Statewide, AZ – (Feb. 2, 2025) – In our ongoing Leader Lens series, we are featuring the insights of leaders committed to improving the lives of veterans in Arizona. During a recent Team of Teams meeting, leaders were asked, If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about our work or our military and veteran community, what would it be? Their responses highlighted many paths forward for strengthening support networks and addressing veterans’ needs. Today, we explore the vision of Tara Bingdazzo, who is dedicated to creating a culture of solution-based conversations that encourage ongoing, collaborative support.

As a Senior Director at Solari, Inc., a nonprofit crisis and human services organization, Tara has seen the immense impact that genuine, solution-focused conversations can have on the well-being of veterans and service members. In her work, she’s often faced with complex challenges that require nuanced solutions. Tara’s vision is to foster a culture of solution-based conversations where barriers are identified and actively worked on over time.

Tara believes that true support for veterans is an ongoing effort that requires partners to stay engaged beyond the initial conversation. She emphasizes that addressing veterans’ needs is not a “one-and-done” task; it’s a long-term commitment that requires dedication, patience, and a willingness to keep refining solutions. Tara envisions a community where partners work together to create sustainable, evolving support structures that lay a foundation for continuous improvement.

The Vision: Building a Culture of Solution-Based Conversations
Tara’s vision challenges the tendency to see support for veterans as a series of isolated issues that can be quickly resolved. Instead, she advocates for a model of problem-solving that acknowledges the complexity and evolving nature of veterans’ needs. Solution-based conversations, as Tara sees them, don’t stop at identifying barriers; they involve a commitment to “tinkering” with those barriers, returning to them with fresh perspectives and adaptive solutions over time. In her experience, real change requires not just ideas but consistent, collaborative action.

By shifting the focus to solution-based conversations, Tara aims to break the cycle of “fix it and forget it.” She wants partners to recognize that addressing veterans’ needs is a lifelong commitment. In Tara’s ideal model, partners and community members come together to discuss not only what can be done today but also how they can support each other to tackle tomorrow’s challenges. This kind of proactive, solution-oriented culture would empower veterans with reliable, ongoing support, making it clear that they are not alone on their journey.

Tara’s vision also places a strong emphasis on collaboration among community organizations, healthcare providers, and support networks. When organizations engage in solution-based conversations, they create opportunities to learn from each other’s experiences, build on each other’s strengths, and create a network of support that can adapt to the changing needs of veterans.

Tara’s vision is a powerful reminder that real change is not instantaneous—it takes patience, persistence, and commitment to long-term collaboration. As a community, we have an opportunity to support veterans by embracing this approach, fostering solution-based conversations, and committing to the kind of tinkering and teamwork that Tara champions.

Further Reading

• We Asked, Amanda French Answered
• We Asked, Dee Person Answered
• We Asked, John Scott Answered
• We Asked, Lori Highberger Answered
• We Asked, Maureen McCarthy Answered
• We Asked, Steve Sample Answered
• We Asked, Sylvia Preston Answered
• We Asked, Thomas Winkel Answered
• We Asked, Wanda Wright Answered