185 advocates from 28 districts in Arizona gathered at the State Capitol on Monday, February 23, 2026 for a day of advocacy.
Click here to see more exciting images of a wonderful day spent as people of faith, following God’s call to love and serve our neighbors through advocacy at the Arizona State Capitol.
We extend deep thanks to photographer Eric Ledermann (Eric O. Ledermann ©2026, www.ericoledermann.com) and to everyone who sent us your own images!
On a busy first day of Crossover Week, participants attended from 28 of our state’s 30 legislative districts, making friends and meeting with their lawmakers, building relationships and advocating on behalf of their neighbors.
Our day began on Wesley Bolin Plaza, with hot coffee and breakfast. Mark Engel, chair of the LAMA Policy Council, was this year’s emcee. Bishop Deborah Hutterer led us in a devotion, remarks and a prayer.
Featured speakers included Senator T.J. Shope (R), LD16; Representative Flavio Bravo (D), LD26; Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association (AzPHA); Angie Rodgers, deputy director of the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES); and Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest CEO Connie Phillips. At the conclusion of the remarks, participants met with their fellow district members and prepared for their meeting(s).
Listen to the speakers at the rally here.
A special thanks to our District Coordinators! We had many volunteers coordinate their own districts, making and handling appointments, getting to know fellow district participants ahead of time, identifying specific talking points and strategies for each meeting, and making sure everyone got where they needed to be. As everyone found their fellow district members, and Coordinators made sure everyone had the information they needed, groups began heading to the legislative buildings for the day.
The rest of the day was spent registering for Request to Speak (RTS) accounts, taking a tour of the Capitol (led by the ACM Education Team), talking with other participants, waiting, writing thank you notes, waiting and, of course, meeting with lawmakers while waiting. Our home base was the Senate Majority Caucus Room, where we enjoyed lunch catered by the United Methodist Outreach Group (UMOM)’s Helpings Café & Catering.
A few lawmakers and staff stopped in to share our meal with us — LD12’s Rep. Patti Contreras comes to mind — and we enjoyed remarks by Austin Bates of the Arizona Housing Coalition, Jessica Herbert of the Arizona Food Bank Network (AzFBN), and Rebecca Beebe of Arizona Capitol Connections.
Bishop Deborah Hutterer and Pastor Mike Girlinghouse offered the opening prayers in the Senate and the House chambers, respectively, and Sen. Shope, and Rep. Sarah Liguori (D) LD05, introduced our groups in the Senate and House galleries. Read Bishop Hutterer’s invocation here, read Pastor Girlinghouse’s invocation here.