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Community Coalition for Prosperity in early stages of implementing Prosperity Initiative

Elizabeth Cozzi (Left) and Bonnie Bazata (Right) speak to a group about the Prosperity Initiative at the Primavera Foundation Training Center.
Elizabeth Cozzi (Left) and Bonnie Bazata (Right) speak to a group about the Prosperity Initiative at the Primavera Foundation Training Center on September 27, 2024.

What do a state legislator, a Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, a University of Arizona researcher, the director of the Jewish Free Loan program, staff from the City’s Ward 1 office and the County’s District 2 office, the regional director of First Things First, and faith-based activists all have in common? They all came together at Primavera on September 27, along with 14 other community leaders, with a common goal: to eliminate poverty in Pima County.

The group known as the Community Coalition for Prosperity (CCP), is working to implement the City of Tucson and Pima County’s Prosperity Initiative.

“Poverty is a system that traps people, creating suffering and barriers that not only negatively impact that family, but the entire community,” said Bonnie Bazata, Primavera’s new Public Policy, Education, and Research Officer, a lead organizer for the CCP.  Before coming to Primavera, Bonnie led the Prosperity Initiative effort for Pima County starting in 2022 and adopted by both the City and County in 2024. “To be successful we’ll need a smart, strategic and coordinated effort that engages the whole community,” she said.

CCP is in the early stages of recruiting stakeholders to serve on one of four teams that will form the primary engines of movement and change.

“This is exciting work for us and the natural evolution of our mission,” said Tisha Tallman, CEO of Primavera. “We believe in the Urban Institute’s definition of economic mobility which has economic success at its core, but also incorporates dignity and belonging, along with power and autonomy. These are fundamental values for Primavera and we know from experience that true systemic change will only happen if all three of those elements are woven into the work of the CCP. Primavera is invested in making that happen.”

Sixty-five community leaders have come together so far and more will be at the next meeting on October 8th at the Community Foundation campus from 10 a.m.-Noon. Interested in learning more? Contact Bonnie at bbazata@primavera.org or (520) 882-5383 x 153.