Collaborative Effort Between Law Enforcement, Arizona Government, Business and Community Leaders

PHOENIX (PRWEB) JULY 10, 2020

The HeroZona Foundation has announced part two of their Bridge Forum ‘Time for Change’ series, which will take place on Tuesday, July 14 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the W Scottsdale (7277 E. Camelback Rd.) in Scottsdale. The event will be the second half of a two-part series discussing what it’s like to be Black in the USA and how to take actions to reach equality. This invitation-only event is a collaborative effort between law enforcement, Arizona government, businesses and community leaders. The forum will also be live streamed to the public on TheBridgeForum.com.

“We received incredible feedback and had instrumental dialogue during part one of the ‘Time for Change’ Bridge Forum series on June 23,” says HeroZona Foundation Founder and U.S. Army Desert Storm Veteran, Alan “AP” Powell. “I’m excited to continue to work towards bridging the gap between communities and law enforcement during our part two event.”

Sponsors for the Bridge Forum part two event includes Vitanya, Maserati Scottsdale, SRP, the W Scottsdale, City of Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Bridge Forum: Time for Change forum part one occurred on Tuesday, June 23 at the Travis L. Williams American Legion Post 65 and focused on current events within the black community and law enforcement to examine how communities can work together with police to create equality in the nation.

The event on July 14 will be moderated once again by the President & CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, National Director of the Million Man March, and Assistant to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Dr. Chavis first received international recognition in 1971 as the leader of the Wilmington Ten, he was wrongfully convicted of committing arson and received the longest sentence before becoming appealed in 1980.

The upcoming event will include a mix of panelists from prominent community members to policy and policing experts. This includes President & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Urban League, George Dean; Interim President for Scottsdale Community College, Dr. Chris Haines; President of East Valley NAACP, Roy M. Tatem Jr.; President of the Arizona Youth & College NAACP, Armonee D. Jackson; Chairman for the African American Christian Clergy Coalition, Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr.; President & CEO of the Phoenix Suns, Jason Rowley; Police Chief of the City of Scottsdale, Alan G. Rodbell; Chief Special Agent of Attorney General Arizona, Reggie Grigsby; Speaker Pro Tempore and Arizona State Representative of District 8, Thomas Ray “T.J.” Shope Jr.; Arizona State Representative from District 28, Aaron Lieberman; Deputy City Attorney, Luis Santaella and President & CEO of Goldwater Institute, Victor Riches.

The forum is supported by City of Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane; U.S. Congressman from Arizona’s 6th District, David Schweikert; Maricopa County Supervisor for District 2, Steve Churci and the President & CEO of Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, Mark Stanton.

The Bridge Forum ‘Time for Change’ part one included panelists such as General Manager for the Phoenix Suns, James Jones; Superintendent for the Roosevelt School District No. 66, Quintin Boyce; Arizona State Representative from District 27, Reginald Bolding; Chief Special Agent of Attorney General Arizona, Reggie Grigsby; President of the NAACP Arizona State Conference, Charles Fanniel and many other notable leaders.

The ‘Time for Change’ Bridge Forum is the 8th series by the HeroZona Foundation. Previous forums have included both high school and college aged participants in 2017 from South Mountain High School, and in November 2018 included participation from law enforcement and community leaders who discussed ways to better support veterans with recruitment, hiring, opportunities in service, veterans in crisis and support systems. In January 2018, the Scottsdale Police Department implemented 29 new initiatives from the Scottsdale Bridge Forum 2017, which included establishing sufficient resources for police personnel dealing with trauma, establishing dialogue opportunities with minority communities, enhancing engagement with the community’s youth and identifying ways to address the needs of the community related to behavioral health.

For more information about the Bridge Forum and to stream its upcoming event on Tuesday, July 14, visit thebridgeforum.com/.

About the HeroZona Foundation:
The mission of HeroZona Foundation is to create and empower Heroes in Phoenix communities. The HeroZona Foundation’s annual HeroZona National Veteran Summit created a multi-day networking experience to improve America’s support of veteran companies through workshops, networking, entrepreneurial connections, and seminars. The summit will return to Arizona for a fourth year in November 2020. Other programs include the Bridge Forum, Phoenix Tools 4 School, Play it Forward, Honor Walk, Veterans Reach to Teach, Voting for Veterans and Play It Forward. For more information, visit herozona.org