As the board members of Progress Arizona and Progress Arizona Institute, we are extremely excited to announce that the organizations’ new Executive Director will be Alex Alvarez.
Alex is a talented communications and digital strategist who comes to the organization with eight years of experience in Arizona movement and politics. Alex is a son of immigrants, attended Mesa Public Schools, and graduated from Arizona State University. He has worked in government and electoral spaces across Arizona, including working on statewide and Congressional campaigns.
Alex has been dedicated to strengthening political power for progressive organizations and candidates throughout his career, and we are thrilled that Alex will be bringing his leadership, skills and experience to Progress Arizona and Progress Arizona Institute.
Emily Kirkland, our outgoing executive director, has been with Progress Arizona and Progress Arizona Institute for five years. She served as co-director from July 2017 through August 2019, and then as Executive Director from 2019 through the present. Over that time, Progress Arizona and Progress Arizona Institute have grown from small organizations still in their start-up phase to vibrant comms and digital hubs. Working alongside many partners, Progress Arizona has helped stop countless attacks on democracy and our rights at the state legislature, has held politicians of both parties accountable, and has built the communications and digital capacity of Arizona’s progressive movement. We are very grateful to Emily for her years of leadership in guiding and growing both organizations!
As we look ahead to the next few years, and even the next few months, we know that we are facing critical fights around democracy, reproductive rights, public education, and more, not to mention a series of high-stakes elections this November and then again in 2024. We are so glad that Alex has chosen to step into this role: under his leadership, and with the continued support of our amazing staff, board and partners, we are more than ready to meet the demands of this moment and help build an Arizona that truly works for everyone.