Flagstaff is one of nine communities represented in the inaugural Arizona Creative Communities Institute, a learning program wherein diverse teams from Arizona cities, towns, and neighborhoods reimagine community assets and devise meaningful projects that place creative engagement, ethical and equitable practices, and local wisdom at the center.
Team Members & Collaborators
The list below includes persons affiliated with the team at any point in the 2+ year engagement:
Maddie Adams, Artist
Sarah Douthit, Chief Probation Officer, Coconino County Adult Probation
Elizabeth Dublinski, Domestic Violence Victim Advocate, Victim Witness Services for Coconino County
Rachael Farrier, Pre-Trial Officer, Coconino County Adult Probation
Stephanie Gerst, Probation Officer, Coconino County Adult Probation; Co-Owner, Creative Spirits Gallery
Mike Olson, Community Restitution Coordinator, Coconino County Adult Probation
Keli Openshaw, Senior Service Line Programs Developer, Flagstaff Medical Center; Co-Owner, Creative Spirits Gallery
Myra Strand, Former Director, Coconino County Victim Witness Services
About Flagstaff
Population: 73,964
“We live in a geographic wonder, which happens when you have elevation variations from 4000 feet [Sedona] to nearly 13,000 feet [Mt Humphrey’s]. What this creates is dynamic landscapes and dynamic people. Walk around Flagstaff on any given day and notice the level of physical fitness of our populace, which is not surprising given the access to mountain trails for bicycling and running, sheer cliffs for rock climbers, and endless summits for hikers. On the first Friday of every month our community comes to downtown Flagstaff to support our local artists, many of whom make the natural beauty of our area come to life with paintings and photographs of our red rocks, purple mountains, green forests, and sunsets that make the spectrum come to life.”
Mike Olson, AZ CCI Team Flagstaff
Project
A creative engagement process—uniting Coconino County Adult Probation staff and clients, artists, local business owners, and many other community stakeholders—culminating in a process built on dialogue, and putting artistic practice to work in a mural project that aimed to explore the qualities of healthy relationships, strengthen occupational skills, and foster a greater sense of community belonging.
Photos
Additional Information and Project Updates
Probation department unveils murals to reflect “culture change” | Arizona Daily Sun, February 11, 2020