Rio Reimagined Ambassador Selected
Hummingbird Collective to serve as liaison between local partners and the federal government
PHOENIX (October 31, 2023)
— Helping to protect rivers that connect diverse communities within the
Maricopa region. Implementing strategies to revitalize the communities
and amenities along the Salt and Gila rivers. Serving as a liaison among
local and tribal governments, Arizona State University, and a variety
of entities in the Rio Reimagined Partnership, with the federal
government. Those will be a few of the responsibilities of a newly named
“Rio Reimagined Ambassador” in support of the Rio Reimagined
initiative.
Hummingbird
Collective Consulting LLC and its founder, Cindi Ptak, will serve in
the ambassador role. Ptak will serve as a liaison between local partners
and the federal government as part of the Urban Waters Federal
Partnership. Funding for the position is provided by local partners, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the USDA Forest Service. ✓ A
multidisciplinary team of Rio Reimagined partners recommended the
selection of Cindi Ptak. The Maricopa Association of Governments will
host the ambassador on behalf of the partners.
“We
are excited to serve as the host for the ambassador. The selection of
the ambassador will reinforce and extend the goals of the initiative to
strengthen communities, promote economic development, and protect the
river ecosystem as a valued natural and cultural asset,” said MAG Chair
and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “This partnership will provide a
sanctuary of public spaces that unite us throughout the region and
enrich our lives through access to open space and recreation.”
The
ambassador will provide valuable support to the communities and local
and tribal governments located along the Salt and Gila River corridor,
including Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Buckeye, Goodyear, Avondale, Salt River
Pima Maricopa Indian Community, and Maricopa County. Additional members
of the Rio Reimagined Advisory Group include Arizona State University
and SRP. Beyond the Advisory Group, a myriad of public, private,
nonprofit, agencies and community-based organizations partner on Rio
Reimagined.
✓ Ptak
says she is committed to empowering the Rio Reimagined partners with
the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to “claim their seat” at
the federal funding table.
“Through
collaborative planning, our work will be impactful, sustainable, and
consistent with the goals of reconnecting the community to the river,
being a catalyst for economic growth, and building an unprecedented
regional destination,” said Ptak.
✓ 2017, the late U.S. Senator John McCain asked his friend and colleague
Dr. Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University (ASU), to bring
ASU’s research expertise, organizational resources, and experience with
large-scale urban planning projects to the Rio Reimagined project.
“On
behalf of Arizona State University (ASU) and the Rio Reimagined
Partnership, we look forward to working with Cindi as the RIO Ambassador
to the Urban Waters Federal Partnership,” said Maggie Soffel, Senior
Director of the Rio Reimagined Initiative at ASU. “Cindi’s experience
and deep understanding of the federal space will serve the RIO
Partnership well. I look forward to working closely with Cindi to secure
critical resources for ensuring the initiative’s success.”
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