Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of profiles of board members and staff of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
Frank at the 2022 “Spring into Health — Page Health & Wellness Fair.”
COCONINO COUNTY — As per Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth’s Mission statement, “We ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families.”
For CCC&Y, it takes a variety of individuals to build that inclusive movement of people dedicated to transforming and healing our communities — volunteer board members, organizational and individual members, supporters and partners, and staff members.
To promote the work of CCC&Y, the Coalition has been assisted for nearly a decade by Outreach Coordinator Frank X. Moraga. Frank has worked at the Coalition since December 2014, staffing a variety of outreach events and community resource meetings from Flagstaff to Leupp, Williams, Tusayan, the Grand Canyon, Tuba City, Page and Fredonia. He currently facilitates the monthly Tuba City Community Resource meeting. He also produces the Coalition’s weekly e-newsletter.
Along with working for CCC&Y, Frank currently serves as vice president of the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and currently serves as vice president of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces (which is among the finalists selected for the “Excellence in Collaboration” 2024 Viola Award). He has served on the Coconino County Transportation Citizens Advisory Committee, is a former member of the Commission on Trial Court Appointments representing District 3 and a founding member of the Flagstaff Police Department Citizens Liaison Committee.
He is also the editor and publisher of www.AmigosNAZ.com, which provides information for and about the vibrant Latino community in Northern Arizona.
“It is such a pleasure and honor to work with Frank. I am constantly surprised to see how many groups, projects and entities Frank is connected to through the various hats he wears, and I am always pleased to see his genuine connection and heart for this community,” said CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie.
Sharing information and building community connections with a wide variety of people and cultures has long been Frank’s experience, dating back to his days as a newspaper journalist in Southern California.
The U.S. Navy veteran used his GI bill to become the first in his family to go to college, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in print journalism and history, with a focus on Latin history, from California State University, Long Beach.
He went on to serve as a community business reporter at the the Orange County Register, a community reporter at the Los Angeles Daily News and finally held a variety of positions at the Ventura County Star, including community reporter, business reporter, business editor, director of diversity and finally general manager of the Star’s bilingual publication.
“In addition to his compassion and commitment to the community, Frank has a fabulous sense of humor, is a committed husband, father and grandfather and comes up with great science exhibits for children when he tables at science events.” Watahomigie said. “I am not surprised to know how many people enjoy working with and knowing Frank Moraga. How many small nonprofits can say they have a classically trained journalist working with them?”
A student enjoys a game of magnetic tabletop basketball at the Page Early Childhood Fair in 2018.
Frank tries to hold down a canopy on a windy day at the FACT’s “Lights On” Carnival in Flagstaff on Sept. 30, 2023.