From Crisis Response to Community Infrastructure: Conecta Arizona’s Impact Story

Community trust doesn’t happen by accident — it requires sustained investment. With support from The Pivot Fund, Conecta Arizona transformed from a newsroom operating in crisis mode into a stronger, more sustainable institution. The organization expanded coverage into Southern Arizona, strengthened its leadership team and grew a community network of more than 80,000 people through WhatsApp and social media.

“With strategic support, including the Pivot fund, Conecta Arizona transforms by building a strong foundation. We hired leaders to ensure editorial independence and financial sustainability, shifting from crisis management to a proactive strategic future,” said Conecta’s Development Director César Mendoza. “Pivot’s support gave us the room to build, allowing us to expand our reporting footprint in Phoenix and in the everyday needs of Southern Arizona, rather than only showing up when there is a crisis.”

A key part of that growth was the Pivot-supported hire of veteran journalist Paula Díaz, whose reporting is expanding bilingual coverage, multimedia storytelling and community conversations in Southern Arizona.

By investing in newsroom capacity, Conecta Arizona is reaching more communities with trusted, culturally relevant journalism while strengthening its long-term sustainability.