November 2025

MATFORCE provides the community with both in-person and virtual parenting skills events

Yavapai County, AZ – MATFORCE, a primary prevention organization, is dedicated to preventing youth substance use. This November, they are hosting two complementary events designed to enhance parenting skills and offer additional support to parents within the community.

Parenting in the 21st Century: Strategies for Thriving in Today’s World Presented by Beth Dunn, MS, LPC, in partnership with Acorn Montessori School, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Acorn Montessori School, 7555 E. Long Look Drive, Prescott Valley.

Parenting has evolved, and this workshop is essential for all parents and caregivers. This interactive and inspiring session will help you focus on the most crucial aspects of parenting: Being Present, Communicating Effectively, Nurturing Growth and Accountability and Balance.

This free community event does not require registration. For questions, contact MATFORCE at (928) 708-0100 or at info@matforceaz.org. This event is in collaboration with Acorn Montessori School.

Parenting the Love and Logic Way®: This virtual 5-week course will be held on Tuesdays, November 18th and 25th, and December 2nd, 9th, and 16th, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and will be facilitated by Kimberly Gregory.

The Love and Logic manner of parenting highlights the importance of a strong, loving connection between parents and children to encourage positive behavior and sound choices.

In this class, the facilitator will tackle common daily challenges faced by parents and caregivers. Strategies will be shared to help parents discipline children while preserving their love and respect, foster personal responsibility and effective decision-making in children, build lasting relationships, and reinforce positive behavior.

Registration for this free event is required, and the registration deadline is Friday, November 14, 2025. For more information or to register for this Parenting the Love and Logic Way®course, email MATFORCE at info@matforceaz.org or call (928) 708-0100. Seating is limited for this free, virtual class.

MATFORCE is a community organization that educates and raises awareness about substance abuse issues, and advocates for policy change throughout Yavapai County. With over 300 active volunteers, MATFORCE encompasses the belief that stopping drug use before it starts through primary prevention strategies is an essential part of building healthier communities. Programs of MATFORCE include drug prevention education in schools, the Yavapai Reentry Project, Trauma Lens Care, public awareness and education campaigns, and advocating for policy change at the state and local level. For more information about MATFORCE visit matforce.org or our family of websites: MarijuanaHarmlessThinkAgain.org | OpioidOD.com | YavapaiReentryProject.org | TraumaLensCare.org | SACLAz.org | NaloxoneAZ.com | TalkNowAZ.com | LearnMoreAZ.org | TheNewMeth.com | CommunityReentryProjectsAZ.org | AZDrugSummit.org

The Aspen Institute Names Yavapai College a Top 200 U.S.

 Community College Eligible for the 2027 Aspen Prize

$1 Million Prize Honors Colleges Achieving Strong Student Results, Both in College and After Graduation

Prescott, Arizona (Oct. 28, 2025) – Today, the Aspen Institute named Yavapai College as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The 200 colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates. Started in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize. 

“A primary mission of Yavapai College is to transform lives and ensure our students have the best education possible and are well prepared when they leave college and enter the workforce,” said Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of Yavapai College. “We have made several advancements in recent years to improve the college experience for our students, including being the first community college in the country to offer a three year bachelor’s degree. I am honored the Aspen Institute has recognized Yavapai College to compete for this prestigious honor.”

Together, these 200 colleges represent the breadth and diversity of the community college sector. They are located in urban, rural, and suburban areas across the country and serve anywhere from a few hundred students to tens of thousands. Some of these colleges focus primarily on workforce programs, while others focus on transfer and bachelor’s attainment or a combination of the two.  

“The Aspen Prize rewards colleges that achieve the kind of outcomes that actually matter to students—completing college degree programs that, in turn, lead to lifelong success,” said Josh Wyner, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “Aspen Prize winners offer a powerful message: Community colleges can deliver the kind of life-changing education that makes the American Dream real.” 

Community colleges educate nearly six million students. Yet, community college student outcomes fall short in both the rate at which students graduate and the percentage of students who achieve success after graduation. The Aspen Prize process identifies and celebrates community colleges that demonstrate that achieving stronger outcomes is possible, providing a roadmap of effective practices and strategies for other colleges to follow.  

The 200 eligible colleges have been invited to submit an application and participate in a rigorous review process that will culminate in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027. Over the coming 20 months, the colleges that apply for the Aspen Prize will be assessed based on (1) student outcomes data, ranging from student transfer and completion rates to employment and wages after graduation; and (2) whether they have engaged in scaled practices that led to high and improving student outcomes.  

“Among these 200 colleges are some really special places that deliver strong and improving outcomes for students across the board,” Wyner said. “Our job over the coming 20 months is to gather a lot more data and work with a deep bench of field experts to assess which of these 200 stand out so we can not only honor them with a monetary award, but drive attention to the most effective field practices that other colleges can replicate.” 

This is the first time since the inception of the Aspen Prize that 200 colleges are eligible to apply, growing from 150. This year, in addition to publicly available federal data, over 600 colleges authorized the use of National Student Clearinghouse data on their institution’s degree completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates for full- and part-time students.  

