September 8, 2025 • 34 mins
How does a state like Arizona – not even in existence when the Declaration of Independence was signed – celebrate America's 250th birthday? Secretary of State Adrian Fontes joins us to share the ambitious and creative plans underway for America 250 AZ, a multi-year celebration culminating in 2026.
Far from being just another patriotic party, this semi-quincentennial celebration showcases Arizona's unique perspective on American history. As Fontes explains, our land was very much "in existence" in 1776, home to indigenous peoples and later visited by Spanish explorers (including Fontes' own ancestors). This rich tapestry of cultures continues to define Arizona's approach to commemorating national milestones.
The centerpiece of Arizona's celebration is Passport 250, a statewide initiative encouraging residents and visitors to explore the Grand Canyon State through themed experiences. From Dine 250 promoting local eateries to Hike 250 showcasing our natural beauty, each program invites participation while supporting local communities. The Liberty Bell project will create a mobile museum around Arizona's replica Liberty Bell, touring communities throughout the state before returning to a new ceremonial base containing time capsules for future generations.
Perhaps most inspiring is the story behind the America 250 AZ logo, created by a 17-year-old high school student whose artwork now heads to the Smithsonian. This exemplifies what Fontes sees as the celebration's core message: how ordinary individuals connect to our extraordinary collective achievement. Through this commemoration, he hopes Arizonans will gain both humility about our place in history and gratitude for those who helped build our society.
Want to get involved? Visit https://azsos.gov/az250 to discover upcoming events and opportunities to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration that brings together our past, present, and future as Arizonans and Americans.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Should be fun, then yes.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Okay, Welcome everyone to the Civics.
Let's see, I got to start again.
Welcome everyone to the ArizonaCivics Podcast.
I am very excited about ourguest today and about our topic.
Our guest today is ourSecretary of State here in
Arizona, Secretary Adrian Fontes, and today we are going to talk
(00:25):
about America 250 AZ.
So, Secretary Fontes, thank youso much for being here.
Can you tell us what is America250 AZ and why this anniversary
is significant for the state ofArizona?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Well, first, thanks for having me, and this is an
anniversary that's significantfor the entire nation and, some
of us proud Americans wouldargue, for the whole world.
In 1776, the Declaration ofIndependence was signed, and
this coming year 2026, will bethe semi-quincentennial of the
signing of the Declaration ofIndependence, and so we figured
(01:01):
we'd throw a big old party, andthere are states organizing
across the country really to dojust that.
It's a very, very big deal.
A quarter of a millennia willmark for this nation a heck of a
lot of achievements, and Ithink that's a significant if
not a severe understatement yourunderstatement.
(01:29):
The Arizona America 250Commission in Arizona has been
underway and rolling through itswork for well over a year now,
a year and a half almost.
We were created by session lawby our state legislature a few
years ago.
About a year and a half or somore or less ago, the governor
appointed me to the commissionand the commission then
organized and elected me to bethe chair.
(01:50):
So I'm very proud to be thechair of the Arizona America 250
Commission and we've been doingeverything since then, hiring
staff and getting organized andmaking things happen so we can
do a lot of really cool stufffor a whole bunch of reasons,
not just throwing parties, buthelping people understand the
significance and importance of250 years of declaring ourselves
(02:11):
independent from tyranny andall of the other good things
that come along with our historyand heritage.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
So Arizona was not in existence right in 1776.
We wait till 1812.
In existence right in 1776.
We wait till 1812.
So how will Arizona's uniquehistory and contributions be
highlighted in the nationalcelebration?
Because I might be biased, butI think Arizona has got it going
on when it comes to celebratingthings, especially our country.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I think there would be some people who would have a
little bit of a different view.
Arizona was absolutely inexistence back then.
We just weren't called Arizona.
We were called by a whole bunchof other names, by a whole
bunch of different people.
In fact, I'm uniquelypersonally proud to be part of
this celebration.
I myself had an ancestor whowas 25 years before the
(03:09):
Declaration was out, here inthese parts of the world, riding
with the Spanish cavalry, and Ihave, you know, a long family
history in Southern Arizona andNorthern Mexico, what is now
Southern Arizona and NorthernMexico, and so do a lot of other
people from a lot of differentplaces.
Arizona is a really magical sortof a space where, not the way
(03:32):
that many other parts of thecountry, had a serious and
longstanding indigenouspopulation that was chased off
their land.
