Goodyear resident Sherri Collins was awarded the Center for the Future of Arizona’s Civic Leadership Award for her work in deaf and hard-of-hearing advocacy.

The Center for the Future of Arizona, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, announced July 13 that Collins received its 2023 Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award for Civic Leadership.

Collins has served as executive director of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing since 1998. She acts as the commission’s CEO by advocating for state policies affecting deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind people.

“Thank you to the Center for the Future of Arizona and the selection committee for this great honor. It has been my distinct privilege to serve the community throughout Arizona these past 25 years as executive director of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing.  As this award exemplifies, when we work together, we can and do build a stronger and brighter future for Arizona,” said Collins during her acceptance speech.

Collins has made the ACDHH a vocal advocate for communication access, support services and community empowerment throughout the state.

In addition to her work with ACDHH, Collins serves on the newly founded board of associates for the National Telecommunication for the Deaf.

Known for breaking barriers and forward-thinking, innovative ideas, in 2020, Collins launched a statewide clear mask program, providing masks to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who read lips as a primary form of communication.

Collins has also connected with Phoenix Sky Harbor to add a video relay service to help deaf, hard of hearing and speech-challenged travelers. She has also partnered with the Apache ASL Trails apartment community to provide housing for persons who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing.

“As the first deaf lobbyist registered in the nation, it is my goal, along with my staff of 21, to educate and raise awareness among the general public to better understand the barriers deaf and hard of hearing face in their daily lives,” Collins said. “This year, we are launching the Age of Access initiative, a one-stop destination for resources, information, and programming for Arizona’s older adults who are deaf or experiencing hearing loss.  Our work will continue to make an impact and I am thrilled to accept this award that honors those efforts.”

The Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award was named after killed during a mass shooting 2011.

The program is a cooperative effort between CFA, the Zimmerman family and ACMA, highlighting the contributions nonelected public servants make to the communities they serve.

“CFA is honored to present the Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards as an essential part of advancing our focus on ‘The Arizona We Want’,” said Dr. Sybil Francis, chair, President and CEO of the organization. “While highly visible elected officials set policy direction and make important decisions, our nonelected public servants and the roles they fill are not as easily observed yet are vitally important to the quality of life in Arizona. We applaud the 2023 award recipients for their dedication, professionalism, and expertise in solving public problems and improving our communities."