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On April 18, Rural Arizona Engagement hosted its Building Healthy Futures for Youth Mental Health Forum at Arizona Western College’s main campus in Yuma. The event brought together youth, families, educators and mental health professionals for a day full of learning and community-driven conversation around youth mental wellness.

Natali Fierros, co-founder of Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE) and Rural Arizona Action, returned to lead both organizations as executive director, marking a new chapter and a stronger commitment to rural communities in Arizona.

PHOENIX – Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE) and Rural Arizona Action announced today a leadership transition as the organization enters its next phase of growth and impact across rural communities in Arizona. After six years of building two strong organizations focused on serving rural communities in Arizona, Co-Founder Pablo Correa will transition from his role as Executive Director into a new position as Director of Strategic Initiatives, where he will focus on long-term sus

It has been nearly 10 years since the first call for division was made by then-candidate Donald Trump. During the 2016 U.S. election campaign, the border became a defining issue after Donald Trump announced his run for president, promising to build a “great, great wall.” Perhaps this was not realized immediately, but looking back, it was the moment that sparked a great division in our nation and neighboring countries that continues to grow today.

Virtual Hearing This Thursday: Show Up for the Pinal County 287(g) Case

COOLIDGE, AZ – As it marks six years of organizing in rural and border communities of Arizona, Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE) is launching new mission and vision statements that reflect the organization’s growth and deepened commitment to the communities it serves.

In December 2025, Minnesota became the focus of a large-scale federal immigration crackdown known as Operation Metro Surge, carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection. The Department of Homeland Security described it as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever conducted. In rural Arizona, high school students walked out of their campuses to protest ICE raids, federal immigration enforcement policies have caused.

This week, on Wednesday, February 11, a high school student from the border town of San Luis, AZ, will travel to Phoenix to speak at Environmental Day at the Arizona State Capitol. The event organized by the Sierra Club brings together advocates, lawmakers, and community members to push for solutions that protect Arizona’s climate, water, and environment.

Public Statement: RAZE Response to the Casa Grande Union High School District Message to Parents and Guardians

Pinal County Neighbors Hold Vigil at EloyDetention Center to Honor Victims of Immigration Enforcement

Rural Arizona communities know what real safety looks like. It is neighbors looking out for neighbors, families going to work without fear, and children feeling safe at school. What we saw from Phoenix was the opposite. Militarized ICE operations using excessive force and intimidation are not about public safety. They are violent tactics that destabilize working families and endanger all Arizonans.

Agreement, announced January 8, will conserve more than 100,000 acre-feet of water over 12 years in Willcox basin Attorney General Kris Mayes in Cochise County announcing the $11 million settlement with Riverview LLP Back in 2015, a Minnesota-based dairy company moved into Cochise County. Since its arrival in the Willcox Basin, residents have watched as the company’s extensive groundwater pumping has contributed to the rapid decline of the basin, with wells across the area ru

Community members voiced concerns over a federal immigration enforcement program during a Pinal County Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan 7.

Across the country, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has set off an unprecedented race for companies to store and manage ever-growing amounts of data, and Arizona has become a prime target for data center development. Rural communities, such as the towns of Eloy, Casa Grande and Maricopa City in Pinal County, are at the center of this target.

Statement on Dec. 5 Immigration Raids in Tucson, Casa Grande, and Sierra Vista

RAZE is bringing together artists from both sides of the border to highlight the realities and resilience of border communities. DOUGLAS, AZ - Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE) is proud to host the first annual Borderland Reflections: Resistance Through Our Lens art show and competition on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Art Car World in Douglas, Arizona . The exhibition will showcase powerful works from artists across Cochise County and neighboring border towns on both the

In partnership with Central Arizona College and local advocates, RAZE’s second annual forum in Coolidge, Arizona, empowers rural youth to lead conversations and take action on mental well-being.

JoAnne Galindo from Pinal County, AZ was raised by the saying "family is everything." She carries this value into her daily life through her work as an Eloy City Council member, advocating for the implementation of accessible child care, bringing equitable recreational activities to Eloy, and focusing on the health and safety of her community.

With Hispanic Heritage Month now over, let's take a moment to reflect on the inspiring Latinas whose stories were shared throughout the month, women leading change in their communities and reminding the world why it’s so important to continue uplifting voices from every corner of rural Arizona.

Renee Montelongo never pictured herself leading rallies or organizing protests in her small border town of Douglas, Arizona. A life-long resident and self-declared “introvert,” Renee stepped up when she began seeing the direction her country was headed. She learned that staying silent wasn’t a risk she wanted to keep taking.