But they're still here andthey're still here guarding
their land.
And more people came from otherparts.
Some people came south to north, some people came east to west
and, frankly, some people camefrom overseas and were brought
(03:54):
over to work in railroads and inother ways, as so many
immigrants from China were.
So we're really kind of thelast frontier, we're the last of
the 48 contiguous states togain statehood in 1912.
And there's a fun story behindthat too.
We have this unique mix of allthings American, including our
(04:16):
politics, our food, our culture,our music and everything else.
We are the most geographicallydiverse state in the Union,
which I think is an incrediblething, particularly given the
physical size advantage thatstates like California or Texas
have over Arizona, and I thinkwe've got one of the most
(04:37):
colorful histories of any statein the Union when you look back
at some of the great storiesthat have emerged just over the
last couple centuries.
We're a great place.
I would agree with you, and Ithink we have a lot to celebrate
.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
So can I know what one of your favorite stories is?
Because I know a lot of reallygreat stories about our state,
but I'd love to hear what one ofyours is Well being in public
service.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
A lot of people ask me about like, tell me about
Arizona politics, and I say youdon't need to know about
politics.
Today.
Let me tell you a story aboutour founding, and I'll shorten
it up for you because it can bequite long and involved.
In 1910, arizona had astatehood convention and we sent
our proposed constitution toWashington DC and the president
(05:23):
Taft said no because it was tooprogressive.
This was the progressive era,and we included the election for
retention of judges in ourConstitution, and that was a
step too far for the president.
New Mexico got statehood,because they submitted around
the same time, but we did not,and so he sent it back and we
convened the exact same peoplewhich I think was a feat in the
(05:47):
constitutional convention.
They took a vote and amendedthe constitution, sent it back
to Washington DC.
Of note, they didn't retype it,they didn't resign it and they
didn't redate it.
All they did was attach theamendment and set it back to
Washington DC.
Time goes by, it goes throughits thing and a little over a
(06:08):
year later, in February, early1912, president Taft signs the
Declaration of Statehood, which,if you read it, spells out this
story.
And then Arizona becomes astate.
On February 14th 1912, which is, of course, not only statehood
day, but it's St Valentine's DaySome people celebrate.
And then one of the firstthings that Arizona did as a
(06:33):
state was amend the Constitutionand take out the amendment that
we had sent to Washington DC.
So when people ask about Arizonapolitics and how we are, I let
them know this story, because wehave this crazy organized
independence.
We always manage to get thingsdone.
We manage to get big thingsdone, and that's just a small
example.
(06:53):
And we do it together and we doit in a way that nobody could
predict, but it just happens.
And so the fun epilogue of thatstory is, you know, I'm in
charge of the State Library,archives and Public Records.
That's one of the pieces of myportfolio and in the State
Archives we have two originaltyped versions of the
(07:15):
Constitution, the original onesthat were signed by the
Constitutional Convention.
Both of them, of course, as Isaid, dated 1910, when our
statehood is 1912.
And that's why.
So you know, that to me is oneof my favorite stories about
this state, as I sit here in myoffice literally overseeing the
(07:35):
Copper Dome, which is the onlyCopper Dome state capital.
I believe in the United States,so I'm just a lucky guy that I
get to do what I do.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
I love that story too , and I also love that the next
presidential election Taft didnot win Arizona, Like Arizona,
can get things done yeah,surprise, surprise, sorry,
president Taft, yeah.
So what roles then do theschools in our state and
educators play in helpingconnect students with the 250th
(08:08):
anniversary?
Because I think you know Itaught in Arizona for 17 years
and I think a lot of times kidsare like, oh, that happened 250
years ago, like who cares?
But how can we help connect ourstudents with this?
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, Well, you know, I think that innovation is a
really good way, I think.
Let me give you a great examplefrom pop culture.
You know, nobody had too muchof an idea who Alexander
Hamilton was until Lin-ManuelMiranda made it this smash hit,
and he did it in a way that wasjust absolutely fascinating.
One of my kids was listening tothe soundtrack and how he used
(08:48):
the cast that he used, andthere's this fabulously talented
group of people and the waythey told that story.
Not all of it's 100% accurate.
I think he took a coupleliberties here and there, but
this, to me, is the way thatschools can, I think, do what
they do best and teachers can dowhat they do best, and that is
figure out ways that work foryour students.