The full list can be accessed on the Aspen Prize homepage online at as.pn/prize.

The next steps in the process include: 

• November 13/December 9, 2025: Application deadlines for the 2027 Prize  
• April 2026: Announcement of 25 semifinalists, selected based on assessments of extensive data and the application by a group of 11 experts in community colleges, higher education, and workforce 
• June 2026: Announcement of 10 finalists, selected by the same group of experts 
• Fall 2026: Collection of additional data from the 10 finalists, including employment and earnings data for graduates from 2020 and 2025, as well as qualitative assessments of practices by field experts during multi-day site visits to each of the 10 finalists 
• February 2027: The Aspen Prize winner selected by a distinguished, independent jury  
• Spring 2027: Announcement of the Aspen Prize winner and celebration of the 10 finalists at an event in Washington, D.C. 

To read more about the selection process, visitas.pn/prize.

Prescott Valley Announces Open House for Former Wheelhouse Facility at the Fairgrounds

     The Town of Prescott Valley is hosting a community Open House at the Town-owned facility

formerly known as The Wheelhouse, located near the Fairgrounds on 10401 State Route 89A.

The event will take place onsite at the Fairgrounds facility on Sunday, November 16, from 3:30-

5pm.

     This Open House provides an opportunity for residents to tour the facility, meet Town

representatives, and learn more about the Town-owned facility project. Attendees are

encouraged to share their ideas, ask questions, and provide feedback on what they envision for

the future of the Fairgrounds facility.

All community members are welcome. For more information, please contact Bobby Kieren,

Parks & Recreation Director, as 928-759-3036.

People Who Care Volunteer Orientation Meetings

Your time and kindness can change lives! By volunteering with People Who Care, you can help non-driving older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those with vision loss access healthcare, food, companionship, and even use household technology. Your support empowers our Neighbors to live independently and thrive in their own homes. We offer flexible volunteer options and mileage reimbursement to support our volunteers as they serve. To get more information, please join us at our monthly volunteer orientation.

Our monthly volunteer orientation meetings will be held on Wednesday, November 19^th, and Wednesday, December 17^th, at our Prescott office, located at 1580 Plaza West Drive. Call now to register for an orientation meeting, 928-445-2480. Please join us and become one of the People Who Care!

Prescott Valley Town Council Approves Significant Water Project Grants

The Prescott Valley Town Council approved two substantial grants at the October 23, 2025 Council

meeting, paving the way for innovative water conservation and public health initiatives crucial to

the Town's sustainable future. These projects, funded through state programs, underscore

Prescott Valley's commitment to responsible water management and ensuring safe, reliable

drinking water for its residents.

The first project, focusing on stormwater recharge, will be funded through the Water Infrastructure

Finance Authority (WIFA) with a total of $664,358, structured as a 60 percent loan and 40 percent

grant. This funding will support the construction of test basins designed for stormwater recharge.

One of these basins will feature Parjana’s IRIS system, which will be compared to a control basin

without the system. The primary objective of this project is to significantly increase the speed at

which stormwater infiltrates into the ground, thereby enhancing groundwater replenishment and

reducing the potential for valuable water loss through evaporation.

The second critical initiative addresses drinking water quality through the State Revolving Fund –

Drinking Water program, receiving $4,170,000. This substantial funding is provided as a loan with

an impressive 90 percent principal forgiveness, demonstrating strong state support for the project.

The funds will be used to install advanced PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) treatment,

specifically through an ion exchange system, at the Quailwood Well #3. This installation is vital for

effectively removing PFAS contaminants, ensuring the continued safety and quality of Prescott

Valley’s drinking water supply.

These projects represent significant steps forward in Prescott Valley’s efforts to conserve water

resources and protect public health, leveraging state partnerships to bring cutting-edge solutions

to the community.

Yavapai College Named Among 2025 Top Women-Led, Employee-Friendly Workplaces

College also cited for professional development opportunities

Prescott, Arizona (October 23, 2025) – Yavapai College has been named a Top Woman-Led Workplace and listed as a Top Workplace in the categories of Employee Appreciation, Well-Being, and Professional Development by Energage, an independent organization that builds and brands top workplaces.

Top Workplace awards are based solely upon employee feedback captured on the Energage Workplace Survey. Energage collects data from more than 23 million surveys at over 70,000 organizations, making it the most accurate employer recognition benchmark program available. In March, Yavapai College was named one of the ‘Top Workplaces of 2025 by USA Today.

“We have worked hard to build a culture at Yavapai College where our faculty and staff can flourish and continue to grow in their careers, because when our workforce is thriving it has a positive impact on the quality education we are providing to our students, said Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of Yavapai College. “It is an honor to be recognized for the commitment Yavapai College has to building an organization where our faculty and staff thrive.”

Yavapai College was cited for particularly strong numbers among Woman-Led Workplaces, Employee Appreciation within the workplace, Employee Well-Being, and Professional Development opportunities. The Top Workplaces program has a 17-year history of surveying and celebrating people-first organizations nationally and across sixty regional markets. Details about how Yavapai College builds a great workplace culture are available here.

Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over one hundred degrees and certificates, four baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about YC, visit www.yc.edu.

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