Statement by Living United for Change in Arizona & The Copper Courier
PHOENIX – Nearing the 2024 Presidential election cycle, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) has formed a partnership with The Copper Courier to highlight important work happening in the organization and give a voice to our communities through thoughtful, and credible editorial and think piece writings. LUCHA aims to work with The Copper Courier to combat disinformation from right-wing propaganda, defend our Democracy, and better inform our communities. The dynamic media partnership marks an exciting and transformative moment that will allow LUCHA to take its work in the community to the next level.
The Copper Courier and LUCHA share several core values: empowering communities through knowledge, economic justice, expanding access to health care and child care, addressing the climate crisis, and reducing inequality in all forms. This partnership will allow both organizations to work together to more effectively bring good information to our communities surrounding these topics and providing communities with the tools they need to safely and responsibly participate in the democratic process.
LUCHA is a prominent grassroots member-led organization dedicated to social and economic justice that has been at the forefront of many legislative and electoral fights. It fights for communities and empowers Arizonans to regain power to deliver reforms. The organization has trained hundreds of organizers across the state, knocked on over a million doors, and registered hundreds of thousands of voters since 2010. Over a decade of work has led to significant triumphs, defeating former Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, SB1070, former Gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, and U.S. President Donald Trump. While also crucial in electing leaders like Arizona Rep. Raquel Teran, Mayor Regina Romero, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, President Joe Biden, and Gov. Katie Hobbs. Beyond the electoral work, LUCHA has focused on putting members and community first, utilizing community input as a guiding force for the organization. In the end, LUCHA has been a force in shaping the political landscape in Arizona, taking power back and giving it back to the community.
The Copper Courier is a civic media company and a well-respected voice in media in Arizona. They aim to protect and strengthen our Democracy through credible, fact-based journalism to create a more informed, engaged, and representative America. The Copper Courier reaches audiences who do not regularly engage with civic information and are unlikely to subscribe to paywalled media outlets, delivering their reporting on the social platforms readers use most frequently. The Copper Courier is as authentic in the news world as they come. It is owned by Good Information Inc. and supported by reader contributions, sponsors, philanthropic donations, and corporate underwriting. They maintain an editorial firewall between their newsroom and underwriters, sponsors, and donors and do not accept funding from any national or state political party, party committee, candidate, or campaign.
LUCHA does not dictate The Copper Courier’s editorial coverage, nor does this partnership mean The Copper Courier will attempt to direct LUCHA’s grassroots efforts to issues they report on. The organizations will work together to ensure reporters source their stories using members of underrepresented communities and marginalized voices, that reporting will focus on information of value to everyday Arizonans—not political insiders—and that reporting will quickly be distributed to those need it in a way that is accessible to them.
Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona:
“We are thrilled to team up with The Copper Courier; our partnership will revolutionize the media landscape in Arizona with our collective voices. We are thrilled to collaborate with such a respected force in the media committed to fact-based journalism that amplifies marginalized voices. Their approach to news media is revolutionizing the industry and attracting thousands of new readers every year. This partnership will ensure we go on the offensive, utilize the transformative power of the media to properly inform our communities, and fight the surge of disinformation during the 2024 election and beyond.”
Martin Nieves, Community Development Manager, The Copper Courier: “In the ever-evolving tapestry of Arizona’s media scene, joining forces with LUCHA is not just a strategic move but a personal one for all of us here at The Copper Courier. We’re deeply passionate about fostering authentic, community-driven narratives. Collaborating with LUCHA means we’re not only enriching our journalistic endeavors but also ensuring they resonate deeply with the grassroots heartbeat of our beautiful state. The challenge of the digital age, particularly as we get close to the pivotal 2024 presidential election, is to counteract disinformation. Together, our unified voice will not just echo but will resonate with truth, passion, and an unwavering commitment to the Arizonans we proudly serve and report to.”
Camaron Stevenson, Founding Editor and Chief Political Correspondent, The Copper Courier
“As a civic media newsroom, we strive to bring attention to issues that matter to the communities we report about and to amplify voices that are too often underrepresented in traditional news coverage. We also have seen firsthand how quickly misinformation can spread and how crucial it is to get the correct information out quickly in online spaces where people get their information. Partnering with LUCHA is an exciting next step to further these goals and to provide news coverage to countless Arizonans who otherwise might not have the opportunity to access reporting on topics that directly impact their lives.”
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Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) organizes low- and moderate-income and minority families to take action on the issues most important to them and advance the cause of social and economic justice for all. Working in collaboration with our sister organization, ACE, LUCHA incorporates leadership development with grassroots issue-based campaigns, advocacy, and civic engagement to create an Arizona in which every resident has an equal voice in determining the policies and shaping the decision-making bodies that will govern our communal life.
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