(09:09):
You know it doesn't make anysense for a guy like me who's,
you know, pretty good at doingsome other things.
You know, running governmentagencies is very different than
running a classroom, I'm sure,but those kids really are
depending on teachers,administrators, educators,
school boards to figure out waysthat work for their communities
(09:32):
, that work for their students,that reflect.
You know, a way to reach backand learn from history.
You know, one of the things Ithink is to help kids understand
why the past is important, isto let them know why they're so
smart and why they've developed,and I used to do this at the
beginning of every semester.
(09:53):
I occasionally was an adjunctprofessor at Phoenix College,
teaching constitutional criminallaw procedures, some ethics,
things like that, and what Iwould tell them was these are
about 20-year-old students,right?
I'd say, listen, you're 20years old.
Think to one of your cousins orneighbor or something who's 10.
Like, what does your lifeexperience look like between 10
(10:14):
and 20 years old?
How much have you learned?
Right, now, think how that10-year-old sees a five-year-old
kid.
What have they learned betweenfive years old and 10 years old?
How do they act differently?
How do they see the worlddifferently?
Now think about that two and ahalf year old kid who's still
basically shoving dirt in theirmouth, you know, or whatever two
(10:35):
and a half year old kids do.
And then I say now think aboutyou at 20 and me at 40, whatever
I was at the time, I'm in myfifties now, but you know 50s
now and kind of make itrelatable to them in their own
life outside of themselves, andhelp kids appreciate you are
(10:56):
learning.
Whether you want to or not.
You are growing and developingand creating this new person all
the time, and that's awonderfully exciting thing.
So those lessons that we canlearn from the past help us grow
and develop.
They help us become betterversions of ourselves all the
time and if we just take alittle bit of time and work on
that, we could probably dopretty darn well for folks
(11:27):
particularly like, for example,through storytelling.
I told the story about theConstitution.
People love that stuff becausethere's a little drama, there's
a hero, there's a villain,there's a thing that happens, a
through line.
That's what this is about.
America 250 is our story andAmerica 250 tells us something
really importantly too, becausethose of us who have been around
long enough remember thebicentennial right 1776 to 1976.
(11:49):
I was a six-year-old kid and itwas like the patriotic tooth
fairy had just thrown up allover.
There was red, white and bluebunting everywhere.
They did the quarter with thelittle, the buffed-out, you know
patriot guy with histhree-corner hat.
You know what I'm talking about, that stuff and it was just a
celebration.
Everybody was super happy.
(12:11):
This one's a little different.
The mood in the country is alittle bit different, but I
still think that that's thechallenge of education and I
think that's one of the reasonswhy people get into education so
they can be creative, so theycan capitalize on opportunities
like this to capture theimagination of young people and
relate to those young peoplethat they know.
(12:31):
There might be kids in yourclassroom that have unique
stories in their lives that youcan relate back.
You know a kid who may havefamily in Massachusetts,
whatever right, who may, youknow, have some other thing
right that you can just drawthese little bits and pieces and
connections from B.
But that that's the nature ofthe work I think, for educators
(12:55):
is to keep the interest of kids,and it's got to be so hard now
because they're just scatteredall over the place.
But I feel like you know,educators are up to the
challenge.
I come from a family of publicschool teachers and they were
pretty creative.
They were pretty creative intheir approach to, you know,
raising kids.
So I think the opportunitiesare all there.
(13:17):
But far be it from me you knowa politician to tell teachers in
their classrooms how theyshould be doing their jobs.
I'm just trying to provide theopportunities for them to make
that thing happen, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
I love that you bring up storytelling, because you're
talking about how you know youcan trace your ancestry back to
the place where we are now.
Before it was Arizona, and Ilearned that my eighth great
grandfather fought in theRevolutionary War, and so for me
for me it's.
I'm here in Arizona and my jobis to continue the work that he
(13:52):
started so many generations ago.
And kids, you know, I taughtmiddle school, I taught high
school.
Now I'm teaching some classesat ASU.
It doesn't matter the age, theylove stories, right, the Taft
drama.
It's fun and it it does showthe spirits of our state, of our
(14:12):
country, and I I think thateducators or parents or anybody
in the community can start kindof doing that with students to
get them excited about somethingyou know the 250th anniversary
of the Declaration ofIndependence.
