An evening of snazzy clothes, cocktails, art, music and fine dining could be fun for you — but crucial for some of Arizona’s struggling men, women and children.

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.

Six years ago, Janine Skinner was a mother of three who was reentering the workforce. Some of the return was financial: the aforementioned kids were just a few years away from college. While serving as a youth event chaperone, she was introduced to Minnesota-based Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). That was the beginning of a six-year whirlwind.

When conversations first began about how to achieve the Arizona we want, we set an ambitious goal: Identify a vision and set goals for Arizona that could mobilize people and communities throughout the state.

The city’s Neighborhood Services Department is partnering with the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force to host a free foreclosure informational event from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at the South Mountain Community Center, Century Room, 212 E. Alta Vista Road.

Saying they can’t find qualified applicants for jobs, business leaders from around the state asked lawmakers Wednesday to support funding to implement the new “Common Core Standards.”

Saying they can't find qualified applicants for jobs, business leaders from around the state asked lawmakers Wednesday to support funding to implement the new "common core'' standards.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College was awarded a $2 million grant by the U.S. Department of Labor to revise and expand its Electrical Utility Technology program.

‘Amazing Women Needed for High Paying Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).” Now this is a message that grabs your attention. Exciting our future engineers, scientists and innovators is critical to the future of our economy, yet enticing women to these fields is falling behind.

"Amazing Women Needed for High Paying Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).” Now this is a message that grabs your attention. Exciting our future engineers, scientists and innovators is critical to the future of our economy, yet enticing women to these fields is falling behind.

U.S. / $38,637 / $39,791 / $41,560 / -- / 4.4%

Several years after the Arizona Board of Regents developed a statewide plan to reach the national average of adults with bachelor’s degrees to ensure an educated workforce for the state, Arizona is making steady progress toward that goal. New data from the 2011 American Community Survey shows that 26.6 percent of Arizonans 25 years of age or older hold a bachelor’s degree, up from 25.9 percent in 2010.

Arizona mayors formed the Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable recently, pledging to work together with their local school district and with other community leaders to prepare students to be college and career ready.

Why are you running for office?

Why are you running for office?

Why are you running for office?

Why are you running for office?

In her 50’s and after years of raising her family, Cyndi Newburn wasn’t sure what going back to work meant for her.

Jamie Jimenez, a 19-year-old illegal immigrant, dropped out of high school three credits short of a diploma, blaming slacking off and stomach problems.

Paris • Recessions around the world have pushed a growing number of young people out of education and out of the workforce, according to a report Tuesday that warned of growing danger for “the traditional pathway from school to work or family life.”

While illegal immigration has overshadowed virtually every issue in Arizona for years, it’s likely that the only universally known number involving Latino issues is 1070 — as in the state’s famous law.

While illegal immigration has overshadowed virtually every issue in Arizona for years, it’s likely that the only universally known number involving Latino issues is 1070 — as in the state’s famous law.

The president of the Arizona Board of Regents, Tom Anderes, has announced that he will not seek a contract extension to his existing three-year term ending June 30, 2013.

The two years of the 50th Arizona Legislature will go down in the history books as the years when the Legislature hit reboot on the Arizona economy and turned what was a basket case into a best case.

The two years of the 50th Arizona Legislature will go down in the history books as the years when the Legislature hit reboot on the Arizona economy and turned what was a basket case into a best case.