In 2016, VIP and Arizona Interfaith leaders led the fight for school and health funding for Arizona children, both for Kidcare (children's health insurance) and school finance in key legislative districts, including District 28 in North Phoenix and Paradise Valley, District 6 in Flagstaff and District 1 in Prescott.

As part of the statewide effort to reverse disinvestment in Arizona public schools, two teachers presented Governor Doug Ducey with a joint statement calling for increases in teachers' salaries. The joint statement was supported and signed by leaders of Arizona Interfaith, nonprofits and state associations of educators, business, administrators and PTAs.

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VIP leaders Rev. Martha Seaman and Rabbi John Linder made the case for embracing Arizona Proposition 123 in the Arizona Capitol Times, arguing that "while admittedly imperfect, does provide a way to get beyond the long-standing school inflation lawsuit."

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One hundred Valley Interfaith Project leaders from Legislative District 28, North Phoenix and Paradise Valley, gathered February 11th for a Civic Academy on state education finance.

VIP leaders detailed fiscal constraints the state placed on public education over the past 40 years, which once ranked in the upper half of states for per pupil spending.

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When four hundred Valley Interfaith Project leaders crowded into Scottsdale United Methodist church Nov. 5 to discuss state school finance, four area legislators listened.

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Over 100 leaders from across Central Arizona gathered to develop local summer and fall organizing plans in key legislative districts. After reflecting on the importance of organizing, the assembly reviewed the new Arizona State Budget and the 2015 legislative process. VIP leaders then broke out into groups by legislative district to develop plans for maximum impact on school district override and bond measures, prison reform, workforce development, and access to quality healthcare.

Phoenix, AZ - 200 Valley Interfaith Project delegates assembled after the fall 2014 election to celebrate the leveraging of $26.6 Million in public school dollars for Tempe Elementary and Scottsdale Unified School Districts. Leaders achieved this by passing school override ballot measures.

Key legislative allies in attendance vowed to to protect Medicaid expansion that was won in 2013, re-connect public school funding to inflation and advance new legislation for Respite Care, all part of VIP's 2015 Human Development agenda.

250 Valley Interfaith Project leaders challenged Republican and Democrat legislative candidates for Districts 23 and 28 to commit to supporting Medicaid expansion, school funding increases, and workforce development. Most of the candidates committed to supporting VIP's three-point agenda.

Those that participated in the assembly include: Rep. John Kavanaugh (District 23), Jeff Schwartz and Paula Pennypacker; Effie Carlson, Jay Lawrence, and Bob Littefield; and Michelle Ugenti. District 28 candidates included Senator Adam Driggs and Kelli Butler; and House candidates Rep. Eric Meyer, Rep. Kaye Brophy-McGee and Mary Hamway.

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As part of a long-term regional economic development strategy, Valley Interfaith Project leader Monica Dorcey testified at a Maricopa Community College District board meeting to support increasing local investment in the community colleges. "These community colleges are the best driver of economic development that we have," said Dorcey, who is also a member of the board of Arizona Career Pathways, a non-profit job-training program that has a partnership with the community colleges.

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135 Valley Interfaith Project leaders convened at Paradise Valley United Methodist Church to celebrate last year's Medicaid Expansion victory and announce its Spring action agenda to key legislative allies including Governor Brewer's Policy and Budget Directors, who briefed the leadership on the Governor's proposed budget, released just the day before.

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