So what opportunities willArizonans have to kind of get
(14:33):
involved, you know, with events,with projects, because I know
that this isn't just going to beon July 4th 2026, we're going
to throw a party and we're done.
I know that there's a lot goingon.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Well, we're going to do that too.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yeah, you bet.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
And other things.
Right, we have.
I mean, the website is, andlisteners, the website will be
in the show notes, but there areso many cool things that can be
done, starting today if youwanted to right.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, look, when we, when thecommission, started doing its
work, we just kind of sat aroundand started imagineering what
do we want to do, like, whatkinds of things can we do?
And everybody's always like, ok, you know, john Adams had
prescribed marching bands,sporting events, fireworks,
displays, festivities like thatright, like, our celebration is
(15:27):
pretty well prescribed and OK,that's great.
But what else can we do?
You know, in here, becausethat's all going to happen,
we're going to have those thingshappening in big and small
communities across Arizona.
But the notion was like, how dowe tie everybody together under
one banner for the state right,and have this unique sort of
(15:48):
experience that is uniquelyArizona for this 250, because
it's going to be a littledifferent than Pennsylvania.
You know, the Commonwealth is adifferent place.
It's going to be different thanDelaware or Connecticut.
We're out West and we do thingsa little differently out of
here, thank goodness.
And so, anyway, we've createdall these opportunities,
captured mostly by some of theprojects that we're working on.
(16:12):
So one of the big projects thatis continuing to build is
called Passport 250.
Passport 250 is basically likeI don't know, you could say it's
sort of like this permissionslip to explore right, and we've
got a whole bunch of componentsto it.
There's like Dine 250, which isgoing to promote a bunch of
(16:34):
little cafes and eateries acrossthe entire state where people
can go check out.
We're going to have Hike 250,with hiking trails and Read 250
opportunities for kids to readand get up to a certain amount
of hours, read and do stuff.
Like all these kinds ofactivities.
We're working with the traveland tourism folks.
We're working with the ArizonaState Parks.
(16:54):
We're working with educatorsacross the state.
We're working with militaryfamilies and veterans groups.
One of the projects is a hike250, 250 miles of hiking trails
across the state, and a sideproject under the Veterans and
Military Families Committee isthe Freedom Trail, the Arizona
Freedom Trail, which is we'retaking over the Arizona Trail,
(17:16):
which is an 800-mile trail thatgoes from Utah to the Mexican
border.
We're splitting it into 250sections and we're going to have
a relay and we're sending folksup and down this trail, either
hiking or biking or horsebackriding or running or walking or
whatever people can do, and sowe can complete that and really
(17:38):
feature sort of the backbone ofArizona that way.
One of my favorites is Cheers250.
We're doing 250 wineries,breweries and distilleries
across the state.
We've got an exclusive dealwith Mother Road up in Flagstaff
to do our beer.
We've got a bourbon that'sgoing to be coming out of Santan
(18:01):
.
In Chandler we're zeroing in ona winery so we can balance
things out.
But people will be able to goout and explore and a lot of
it's really about supportinglocal business, getting out to
smaller communities and reallykeeping those travel dollars
close in Arizona.
Sort of the economic motivatorunderneath this is we are a
(18:21):
richer state.
When we experience Arizona, wedon't mind people going out of
state or overseas whatever, butthere is so much to offer right
here in the Grand Canyon Statefor people to just stay close to
home.
You know, go down to Bisbee,explore Route 66, go down to
Yuma.
The state prison down there isweird but it's so cool.
In fact, the first library inthe state of Arizona was at the
(18:43):
state, at the territorial prisonin Yuma.
I don't know if you knew that,liz, I know you're in education.
That's cool, but yeah, sopointing out these things.
Then we've got a couple ofbigger projects which I think we
mentioned a little earlier wasthe Liberty Bell project.
So many decades ago there was areplica Liberty Bell that was
donated to the state of Arizona.
(19:04):
In fact, every state got one.
Well, we're deciding to dosomething a little different,
because right now it sits kindof unceremoniously between the
House and the Senate buildingshere at the state Capitol
complex.
We're going to pick it up andput it on the back of a trailer
and create a mobile museumaround this object.
