Our Mission & Vision

African American child and teacher in Arizona

AZCAAR Mission & Vision

AZCAAR was founded in 2007 on the premise to improve the life challenges facing African Americans in Arizona and to act as a resource for those serving the African American community focusing in the areas of: Civic Engagement, Communications, Criminal Justice, Economics, Education, Health and Well-being, Leadership, and Racial Equity.

Our Mission

Improve the quality of life of African Americans in Arizona

Our Vision

Convene and collaborate with Arizonans to discuss and resolve issues that have socioeconomic and civic impact within the African American community

Our Strategic Approach

Interrelated Focus Areas

AZCAAR has identified 9 focus areas that are interrelated and dependent on one another to foster significant improvements in the lives of African Americans in Arizona.

Communications: Develop sustainable mechanisms to inform the African American community of issues that directly impact them.
Civic Engagement: Promote and advocate civic engagement and voting to change and impact policy.
Criminal Justice: Protect African American youth from entering the criminal justice system by addressing points of entry and contacts.
Economics: Identify and address socioeconomic and financial issues that impact the daily lives of the African American community.
Education: Promoting an EDUCATION-centric mentality in the African American community to drastically improve academic achievement and opportunity.
Environment: Advocating healthy environmental factors in the African American community.
Health Care: Improve access and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Leadership: Focus on African American youth to develop leadership qualities to help address and solve the issues facing the African American community.
Race/Gender/Age Relations: Identify and address those issue that impact the African American community.

Executive Board

Connie Robinson, President

Connie has over 20 years experience in HR and diversity sourcing for Fortune 500 companies. Connie is a management graduate from Arizona State University and has served on the boards of multiple non-profit organizations.

David Hatch, Ph.D., Vice President

David currently is the Regional Director for the Prison Fellowship Ministries in the Rocky Mountain-Pacific Northwest regional states. He is the founder of several youth oriented radio shows and performing arts groups, and has written several books and gospel musical plays. He is also a counselor, CAC II Addiction Counselor, Certified Nurturing Parent Facilitator, Teacher, and Mentor.

He holds a Ph.D. in Christian Psychology, Masters in Theology and B.A. in Biblical Studies from Jacksonville Theological Seminary.

Roy Dawson, Executive Director

Roy has over 25 years of experience in HR for Fortune 100 corporations in leadership development and intercultural relations. Roy holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and certificates in International Management and Executive Leadership from Duke University and the University of Virginia.

Sheneka Coleman, Secretary

Sheneka has worked for Fortune 500 corporations and government agencies with experience in business and technology program and project management, implementing multi-million dollar programs ensuring awareness of cultural norms and practices.

She hold a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Morgan State University, a MBA from the University of Phoenix and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

BOARD MEMBERS

Iliyani Lambey

Barbara Colbert

Carlian Dawson, Ed.D.

April Green