Shared Learning and Purpose from the UNITE Conference 

Phoenix, AZ | August 17, 2026.

Last Thursday, leaders, advocates, and community changemakers from across Arizona gathered at the Cottonwood Center for the 2026 UNITE Conference, organized by AZ Impact for Good. Each year, this gathering creates space for connection, professional growth, and cross-sector collaboration. For New Pathways for Youth, this year’s conference was especially meaningful because it gave us the opportunity to learn alongside our peers, share the impact of our work, and highlight our continued commitment to building pathways where every young person can realize their full potential. 

Spotlighting Caminos: Bridging the Representation Gap 

A major highlight for NPFY was the presentation led by Farrah Fiegener, VP of Community Impact, who shared the story and strategy behind Caminos. This targeted initiative was created to expand and deepen the engagement of Latino mentors within our volunteer community. Carlos Velasco, CEO and Founder of Novle, also joined the presentation, offering insight from his role supporting NPFY throughout this journey. 

The presentation centered on a fundamental challenge facing many mission-driven organizations: What do you do when you identify a representation gap within the community you serve? 

Like many organizations, New Pathways for Youth had to adapt and transform during the pandemic. That pause gave us time to reflect on what a truly inclusive mentor community should look like if it is to reflect the youth we serve. Those reflections gave birth to Caminos, which has grown from a strategic question into an impactful reality—building cultural bridges, unlocking new opportunities, and fostering mentorship rooted in shared identity and lived experience. 

The session resonated deeply with attendees, filling the room and sparking candid, energetic dialogue. Organizational leaders left with practical reflection frameworks to help identify and address representation gaps within their own work, while the conversation reinforced that culturally relevant engagement is more than a strategy—it is a fundamental driver of lasting community transformation. 

Sector Updates and Celebrating Arizona’s Changemakers 

The broader conference program also underscored the vital role of the nonprofit ecosystem in Arizona and across the nation. 

  • The Sector’s Economic & Social Footprint: Keynote speaker Diane Yentel, President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, outlined both the pressing challenges and clear pathways forward for mission-driven organizations. She highlighted the immense power of our collective workforce—noting that nonprofits employ 12.3 million people nationwide, with payrolls surpassing major industries such as construction, transportation, and finance.  
  • Advocacy & Legislative Insights: AZ Impact for Good shared vital policy updates and an overview of the current state of affairs impacting Arizona’s nonprofit sector. 
  • Inaugural AZ Impact for Good Awards: The event celebrated outstanding contributors across the sector, including: 

We celebrate and congratulate these inaugural awardees and extend our best wishes to David Martinez III, the organization’s new CEO. 

Moving Forward Through Learning and Shared Purpose 

Leaving the 2026 UNITE Conference, our team at New Pathways for Youth carries forward new learning, meaningful conversations, and shared experiences with peers across Arizona’s nonprofit sector. The conference created space to exchange ideas, reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing mission-driven organizations, and share our own journey through Caminos as part of a broader conversation about representation, belonging, and community impact. 

More than anything, the conference was a powerful reminder that our work is part of a larger, unified movement. We return to our day-to-day mission energized by new insights, strengthened by the wisdom and experiences shared by our peers, and deeply committed to continuing the transformative work of empowering young people to realize their full potential.