And then we're going to takethe Liberty Bell and we're going
(19:25):
to tour it around the state andwe're going to take it to
libraries and city halls andwe're going to tour it around
the state and we're going totake it to libraries and city
halls and we're going to take itto school parking lots and
where they're doing food drivesand all this stuff, to sort of
bring attention and educationand connectivity not just to the
Liberty Bell and the statecapitol but to what all of this
is about.
And so that's going to behappening in the spring of 2026.
(19:47):
That's going to be happening inthe spring of 2026.
And when it gets back to thestate capital, our good friends
over at Sunt Corporation havedecided to donate a new
ceremonial permanent base forthe bell, because they pick it
up and move it here and thereall the time.
And this base will actuallyhave time capsules in it, a 50
and 100 year time capsule.
(20:10):
So, like this whole project isjust turning into so much fun,
we've got a musical that we'rekidnapping over at, uh, gammage
Auditorium in Tempe Suffs, uh,the musical that commemorates
the suffragettes and that wholething.
The first show opening night isgoing to be the America,
arizona, america 250 productionof Suffs.
We're just kidnapping it andwe're just going to throw our
name all over it and put ourlogo on it and having a good
(20:32):
time with that.
And last but certainly notleast, is all the communities,
chambers of commerce, libraries,municipalities across the state
have been joining with us intheir projects.
They're renaming projects anddoing a lot of fun stuff.
So in 2026, in August, thePayson Rodeo and, um, I think
(20:53):
they have a big parade orsomething going on up there.
They're going to rename it theArizona America 250 Rodeo Parade
and Film Festival.
It's a film festival up thereand the great thing is and I
know we're on a podcast, but uh,we're, we have cameras on while
we're, while we're recordingthis, I'm going to show you.
I don't know if you've seen it.
The logo for Arizona America 250is a phenomenal piece of art.
(21:16):
As you can see, it's got allfive of the five Cs cotton,
climate cattle, citrus andcopper, of course.
And it was created anotherstory by a bored high school
student who was 17, sitting in aclassroom and the teacher read
(21:37):
some announcement and it waslike well, if you're bored,
create a logo.
So she did.
And Riley, who basically didn'thave huge aspirations she
wanted to be a nail tech.
She wasn't really sure withwhat to do with herself.
Blah, blah, blah, blah blah.
She submits this thing and outof almost a hundred submissions
statewide, the internet votesand decides that she's going to
(21:58):
be the winner.
And she has since hung out withme and her family.
She was on the floor of theHouse of Representatives, she
met the governor.
She's been putzing around thestate at all of these things.
We had featured her on thenight of the anniversary of Paul
Revere's ride at our bigcelebration here at the state
(22:20):
capitol, and today I think she'salready enrolled.
She's a freshman at ArizonaState University.
She's going to get her degreejust because of this.
She hadn't even thought aboutit.
So, yeah, this has already beena success in my mind.
We got one kid to say I mightbe able to do that, let's try.
(22:40):
And that, to me, is really whatthis is all about.
It's to show that, in our besttimes and in our worst times,
our whole history is aboutforward movement, progress and
trying harder for success, andwe should take the time to
celebrate the successes that weown as a nation.
That's what's really important.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
And I know that that sticker has actually been sent
the logo to the SmithsonianMuseum of American History for
their semi-quincentennialexhibit.
So not only did she create thisincredible logo, but now she's
going to be in a Smithsonianmuseum.
How cool is that.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Yeah, for a 17 year old kid from Arizona to have a
bit of her artwork in theSmithsonian is is an is an honor
and it's it's a, it's aprivilege to be able to be a
part of that.
You know, to help this, shedidn't even really know what she
was doing when she did it, Idon't think, but it's just been
such an impactful thing in herlife and her family's life.
(23:39):
Honestly, you know, I met hergrandparents and her folks and
they're just the nicest peopleand it's just been so great.
And as we go around the stateand we talk to people about this
, they just get inspired oh,that sounds awesome.
We should do this, we should dothat.
And if all we do is reallyraise some hopes and get people
talking about something otherthan the things that divide us,
(24:02):
if that's the conversation thatwe're having because we're
talking about America 250, I'min.
I'm in 100% Right, because thisis the epitome of America is
finding a reason to cometogether.
And a lot of times we did itbecause of tragedy.
A lot of times we did itbecause of natural disaster or
emergency.
This is our chance to do it,because we're celebrating each
(24:22):
other, we're celebrating ourcollective history.
We're celebrating the goodstuff, acknowledging the not so
good stuff, but really having agreat time with it, like Tucson
just did.
