Avance Community Neighborhood Alliance - A Block Watch Organization

03/13/2026

03/13/2026

Last two dates coming up March 21 and April 4.

03/07/2026

Safety Starts with Knowledge — Community Training Opportunity

One of the goals of Block Watch is helping neighbors keep each other safe. Sometimes that means watching out for suspicious activity. Other times, it means knowing how to respond when someone in our community is in crisis.

Our community partners at the South Mountain WORKS Coalition are offering a free in-person training series called “Love in Action: Community Harm Reduction Academy.”

This academy focuses on practical tools that help neighbors recognize and respond to situations involving substance use, overdose, and community health risks. Topics include:

• Harm Reduction & community healing
• Understanding stigma and systems of harm
• Building stronger community care
• Overdose prevention and Naloxone (Narcan) training

These are real skills that can help save lives and strengthen the safety of our neighborhoods.

March 11, March 18, March 25
12:00–2:00 PM
Wesley United Methodist Church – 750 E Southern Ave

You can attend one session or complete all three and receive a Community Harm Reduction Academy certification, with the opportunity to become a community trainer.

Block Watch works best when neighbors are informed, prepared, and connected. This training is another way we can build a safer South Mountain together.

🔗 Register here: bit.ly/4aFuH71

Please feel free to share with neighbors, friends, and community groups.

Love in Action is a community harm reduction academy centered on compassion, dignity, and collective care.  This academy is offered across three in-person sessions: Session Dates: March 11, March 18, and March 25 Time: 12:00–2:00 PM Location: Wesley United Methodist Church, South Mountain (At...

02/25/2026

From Phoenix Public City of Phoenix Public Works Department
---
Dear Phoenix Solid Waste customers,

Recently, the Phoenix Public Works Department proposed to City Council an adjustment to the monthly residential solid waste rate. The proposed adjustment would be spread out over the course of the next three years, as shown in the charts below.
Since the last Council-approved rate adjustment made in 2020, vehicle costs have gone up by 52%, construction and maintenance costs for critical infrastructure have increased by 40%, and staff costs have risen 32%. Because the Solid Waste Division operates as an enterprise fund, it does not receive any money from the City’s taxpayer-funded General Fund. The majority (86%) of the revenue Solid Waste brings in comes from the monthly fee customers pay (currently $37.32) for residential solid waste services.

The proposed rate adjustments will ensure revenues keep pace with rising expenses, and allow Public Works to continue providing the current level of services our customers rely on.

We want to hear from you
In order to give customers a chance to provide feedback or to have questions answered, we will host several community info sessions over the next two months. Unless noted otherwise, these meetings will be conducted in English with Spanish interpretation available.

February 25, 2026 6:00 p.m.
Paradise Valley Community Center

March 3, 2026 (conducted in Spanish) 6:00 p.m.
Maryvale Community Center

March 4, 2026 6:00 p.m.
South Mountain Community Library

March 10, 2026 6:00 p.m.
Washington Activity Center

March 12, 2026 (conducted in Spanish) 6:00 p.m.
Desert West Community Center

March 16, 2026 (virtual only) 10:00 a.m.
Virtual meeting via Webex

March 17, 2026 6:00 p.m.
Encanto Park Clubhouse

March 19, 2026 6:00 p.m.
Beuf Community Center

March 25, 2026 6:00 p.m.
Deer Valley Community Center

To learn more about the proposed solid waste rate adjustment, visit phoenix.gov/swrate2026. There you can see a breakdown of what your monthly bill might look like in the future, along with important documents and financial data the Public Works Department has presented to City Council.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming community meetings, and we value your time and input to help us continue to provide essential solid waste services to our growing community.

Respectfully,
Solid Waste Division
Phoenix Public Works Department
602-262-6251
solid.waste@phoenix.gov

02/25/2026

Read below to learn about the help available for survivors of female s*x trafficking with minor children.

02/19/2026

Water safety is a year-round commitment. If you know anyone who might want to learn to lifeguard share this link.

Learn about working as a summer lifeguard at Phoenix pools. Gain valuable skills, earn money, and keep your community safe. Apply online.

02/12/2026

Area meeting adjacent to Avance (area 42).

02/12/2026

SAVE THE DATE - Get educated on Human Trafficking and Labor Trafficking. Broadway Heritage Center, 2405 E Broadway Rd, on 02/24 at 6 PM.