Instituto Launches Building for the Future Project

Written By Thania Betancourt Alcázar

Arizona-based organization unveils two-year project centered on sustaining state’s civic-engagement nonprofit communities 

Instituto launched Building for the Future (BFTF) project on Thursday, led by our Data and Research Manager Victoria Villalba — in partnership with Vitalyst Health Foundation, Valley of the Sun United Way, and Movement Voter Project — among a full-room of partner organizations and Arizona-based philanthropists at The Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women at Camp South Mountain in South Phoenix.

Instituto Founder Luis Ávila’s shares Instituto and Building for the Future’s origin story. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

The 2023 Building for the Future launch is a three-pronged approach that includes: research, investing in community projects, and capacity building to grow awareness of Arizona’s civic engagement organizations, build a case for support to engage the local philanthropic sector, and identify opportunities to practice and dream up new pathways to sustained funding.

BFTF attendees listen on during Instituto Founder Luis Ávila’s opening. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

BFTF report’s practical data insights, thoughtful recommendations, and achievable calls to action are beneficial to all individuals supporting the nonprofit sector and helping to build more just, thriving, and healthier communities. 

Check out our favorite photos and social media posts from the convening!

Instituto team and volunteers help sign up up invitees. Photo by Chandra Narcia

Guests are greeted and served delicious appetizers! | Photo by Chandra Narcia

Table setting at Building for the Future convening. Photo by Chandra Narcia

Attendees greet each other before the presentation. Photo by Chandra Narcia

Social media and communications coordinator and spoken-word artist Trinity Miracle starts by performing their poem “The Future is Built”. She asks attendees to close their eyes, embrace themselves, and visualize the future. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

Photo by Chandra Narcia

Instituto Founder and Iconico President Luis Ávila speaks during the BFTF opening. Photo by Chandra Narcia

Photo by Chandra Narcia

Frame the Message artist Taryl Hansen illustrates everything speakers’ words onto a huge blank canvas. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

Instituto Executive Director and 2019 Monzón Fellow Alum Shelley Jackson speaks to the crowd about Building for the Future. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

Photo by Chandra Narcia

Instituto’s Victoria Villalba (BFTF lead and data and research manager) and Kyle Marinshaw (research consultant) present findings from the BFTF report. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

Photo by Chandra Narcia

Kyle Marinshaw (research consultant) presents findings from the BFTF report. Photo by Chandra Narcia

Frame the Message artist Taryl Hansen continues to illustrate everything speakers’ words and her huge canvas starts to get filled with quotes, data, and learnings. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

Instituto Executive Director and 2019 Monzón Fellow Alum Shelley Jackson asks invitees to reflect on learnings and discuss opportunities. Photo by Chandra Narcia

Council on American-Islamic Relations Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif and Chispa Arizona’s Civic Engagement Director and 2019 Monzón Fellow alum Nicole Morales discuss the report. Photo by Chandra Narcia

Photo by Chandra Narcia

Photo by Chandra Narcia

Photo by Chandra Narcia

Photo by Chandra Narcia

Photo by Chandra Narcia

Invitees share their reflections on the report with the rest of the attendees. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

(From left to right) Instituto Executive Director and 2019 Monzón Fellow Alum Shelley Jackson facilitates Meeting of the Minds panel: Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander for Equity Coalition Political Director Alexa-Rio Osaki, Valley of the Sun United Way Community Impact Director Eileana Felix Gudiño, and Vitalyst Health Foundation Director Capacity Building and Community Engagement David Martinez III. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

“We always talked about folks with lived experiences to stay connected to our community and the best way to do that is by doing exactly that. ”
— Eileana Felix Gudiño | Valley of the Sun United Way Community Impact Director on hiring and investing in a diverse foundation, one of the recommendations from the BFTF report.

Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander for Equity Coalition Political Director Alexa-Rio Osaki talks about the importance of funders getting to know grassroots organizations on a personal level. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

“In order to make Arizona thrive as much as it could be — you have to see the people [of grassroot organizations], and how they interact with each other because we know how to work with each other. We need people to invest in our relationships with each other as well not just as individuals.”
— Alexa-Rio Osaki | Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander for Equity Coalition Political Director

Vitalyst Health Foundation Director, Capacity Building and Community Engagement, David Martinez III talks about why the foundation funds civic-engagement organizations and data-driven work like BFTF. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

Photo by Chandra Narcia

Invitees mingle after the Building for the Future presentation. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

A Special Thank You to our Partners and Sponsors

We could not have launched this support without our BFTF funding partners: Vitalyst Health Foundation, Valley of the Sun United Way,  Movement Voter Project, and our visionary sponsor Women's Foundation for the State of Arizona. We appreciate all your support.

Flowers to our Team & Volunteers

This launch could not have been possible without the help of all our Instituto team (special shoutout to data team), report design thought partners Neta Collab, and volunteers! 

Instituto team from left to right: Data and research coordinator Desiree Perez, Executive Director Shelley Jackson, Data and Research Manager Victoria Villalba, and Research Consultant Kyle Marinshaw. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

Instituto team with our report thought partners Neta Collab! | Photo by Chandra Narcia

From left to right: Instituto Political Director and 2021 Monzón Fellow Alum Ariel Reyes poses with volunteers Victoria Grijalva Ochoa, Lan Hoang, and Jamauri Manley. Instituto Southern Arizona Programs Coordinator Paulette Zinzun and 2021 Monzón Fellow Alum poses with volunteers Tara Brunson and Franceny Gardea Gutierrez. | Photo by Chandra Narcia

OUR INVITEES LOOK AMAZING IN THESE PHOTOS!

UNLOCK THE FINDINGS AND STAY CONNECTED!

Frame the Message artist Taryl Hansen’s finished illustration of the BFTF convening.

The digital version Building for the Future report is available to purchase here. In the coming months, we’ll share more details on BFTF’s grants and capacity-building opportunities. Stay connected by signing up for our newsletter. 

The Future is Built

Thania Betancourt Alcázar
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