Move Over Bob is an Arizona-based lifestyle brand and publication inspired by the teen magazines of the 1990s and early 2000s, reimagined with a very different purpose: empowering girls to pursue careers in the skilled trades. Where earlier magazines focused on celebrity style and social cues, Move Over Bob highlights pathways to economic stability, independence and long-term opportunity.

One of the biggest barriers to accessing local food in Arizona is a lack of infrastructure — from processing to distribution — for small and mid-sized farming and food operations. That gap is both a symptom and a consequence of a highly consolidated food system, one that reduces local control and increases vulnerability.

Arizona’s Black business community has always been a force — building opportunity, culture and stability in the face of systemic barriers. Long before “buy local” became a movement, Black entrepreneurs were creating essential services and gathering spaces that anchored entire communities.

Honoring Black History Month isn’t only about looking back. It’s about recognizing how those foundations continue to shape Arizona’s local economy today — and why supporting Black-owned businesses remains critical to a strong, inclusive future.

Arizona Statehood Day (February 14) is a reminder of the people, places and stories that continue to shape this state. From border towns and rural communities to cities and neighborhoods across Arizona, our history lives on through local institutions, cultural landmarks and the communities that keep them going.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean prix-fixe menus, crowded rooms or doing what everyone else is doing. Celebrating the local way means choosing experiences that feel personal, rooted in place and connected to the communities you love.

Across Arizona — from cities to small towns — there are countless ways to mark the day that support local businesses, honor the landscape and create memories that actually feel like yours.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Every month, we highlight the businesses and organizations that choose to stay invested in local ownership and community connection. This month’s new and renewing Business Coalition members reflect the many ways local leadership shows up, from care and service to creativity and experience. Their work strengthens communities through commitment, purpose and long-term impact.

After nearly two decades as an EEG technologist, Agnes Adams understood Arizona’s healthcare workforce gaps from the inside. Essential roles were understaffed, and for many women — particularly women of color — the pathway into healthcare careers was limited.

In 2021, Adams and her business partner, Miss Gigi, launched the Yond Institute of Learning, a West Valley–based training program focused on Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), a critical entry point into nursing and other healthcare professions. Designed around the realities of working families, Yond offers small cohorts, flexible class schedules and personalized support to help students move from opportunity to stability.

Arizona’s landscapes tell our story — from desert trails and riverbanks to neighborhood parks and small-town main streets. Keeping those places clean, healthy and accessible doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because communities show up to help clean up.

That’s where Keep Arizona Beautiful comes in.

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) play a critical role in filling gaps left by conventional banks, particularly in rural, tribal, and historically underbanked communities — many of the same places Local First focuses its work. When CDFIs are supported, small businesses can launch, grow and serve their communities. When they’re under threat, the ripple effects are immediate — and deeply personal.

From Tucson to Phoenix to the rural corners of our state, Arizonans are showing up and showing out to remember Dr. King and carry his work forward.

When local governments buy everyday essentials — from classroom supplies to janitorial goods — those seemingly incidental decisions can have a big impact on shaping the entire economic landscape. They determine which businesses survive, which communities thrive and whether public dollars circulate locally or feed the coffers of corporate monopolies.

Every month, we highlight the businesses that keep Arizona strong. This month’s members show what choosing local looks like in action. Women opening a new hub for wine and art in Cottonwood. A regenerative grower turning a backyard into a micro-farm that inspires connection. A historic Tucson landmark that has been welcoming families for more than sixty years. Their work strengthens our communities one project, one bouquet, and one family outing at a time.

Arizona’s story has always been written by its people — by the growers, the builders, the small business owners and the changemakers who call this state home.

Last minute doesn’t mean no thought. It just means the calendar is running at a faster pace than you can keep up with, and that’s okay, because there are so many ways to keep your gift giving local even as time runs out. If you still have some shopping to do, and even if you haven’t even started yet, we have some judgement-free options on how to keep your holiday spending local while completing your last-minute list. 

This GivingTuesday, December 2, we’re inviting you to stand with the entrepreneurs who power our communities by donating, volunteering or amplifying the work of Local First Arizona.

Every month, we celebrate the local businesses building a stronger Arizona from the ground up. This lineup shows what real local impact looks like across our state: skilled construction teams improving our neighborhoods, organizers helping households run with more ease, and wellness practitioners supporting individuals and families through meaningful care. From Phoenix to Oro Valley to Camp Verde, these members represent craftsmanship, creativity and a deep commitment to the communities they serve.