February 1, 2026
The Statewide Symposium is where Arizona’s veteran-serving partners meet face to face to align efforts, share solutions, and strengthen the system
Each year, there is one place in Arizona where the full picture comes into view.
Not just one program.
Not one agency.
Not one sector.
But everyone.
The 2026 Symposium in Support of Service Members, Veterans & Their Families, hosted by Arizona Coalition for Military Families, is where the people behind Arizona’s veteran and military support systems come together in the same room.
For two days, the conversations that usually happen over email, across counties, or between separate systems happen face to face. This is where collaboration comes alive.
If you work with service members, veterans, or their families in any capacity, you know how interconnected this work is. A housing challenge connects to employment. Employment connects to family stability. No single organization solves these issues alone.
The Statewide Symposium exists because 16 years ago, ACMF recognized that coordinated systems work better than isolated efforts. The Statewide Symposium is a unique space where:
- Military installations sit alongside state agency leaders
- VA partners talk directly with community nonprofits
- Clinicians, case managers, educators, employers, first responders, and volunteers compare notes and share what’s working
Real relationships. Real problem-solving. Real results. While it may seem like a simple idea to get leaders, volunteers, and stakeholders in a room together, we must recognize that many states don’t have this level of public–private coordination. They don’t have active duty, Guard, Reserve, state agencies, healthcare systems, nonprofits, and community partners regularly planning together in the same space. They lack a coordinated, centralized system where service members, veterans and their families can access support and resources.
Arizona does. And that didn’t happen by accident. It happens because people show up year and year at events like the Statewide Symposium, training and workshops and community meetings. These events are where partnerships are formed and strengthened. Where someone finally meets the person, they’ve only emailed for years. Where referrals get easier because you know who’s on the other end of the phone. Where ideas are shared openly and momentum builds across organizations, not just within them. It’s also where you begin to see the scale of the work.
When you step into the room, you realize you’re not doing this alone. There are hundreds of others across the state working toward the same goal: making sure service members, veterans, and their families have the support they need, when they need it. That collective effort matters.
At the center of it all is the statewide Be Connected network, the connective tissue that links programs, services, and people together. One call to the support line can unlock the full capacity of this network. And the Statewide Symposium is where many of those partners behind that call are sitting, learning, and planning together. These are the people and organizations who make those connections possible.
The Statewide Symposium is a chance to understand how the pieces fit together, to strengthen relationships and build new connections. Whether you’ve supported Arizona’s military and veteran community for years or you’re just getting started, this gathering offers something practical: context, connection, and coordination. Because when the system is stronger, the outcomes are stronger.
The 2026 Symposium in Support of Service Members, Veterans & Their Families will take place April 15–16 at Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix. The two-day event includes general sessions, breakout workshops, exhibitors, and time for networking with partners from across the state.
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