They just celebrated 250 yearsof the Presidio being built down
in Southern Arizona and Ithought that was a great thing
and a great privilege for me tobe a part of that.
(24:42):
So this 250 thing just keeps onrolling and I'm super excited
to be a part of it.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I love, I'm so excited for all of these ways to
be a part of the read 250, thedine 250.
Um, I mean, I've lived inArizona since I was six years
old, so, again, I'm a little bitbiased, but I our state is so
diverse and I've been to so manyplaces that I would go and be
like I never knew that thisexisted.
(25:10):
And you know, arizona's historyis not perfect.
There are internment camps here.
There are, you know, places ofreally just being able to think
about history in general, and soI love that we are encouraging
people to go explore.
Our state is amazing and to goexplore it and shop local and
(25:33):
eat local and drink local.
As soon as you said Mother Road, I'm like I went to school in
Flagstaff, I know exactly whatyou're talking about, and Santan
, you know, is here where I liveand it's such a celebration of
our state and the people in it.
So this might be kind of a hardquestion then.
So what message do you hopethat, specifically, students and
(25:55):
educators and again, whetherthey're public school, private
school, charter, homeschool,whatever those educators look
like, what do you hope they takeaway from this commemoration as
we kind of look to the future?
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Well, I hope they take a couple of things away.
But one of the things I think Ithink back and I think about my
experience as a kid during thebicentennial and one of the
things that I came away with wasthis kind of this question, not
so much a definitive this isawesome, right but a question.
And the question was but itkeeps kind of popping up in my
(26:31):
head and it's just like like howthe hell do we do this?
Like, how does this work?
How do we organize this manypeople in this vast of a space
and everybody and things stillget done, maybe not perfectly
all the time, okay fine, but wehave a fully functioning society
.
We've got a whole bunch ofpeople that are working together
(26:54):
in ways that no one could haveever imagined.
I mean, we don't live in thedays anymore where you make your
own clothes and you raise yourown vegetables and you do all
the other kinds of things likethis.
We live in a day and age whereyou can have time to stop and
think and create and dream anddo all kinds of things, because
we're organized.
Like, how does this all worktogether?
And there's a sense of wonderthat I got attached to my brain
(27:19):
during the bicentennial that Inow hope that we can pass along
to other folks.
And just this, because you getto be humbled by that right,
that I'm a piece of thismagnificent, ever-expanding
puzzle that is the United Statesof America and, ultimately,
more and more, our globalsociety, right, and to make that
(27:41):
connection, I think, is reallyamazing, because you can have a
lot of then with the historicalaspect.
You have a lot of gratitude, andwhat I tell people all the time
you know, no matter whatthey're doing, especially young
people, it's like the twocharacteristics of solid leaders
and people that get stuff doneare humility and gratitude.
Right, you can be a big egoperson but still have a humility
(28:06):
that matters, like anappreciation for your skillset,
your place, your capacity andunderstanding of that, and still
be humbled by that.
And you also have to accompanythat with a certain gratitude,
because none of us got here onour own.
I don't know anybody thattaught themselves how to read.
I don't know anybody thattaught themselves math.
I don't know anybody thattaught themselves how to drive a
(28:26):
car.
And if you said you did, I'mcalling BS on you.
That's not how the world works,right?
So you've got to have gratitude, and to me it's about both of
those things.
So, as far as what I would loveto see people take away from
this, aside from this sense oftogetherness and unity if we can
(28:47):
build that, I think that wouldbe phenomenal.
But, on a personal note, forindividuals, I'd love for folks
to reflect a little bit and justbe a little humble and have a
little bit of grace, just havethat gratitude inside of them,
because we're all a part of thisthing and this thing is
magnificent.
I mean, when you think aboutthe changes in the world and you
think about the changes thathave happened in the world in
(29:09):
the last 250 years, and youconsider the number of changes
that originated in the UnitedStates of America, right In the
law, in science and technologyand the arts, and you know,
transportation and energy andall the innovation, sure,
there's other people that havedone some cool stuff, but this
(29:32):
nation, which is incrediblydiverse, and those diverse
perspectives, give us differentpoints of view and imagination
and ingenuity rises from that.
Right, if we'd all thoughtexactly the same, we'd never
invent anything, we'd nevercreate any opportunities, we'd
never be able to make big thingshappen.
