2025 Year in Review

Reflecting on a Year of Resilience, Capacity, and Collective Power

Meeting the Moment

2025 began with a blazing fire. In early January, our Southern California neighbors faced a historic wildfire that devastated homes and claimed lives. As we witnessed this climate crisis tragedy, we braced for more environmental, economic, and political "fires" that would affect Arizonans. We anticipated having to put out more fires than before. We committed to defining our lane. We moved from being a fire extinguisher that reacts to crises to becoming a water sprinkler. We would water our communities' long-term growth of voting, governing, and sharing that lasts long after the flames are put out.

Through the moments when the fires were blazing, to watering the seeds we have been planting, Instituto Lab 501(c)(3) and Instituto Power 501(c)(4) stayed steadfast in our mission of building sustained power with low-income and communities of color. We continued to train, equip, and convene leaders across Arizona. In 2025, we fostered a new cohort of Monzón Fellows, trained aspiring candidates, and convened and coached direct-service leaders. 2025 was filled with stories of achieving milestones, navigating challenges, and working for and with our communities.

TRAININGS & CONVENINGS

We're proud of the 441 phenomenal leaders who attended our 38 trainings and convenings. They attended our free training sessions on job transitions, introductions to campaigns, and our first fee-based training sessions on turning data into impact and powering your program design. Overall, 2025 leaders emphasized that the learning sessions provided community-rooted information that addressed their real needs, including financial, organizational, political, personal, and professional.

COACHING & DIRECT SUPPORT

We provided 344 coaching and direct support hours to 65 leaders, covering a range of topics from data to communications. Throughout the year, we tailored one-on-one coaching sessions to leaders' specific needs and areas of growth. Additionally, we step in when extra help is needed. Cihuapactli Collective, a direct support organization based in Phoenix, had limited staff for their biggest event of the year in February; we gladly supported them. 

2025 MONZÓN FELLOWSHIP

From May to September, 19 leaders embarked on a transformational journey of personal growth, leadership development, impactful relationship-building, and collaboration across shared struggles and issues. The 2025 fellows brought expertise in women’s rights, electoral and advocacy work, labor and economic justice, youth and education, housing and community development, and more. In October, we concluded the 2025 program with a graduation filled with joy, celebration, and community spirit! Cohort IV graduated and joined the growing Instituto Alumni Network, now comprising 76 leaders across Arizona.

HARVEST CANDIDATE & STAFF TRAINING

The Instituto Power political team focused on breaking down barriers for leaders who are ready to run, govern, and challenge the status quo. With the increase of attacks on our communities from the current administration, preparing leaders to step in to safeguard our communities was a vital part of our work. In August 2025, we collaborated with Vote Save America, which brought together nine partner organizations and former candidates, to train 136 of Arizona's next generation of aspiring progressive candidates and campaign staff ahead of the 2026 midterms. The 2025 Harvest Candidate & Staff Training series equipped leaders with the essential skills and knowledge needed to run a successful campaign. These leaders learned about the foundations of running a campaign in Arizona, how to build a support system, and how to craft their personal story.

POWER WEBSITE LAUNCH

With the 2026 midterms approaching, we recognized the need for a digital platform where leaders, candidates, and staff could access political education and a growing digital campaign resource library to build power with their communities. After months of planning and designing, we launched the Instituto Power website in October. Since then, our website has been visited over 600 times, with our training calendar being the most popular page visited.

INCUBATING & SUPPORTING EMERGING ORGANIZATIONS

It's the behind-the-scenes work that allows us to be an incubation hub for dreamers to become the doers. Instituto supports eight organizations and projects through fiscal sponsorship, providing a range of services, including administrative support and backend support, thought partnership, grant tracking, and coaching. Leaders can grow their ideas into impact with our support. Organizations like Girlfriend Culture sold out their Rooted and Restored event, which supports the wellness of Black women. Their focus was on curating a safe space. We provided administrative support to make their event a reality. Also, with our support, Audren, founder and executive director of FLORECER, was able to fully focus on growing the organization and scaling their programs. She works closely with our operations team to provide day-to-day operational support, as she is currently a one-woman show, ensuring all Yumans have clear access to education.

GROWING DIGITAL RESOURCES

We believe our trainings and resources should be accessible anytime, anywhere, especially for leaders balancing family, full-time work, and community power-building. Therefore, we continued to expand our Instituto Lab online resources in the Praxis in Action Library. At the start of 2025, we saw a rise in unemployment, as well as defunded nonprofits and increased staff cuts. In response, we added video training and resources on resume tips and job transitions during hard economic times, in collaboration with financial planner River Nice. Our Praxis in Action Library videos were watched over 2,300 times. In addition to our library, we continue to create and update resources. As the scorching summers arrived, we launched a blog that connected volunteers to frontline heat relief and mutual aid efforts. When SNAP benefits were cut in November, we launched an Arizona Food Aid Resources page connecting communities to food and donation sites statewide. In 2026, we will continue expanding our digital resources to reach leaders across the state.

ARIZONA STATE REACH

Our commitment to access and reach is also reflected in our direct investment in leaders and organizations. From trainings to coaching, we're proud to have trained and supported Arizonans in 9 counties this year! As the only Arizona-based and statewide organization dedicated to capacity building, training, and coaching leaders, we will continue to serve Arizonans in historically underserved rural communities beyond Maricopa County. We know that reaching communities across the state is essential — and we’re excited to continue expanding our reach.

WOMAN ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR

Shelley, Instituto's Executive Director and 2019 Monzón Fellowship Alumna, was recognized as one of the Arizona Capitol Times Women Achievers of Arizona 2025 back in October! Each year, this local publication honors exceptional women whose leadership and vision make a lasting difference in Arizona — from civic engagement to community impact. Shelley stood proudly alongside inspiring leaders, such as Reyna Montoya, CEO of our partner organization Aliento, as they were recognized for their transformative work across the state.

FINDING THE WAY - MULTI-YEAR ROAD MAP

As a community-informed organization, Instituto Lab and Power adapts to the needs of the people we serve. This year, we initiated our multi-year strategic plan research to identify our community's emerging needs and inform our roadmap for 2026-2029. We had the pleasure of interviewing dozens of leaders, coachees, partner organizations, Instituto alumni, and community leaders. This roadmap will guide decisions on which initiatives to start, continue, or evolve, ensuring our work remains relevant, impactful, and aligned with community priorities for years to come.

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU

Above all, we want to thank everyone who attended our trainings and events, received coaching or direct support from our Instituto staff, donated, read our bi-weekly newsletter, or cheered us on!

💗 They are the heart of Instituto. Their support makes everything we do possible. 💗