September 21, 2025
As a Coalition, we are, by our very nature, a remarkable organization of hundreds of partners, each with unique strengths, choosing to work together for the benefit of others. It’s not always simple, but then again, our strength lies in the fact that we are all not the same. Our unity is built upon our unique strengths that play off of each other, united under a shared mission: to serve Arizona’s military and veteran community with care and respect.
Our shared mission unites us in service, allowing a nonprofit in Kingman, a community volunteer in Flagstaff, a military installation in Sierra Vista, a clinician from the VA Healthcare system, and a state agency in Tucson to come to the same table and speak a common language: service to others. That shared language is what makes it possible for such a wide range of partners to act in concert rather than in isolation. We may come from different backgrounds, work for different agencies, be at different stages in our careers, but what brings us together is a commitment to support Arizona’s 500,000+ service members, veterans, and their families.
Recognizing the Weight of This Work
Sometimes, the nature of the work that we do is complex. Situations we work to resolve may be difficult and, at times, heavy on our hearts and minds. Serving service members, veterans, and their families often means stepping into moments of need, transition, or uncertainty. We meet people when the road is rocky: when housing is unstable, when the right job is hard to find, when health or mental well-being is under strain, or when relationships are fraying under financial and emotional stress.
These are not easy situations. They are complex, layered, and deeply personal. No single organization can provide every answer. That’s why the Coalition exists: to bring people together so that collectively we can meet needs no one of us could meet alone.
The Power of Unique Strengths
One of the greatest strengths of the Coalition is that each one of brings a particular skill set, area of expertise, or connection to the community. Some specialize in health care, others in housing. Some are focused on veteran benefits, others on legal support. Some offer statewide reach, while others provide local support.
When we bring our strengths together, the Coalition becomes far more than the sum of its parts. What none of us could accomplish alone, we achieve side by side. Each partner contributes their unique role, and together those contributions form a network of support that is strong, reliable, and ready when it is needed most.
Unity Does Not Require Uniformity
It’s important to say: unity doesn’t mean uniformity. We don’t need to agree on everything to work together effectively. In fact, the Coalition is stronger because of the different viewpoints, approaches, and perspectives that come to the table.
Sometimes, we have to navigate differences. As professionals, we handle varying ideas with respect, exploring the possibilities that exist within those viewpoints and perspectives that differ from our own. In some cases, we may learn a new process or pick up new information. In some cases, we find that our solutions can co-exist and that the result is not “either/or” but rather “both/and” which gets us to the best result. In most instances, differences help us arrive at better solutions, expanding our ideas, resources, and reach beyond where we started. They also spark creativity and innovation, ensuring we are not just repeating what has been done before but improving how we serve.
Differences broaden our vision. They help us see blind spots, anticipate challenges, and design responses that are more complete and grounded in the real-world complexity of the issues we face. And, at the end of the day, when we keep in mind the end result we are striving for is the best outcome to help others, we see the value in others’ ideas and expertise.
The uniting factor is not that we are all the same, but that we are all guided by the same drive: to care for Arizona’s service members, veterans, and their families.
Appreciating the Work of Partners
I also want to recognize the effort this takes from our partners. It is not easy to walk into situations where pain and struggle are present. It is not easy to persist when the answers are not clear or when progress is slow. And yet, time and again, you show up.
You show up in homes, in clinics, in community centers, in workplaces. You answer calls, never knowing what will be required of you. You listen when stories are hard to hear. You lend your skill, your time, your compassion. And you do it not for recognition, but because you know it matters to your colleagues, your community, and those we serve.
This kind of work requires stamina and courage. And I want every partner to know: it does not go unnoticed. The Coalition exists because of you. Its strength comes from your willingness to give, to care, and to keep going even when the challenges are tough.
Partnership at this level doesn’t just happen. It requires intentional effort. It requires choosing to see the value in one another, even when we work differently. It requires humility, the willingness to say, “I can’t do this alone, but I can do my part.”
This spirit of collaboration is what makes the Coalition unique. It’s not about any one organization being in charge. It’s about all of us leaning in together, guided by mission and fueled by respect, commitment, and resolve.
As we look ahead, we know that the challenges will not diminish. New needs will arise. Circumstances will change. Families will continue to face difficult moments.
But we also know this: when we come together, we are capable of remarkable things. The Coalition has already shown what’s possible when hundreds of partners align their efforts. And with every new connection, every new relationship, every new partner at the table, our ability to respond grows stronger.
So today, I want to pause simply to say thank you. Thank you to every partner who has chosen to be part of this effort. Thank you for bringing your strengths, your perspective, and your care. Thank you for staying committed when the work is heavy and the challenges are daunting.
We are not united because we are the same. We are united because we share a mission that matters.
