Politics of Place

Growing Black and Native Solidarity toward a shared liberated future

The desert blooms. 

Politics of Place emerged from a series of group discussions about what it means to live in the desert at a time of escalating climate change, rising heat, displacement, and deep inequity. We found ourselves asking difficult questions: Who has historically been made vulnerable by the design of our cities? Who has access to safety, shade, food, and belonging? And what becomes possible when Black and Native communities move beyond parallel struggles and toward shared futures?

Those conversations became the seed.

Led by InSite Consultants, a remarkable cross-cultural cohort of organizations came together to imagine a different way forward—one rooted in relationship, shared learning, and solidarity. The cohort includes Black River Life, Cahokia PHX, SavvyPen, Cihuapactli Collective, Mass Liberation Arizona and RE:FRAME Youth Arts Center, with support from LISC Phoenix.

Together, we've been exploring how land, food, environmental justice, cultural memory, and community care intersect. Rather than treating these as separate issues, Politics of Place invites us to understand them as deeply connected stories that shape our everyday lives and our collective future.

Across a series of public gatherings, participants have shared meals, engaged in dialogue, experienced art, and built relationships across cultures and histories. These moments have reminded us that solidarity is something we practice, one conversation and one shared experience at a time.

At Black River Life, we often say that narrative repair begins with proximity. Politics of Place has become a living example of that belief, creating space for communities to listen deeply, discover common ground, and imagine futures rooted in mutual liberation.

Read through the final report from our inaugural series of gatherings.

The work continues to blossom through the strength of these organizational partnerships, each bringing unique knowledge, lived experience, and community relationships to the table. Together, we're cultivating something that extends well beyond a single event series—a growing network of people committed to building a more just, connected, and resilient Arizona.

We invite you to explore the gallery below featuring moments from past Politics of Place gatherings. And if you'd like to be part of future conversations, join the Black River Life email list to stay informed about upcoming public events and opportunities to engage.