I love the practical wisdom of animals: the way they are perfectly shaped for their place in the world, and the way we humans catch glimpses of our own deeper truths in their habits. It all stirs my little former-park-ranger heart. Consider the Antelope Jackrabbit and the Desert Tortoise—yes, our very own Sonoran Desert version of the Tortoise and the Hare.
Antelope Jackrabbits are built for motion. Their remarkable ears (up to 8 inches!) radiate heat, they browse moisture from cactus and grasses, and when needed, they can run up to 40 miles per hour. They remind us that sometimes steady work needs a burst of well-timed speed.
Desert Tortoises are built for endurance. Protected by their sturdy carapaces and the burrows they create, they can live for decades upon decades, learning their home territory deeply and minutely. They remind us that lasting change is often less about sprinting and more about knowing where to place the next sure foot.
Last week, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona’s staff and trustees gathered for a retreat. We spent time learning about and appreciating the diverse ways we think, communicate, decide, and move. Our team has fast starters who love to test novel ideas, and careful stewards who make sure the right questions get asked and answered. It was a beautiful reminder that Southern Arizona needs both: the spark of momentum and the wisdom of the long view. A healthy desert ecosystem depends on many kinds of strength.
In their honor, October’s Steady Saguaro action list is for the beautiful Desert Tortoises among us: thoughtful, rooted, civic-minded, and fully capable of moving mountains over time.
· Prepare to vote. Arizonans do love our our lengthy ballot propositions. Take one steady step toward confident voting with neutral, nonpartisan information on your 2026 ballot—and how, where, and when to vote—from the League of Women Voters of Southern Arizona.
· Give early. A new federal charitable tax deduction in 2026 allows non-itemizers to deduct up to $1,000 in cash donations, or $2,000 for joint filers. Make your fall gift now, strengthen the nonprofits you love, and spare yourself, and your nonprofit friends, a December 31 scramble.
· Grow our own leaders. Applications open October 1 for Arizona Democracy Resilience Network’s Emerging Leaders for Community Change, a cohort for Arizonans ages 18–30 to build constructive dialogue skills and design community-building projects. Please share this opportunity.
· Collaborate with deep roots. On October 27, the Center for Healthy Nonprofits will host Meaningful Partnerships: Amplify Your Impact, a practical session on collaboration that can lead to deeper strategy, greater efficiency, and stronger impact.
As a 100% certified Southern Arizona Antelope Jackrabbit myself, I am especially grateful for the Desert Tortoises in my life—the fundholders, volunteers, colleagues, trustees, partners, and friends who complement speed with discernment, patience, and durable care for this place we call home.
Steady on,
Jenny Flynn
President & CEO
Community Foundation for Southern Arizona
