The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors this month voted to invest an additional $90,000 in Just Communities Arizona, a nonprofit that works to support underserved communities.

The investment will allow JCA to begin a Community Safety Incubator project model, giving local youth tools to develop solutions for community issues, according to a county release.

District 5 Supervisor Steve Gallardo said the program will assist young people by building "their self-esteem, life skills and problem-solving abilities to identify critical needs in their community.

“The CSI project model makes it easy for youth to come up with project ideas by providing them with all the materials they need to make an actionable difference."

The projects in District 5 will involve a dedicated Community Safety Team comprised of local youth who will collaborate with JCA staff and other community-based organizations to put their solutions into action, the release stated.

“Every CSI project is unique because it is led by the community,” Caroline Isaacs, executive director at JCA, said.

“In this case, a group of young people will identify what is most needed to increase safety and well-being in their community and bring their vision to life. We can’t wait to see their ideas come to fruition.”

Gallardo allocated $90,000 of Community Solutions Funding toward the initiative. The county budget provides each supervisor a set amount of Community Solutions Funding each year “to help advance Maricopa County’s strategic goals and provide clear public benefits for residents,” the release stated.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.