Applications for our Fall 2021 RAZE Leaders are
NOW OPEN!

About RAZE Leaders:

RAZE Leaders is a six-month fellowship that uses Youth Participatory Action Research to teach high schoolers from across rural Pinal County how to create the change they wish to see in their own backyards. Using a curriculum that builds upon itself, these young leaders learn how to identify an area of change, research the issue, develop a plan of action, identify and create relationships with the "powers that be," all while being empowered to redefine who has the expertise to add knowledge to our world. This approach is particularly powerful when used by groups who have experienced our systems from the margins.

RAZE Leaders participants are given the opportunity to grow the skills they learned during the program by being given the opportunity to volunteer and take paid positions with RAZE and other partner organizations once the program concludes.

Program dates:

Application Deadline: Aug 20th

Session 1: 9/4 - 9/5
Session 2: 10/2 -10/3
Session 3: 11/6 - 11/7
Session 4: 12/4 - 12/5
Session 5: 1/15 - 1/16
Session 6: 2/5 - 2/6

Expectations of Participants:

We expect participants to be present at every session and participate fully in the program.
Participants must complete all readings, assignments, or any other prep work before each session.

Format:

Participants are required to attend a two-day in-person session each month for 6 months. Sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. The sessions will take place at locations around Pinal county. We try to schedule the sessions at locations that are within a 30-minute driving distance of each participant.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who can apply for RAZE Leaders?
- RAZE Leaders is open to high school students in Pinal County.
What is the cost to participate in the program?
- There is no cost to participate in RAZE Leaders.
What if I don’t have transportation?
- We will do our best to work with each participant needing transportation. We don’t want transportation to be a barrier that keeps people from participating in the program. If necessary, we will provide transportation.
Where do sessions usually take place?
- Our once-a-month sessions will take place somewhere in Pinal County. We will do our best to host sessions at places that are within reasonable driving distance of participants. Some locations in the past include:
  - Central Arizona College (Coolidge Campus)
  - Florence Library