other funders. Census data shows self-response rates in Arizona were 2.8% higher in 2020 than 2010 and specific Census tracts invested in had 2020 rates at or above 2010.