Three years ago, in the wake of a new Arizona law aimed at those in the country illegally, tens of thousands converged on the Capitol with a message: Today we march, tomorrow we vote.

Bethany Christian School (BCS) in Tempe, students and families participated in an Outreach Project to help and support homeless children from Children’s First Academy.

Pet rescue groups across the Valley are coming together with a three-year initiative to solve the problem of pet homelessness by fixing, adopting and saving Valley pets.

The Phoenix affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has hired Phoenix resident Lee San Miguel as its community health and mission programs director. In this position, Lee will oversee the Komen Phoenix affiliate’s current and future mission programs, including grant making, community outreach, education programs, community partnerships and public policy initiatives.

Claiming the measures target minorities, some groups are threatening to sue if lawmakers adopt new restrictions on early voting and who can take someone else's ballot to the polls.

Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick, executive vice chancellor and provost of the Maricopa Community Colleges, has been named one of the most influential Hispanic business leaders in Arizona by AZ Business Magazine. As the executive vice chancellor and provost, Harper-Marinick is chief academic and student officer for more than 265,000 students who attend each year.

To avoid “brain drain” during summer vacation, local schools in Ahwatukee Foothills are offering up educational programs for kids.

"Impactful, rowdy and rewarding” (and maybe a little tiring) is how I would describe the experience I had last year serving as a team captain for the 2012 Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA “Frames for Families” initiative. That’s a fancy way of saying “fundraising event,” which translates to “bowl-a-thon!” I was so impressed by the event and the result that I agreed to chair the event this year, along with my friend and fellow YMCA board member, Jim Hunt, local Farmers Insurance agent and all around Renaissance Man. In all seriousness, I am passionate about it because I have seen and heard the testimonials of families, kids and seniors in this community who have benefitted from the proceeds of this event.

Sharon Lagas still remembers the “tragedy” that shook her family more than a decade ago.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton would like to see more recycling in the city of Phoenix.

As part of NASA’s outreach to get young students excited about space and science, nearly 100 seventh-graders at Kyrene Centennial Middle School met and chatted with astronauts this week during a live video call.

In two and a half years and after helping form art and craft fairs, rummage sales, community partnerships, and new classes at the Pecos Senior Center, Terri Roza said all she did for the senior center was help the seniors see that they are in control.

Madison Callan and Isa Rivers, left to right, junior Girl Scouts, won a contest for best wagon design and theme at the Arizona State University Women In Engineering/Advancing Women in Construction cookie wagon building workshop last month as part of the Girl Scout “Gift of Caring” program.

Rooted in the area for the past 45 years, the Tempe Diablos are hosting their annual charity game this weekend to benefit the school program Rachel’s Challenge.

In the state Legislature, Sen. John McComish said the bills he usually works to pass are big-picture items that affect Arizona residents in indirect ways. So it was a nice change of pace he said to work on a bill that would have an immediate impact on a nonprofit that does a great service for the Ahwatukee Foothills community.

When people think of Jewish film, their minds tend to jump right to two subjects: religion and the Holocaust. While the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival certainly embraces those subject matters, executive director Jerry Mittelman ensures that they make up only a slice of the wide spectrum of films the fest has to offer.

Nearly every month, a group of about 15 students, parents and staff members gather as the Student Improvement Team (S.I.T.) for Horizon Community Learning Center in Ahwatukee, a group that mingles together voices to implement change.

When competing in speech and debate, Desert Vista High School senior Kohi Gill has one surefire remedy for stage fright.

She’s young, tall-model-slender, beautiful and with a song bird voice. I’ll call her Annie. And, today she sits in jail, serving a lengthy term for her history with drugs. Like so many others, her road to trouble started with alcohol.

Arizona State University President Michael Crow will receive the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society’s highest award for his support of veterans through his leadership, actions and advocacy.

Los Angeles   •   Dogs and cats can’t brush, spit, gargle or floss on their own. So owners who want to avoid bad pet breath will need to lend a hand.

Several Mesa residents hit the road to ring in the new year. But they weren’t looking to take part in normal New Year’s festivities like watching television as a glass ball descended a pole in Times Square, watching fireworks or clinking champagne glasses.

Desert Foothills United Methodist youth are getting a unique opportunity to spread Christmas cheer abroad by delivering donated gifts to needy families in Mexico.

When nighttime temperatures drop and days cool down, many of the community’s homeless end up on the streets without blankets, clothing and other necessities to keep them warm.