Phoenix (STN) – Another packed house inside STN Studios brought together nonprofit leaders, educators, business executives, and changemakers focused on a common challenge: how to build stronger systems while navigating rapid change across Arizona.
The May episode of ‘It Happens at STN’ opened with UMOM CEO Monique Lopez and COO Meaghan Rodeck discussing the organization’s new summer heat relief initiative for families experiencing homelessness. The conversation focused on collaboration during crisis and how organizations can better identify their strengths while working together to address growing community needs.
That spirit of collaboration carried into a conversation with Greater Phoenix Economic Council President and CEO Chris Mackay, who introduced the organization’s new “A New Way to City” campaign, designed to reshape national perceptions of Greater Phoenix as a hub for innovation, technology, and investment.
WATCH: ‘It Happens at STN’ Episode 9, Season 4
The episode also highlighted sustainability and workforce development efforts underway at Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona. CEO Tim O’Neal and Chief Sustainability Officer Beth Forsberg shared how the organization is using partnerships, material recovery systems, and emerging AI technology to rethink waste, recycling, and economic opportunity.
Artificial intelligence remained a major theme throughout the show as University of Phoenix leaders Marc Booker and Nathan Jones explained how the institution is embedding AI into curriculum development, workforce training, and ethical decision-making to help students and employers adapt to rapid technological change.
The conversation then shifted to the future of education and childhood development as Children’s Museum of Phoenix CEO Kate Wells discussed the organization’s $23.5 million expansion project and the importance of investing in early childhood learning spaces built around creativity, play, and collaboration.
Closing out the episode, leaders from Mercy Care and Central Arizona Shelter Services examined food insecurity through a systems-level lens. Laurie Munn of Mercy Care and CASS CEO Nathan Smith explored how strategic partnerships, targeted grants, and coordinated support systems can improve outcomes for older adults experiencing homelessness while strengthening workforce readiness and long-term stability.
Across every segment, one theme remained consistent: Arizona’s biggest challenges will require organizations willing to innovate, collaborate, and rethink traditional approaches to build stronger communities for the future.
Season 4 of ‘It Happens at STN’ wraps with the season finale on May 21. Tickets are still available, and the episode will debut online in June.
