Arizona Faith Network

AI, Faith & Our Shared Earth
Sunday, June 28, 2:00 - 3:00 pm PT (same as MST) via Zoom

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming nearly every aspect of our lives - from how we work and communicate to how we learn, build community, and understand ourselves. Yet AI also carries significant environmental costs, including the growing energy demands of data centers, alongside profound questions about human relationships, spirituality, attention, and responsibility.

This upcoming conversation will create space for participants to reflect together on both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI. Through a faith-rooted lens, we will explore how communities can engage emerging technologies with wisdom, compassion, and care for the Earth. Participants will have the opportunity to share their own experiences and concerns, learn from one another, and consider what responsible stewardship of technology might look like in an increasingly AI-shaped world.

REGISTRATION: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8858534/G4E-AI-June-28

Happy Juneteenth from Arizona Faith Network
Today we honor Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when news of freedom finally reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth invites us to celebrate freedom, remember the resilience and contributions of Black Americans, and recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of justice, equity, and beloved community.

As people of many faiths and traditions, we recognize that freedom is not only a historical achievement but also a sacred responsibility. We are called to build communities where every person is treated with dignity, where truth is told about our history, and where all people have the opportunity to flourish.

Today, we give thanks for those who struggled, organized, prayed, and persevered for freedom. May we continue their work by standing together for justice, compassion, and the common good.

Happy Juneteenth.

Interfaith Dialogue: Shared Values in American Scripture
Thursday, June 25, 5:00 - 6:00 pm MST via Zoom

Join AFN for a series of four monthly online gatherings followed by an interfaith prayer vigil as we mark 250 years of the American experiment. Drawing on the faith250 framework, we will gather to reflect on texts that have shaped our history, from the call of the New Colossus, to the promise of the Declaration of Independence and more. We will hear from diverse guest speakers and together, we will seek divine guidance to move beyond polarization and toward a future where "liberty and justice for all" is a lived reality for every neighbor.

These conversations will also acknowledge the complex and unfinished nature of the American story. For many, the ideals of liberty and equality have been sources of hope and belonging; for others, the nation’s history carries deep wounds connected to colonization, slavery, exclusion, and broken promises. In this series, we hold these realities together with honesty and humility, recognizing that living within the identity of the United States means wrestling with both its aspirations and its contradictions.

RSVP FOR ZOOM INFORMATION: See link in comments.

Organizers from Democracy Unites Us held a gathering this past Saturday for community members to learn more about how to protect mid-terms. A number of community members and local clergy, including our own Rev. ellie hutchison, met at Southside Presbyterian to hear from election protection activists about what strategies we can work on collectively to ensure safe elections.

Stay tuned to learn more ways to become involved.

Today brings the following observances:

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Sikh) – June 16
First of Muharram (Islam) - June 16-17

🕊️ Serve Your Community. Protect Democracy. Be a Presence for Peace. 🗳️

Every voter deserves to cast their ballot in an environment that is safe, welcoming, and respectful.

Join the growing movement of Poll Chaplains and Peacekeepers—faith-rooted volunteers committed to creating calm, reducing tension, and supporting communities throughout the election season. Your compassionate presence can help ensure every eligible voter is able to participate with dignity and respect.

✨ No prior experience is required.
📚 Training begins June 10, and all training and support will be provided.
🤝 People of all faith traditions—and people of goodwill who share a commitment to democracy, dignity, and peaceful civic participation—are welcome.

Arizona Faith Network's civic engagement work is nonpartisan, faith-rooted, and community-centered. In partnership with Election Protection Arizona and Faiths United to Save Democracy, we're working together to strengthen democracy, encourage civic participation, and promote peaceful elections.

Complete the registration form today to tell us about your availability and sign up for upcoming training opportunities. https://form-usa.keela.co/2026ep

We look forward to serving alongside you. 💙

WE NEED YOU: Support Extreme Heat Mitigation Funding in Arizona

Arizona is facing a growing extreme heat crisis, and we need your voice now.

Over the last several years, communities across Arizona expanded cooling and heat respite centers, transportation assistance, outreach teams, and emergency heat response systems using temporary federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Those federal funds expire at the end of 2026.

Without continued investment, Arizona risks losing critical life-saving heat-relief infrastructure that communities across the state now rely on during dangerous summer temperatures.

Extreme heat is one of the leading weather-related causes of death in Arizona. More than 900 Arizonans died from heat-related causes in both 2023 and 2024. These deaths impacted housed and unhoused individuals alike, including seniors, outdoor workers, families, medically vulnerable residents, and people living without reliable cooling.

We need Arizona leaders to act now and support dedicated Extreme Heat Mitigation funding in the FY2027 Arizona State Budget.

Current Proposed Heat Relief Funding:

$4.2 million for Cooling Centers and Heat Relief Infrastructure
$3.7 million for Heat Relief Training
$1.5 million for Statewide Heat Call Center Operations
$500,000 for Critical Transportation Services
$130,000 for Statewide Heat Surveillance and Data Systems

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Contact Your Legislators
Ask: “Please support funding for Extreme Heat Mitigation in the FY2027 Arizona Budget.”

Find your lawmaker here: www.azleg.gov/findmylegislator

Share your stories:

Experiences with extreme heat
Cooling center or respite site experiences
Impacts on seniors, workers, families, unhoused neighbors, and medically vulnerable residents
Why heat relief matters in your community

Contact the Governor
Thank Governor Hobbs for supporting Extreme Heat Mitigation efforts and urge continued long-term investment in Arizona heat resilience and public health infrastructure. Contact the Governor here: azgovernor.gov/contact

Protect Sacred Land and Water: No Tailings on State Trust Land

We are at a critical time in the fight to protect the sacred at Oak Flat. In the fine print of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the mining operations is that after the mine closes, the Skunk Camp tailings dam will receive no further monitoring, inspection, maintenance, or review.).

Governor Hobbs is in a position to block Resolution Copper’s next step toward destruction. Arizona faith leaders and people of faith and spirit are invited to sign on to a letter to Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, calling on her to protect the state trust lands in Dripping Spring Valley from destruction,

SIGN THE LETTER:
(See the Calendar link on the linktr.ee in our bio.)

(this alert was shared with AFN by our partner, Arizona Interfaith Power & Light.

Our first set of donations were received and delivered to support City of Tucson Ward 6's Chill Space! Thank you to those who donated to support this effort to care for our community and this partnership to build resilient and safe communities.

The Chill Space at Ward 6 provides a free, low-barrier cooling and respite space for vulnerable community members during the summer heat season.

The Chill Space operates Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Ward 6 Office, located at the southeast corner of the Ward 6 Office.

The program is designed to support unsheltered individuals, seniors, medically vulnerable residents, low-income households, individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges, LGBTQIA+ residents, and others lacking reliable access to cooling resources during dangerous heat conditions.

Want to help with heat relief?

Here's our Amazon Wish List:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/34XRJLBAB12FI/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

Make a financial donation:
https://www.arizonafaithnetwork.org/become-a-donor

Community members interested in donating supplies or supporting the Cooling Center can contact: [email protected] or [email protected]. Donations of hydration supplies, hygiene items, snacks, and cooling resources are especially appreciated.