America is about big things andhopefulness, and so as I go
(29:55):
through this, I think about allof that stuff at the same time,
which is why it gives me alittle bit of a headache, but
cause it's a lot, it's a lot,but it's exciting and uh, and
it's thrilling and I really justhope people kind of come
together and have a good time.
You know, at the end of the day, that's really what this is
supposed to be about.
We look back, you know, we'rewe're grateful for the cool
things and we're grateful forthe lessons learned from the not
(30:16):
so cool things, from the badstuff, and I think that those
two things humility andgratitude- they're the most
important takeaways.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Secretary Fontes, thank you so much for your time.
I was already excited aboutthis because I am a civics and a
history person and I very muchlove our great state, and you
know, at Arizona StateUniversity Center for American
Civics, we do have lessons onthe state of Arizona.
I actually have one on the TaftDrama with Statehood and we
invite you to look at theSecretary of State's website.
(30:53):
We will put that in our shownotes.
Look at ours.
You know we have been in ourstates.
I'm part of something calledthe Arizona Civics Coalition and
this is the kind of stuff we'reexcited about.
We're excited about the unity,we're excited about the
celebration not only of ourcountry but of our great state,
and so thank you so much fortaking the time to chat with us.
(31:15):
I am so stoked for this yearand for many more to come.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Yeah, stoked is the right word.
I am as well.
Thank you so much for having meand best of luck in your
endeavor.
And look, if you need anythingfrom our office or from the
archives or anything like that,let us know We've got a huge
amount of really awesome Arizonastuff and we're happy to share
it no-transcript.
Should be fun, then yes.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Okay, Welcome everyone to the Civics.
Let's see, I got to start again.
Welcome everyone to the ArizonaCivics Podcast.
I am very excited about ourguest today and about our topic.
Our guest today is ourSecretary of State here in
Arizona, Secretary Adrian Fontes, and today we are going to talk
(00:25):
about America 250 AZ.
So, Secretary Fontes, thank youso much for being here.
Can you tell us what is America250 AZ and why this anniversary
is significant for the state ofArizona?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Well, first, thanks for having me, and this is an
anniversary that's significantfor the entire nation and, some
of us proud Americans wouldargue, for the whole world.
In 1776, the Declaration ofIndependence was signed, and
this coming year 2026, will bethe semi-quincentennial of the
signing of the Declaration ofIndependence, and so we figured
(01:01):
we'd throw a big old party, andthere are states organizing
across the country really to dojust that.
It's a very, very big deal.
A quarter of a millennia willmark for this nation a heck of a
lot of achievements, and Ithink that's a significant if
not a severe understatement yourunderstatement.
(01:29):
The Arizona America 250Commission in Arizona has been
underway and rolling through itswork for well over a year now,
a year and a half almost.
We were created by session lawby our state legislature a few
years ago.
About a year and a half or somore or less ago, the governor
appointed me to the commissionand the commission then
organized and elected me to bethe chair.
(01:50):
So I'm very proud to be thechair of the Arizona America 250
Commission and we've been doingeverything since then, hiring
staff and getting organized andmaking things happen so we can
do a lot of really cool stufffor a whole bunch of reasons,
not just throwing parties, buthelping people understand the
significance and importance of250 years of declaring ourselves
(02:11):
independent from tyranny andall of the other good things
that come along with our historyand heritage.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
So Arizona was not in existence right in 1776.
We wait till 1812.
In existence right in 1776.
We wait till 1812.
So how will Arizona's uniquehistory and contributions be
highlighted in the nationalcelebration?
Because I might be biased, butI think Arizona has got it going
on when it comes to celebratingthings, especially our country.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I think there would be some people who would have a
little bit of a different view.
Arizona was absolutely inexistence back then.
We just weren't called Arizona.
We were called by a whole bunchof other names, by a whole
bunch of different people.
In fact, I'm uniquelypersonally proud to be part of
this celebration.
I myself had an ancestor whowas 25 years before the
(03:09):
Declaration was out, here inthese parts of the world, riding
with the Spanish cavalry, and Ihave, you know, a long family
history in Southern Arizona andNorthern Mexico, what is now
Southern Arizona and NorthernMexico, and so do a lot of other
people from a lot of differentplaces.
Arizona is a really magical sortof a space where, not the way
(03:32):
that many other parts of thecountry, had a serious and
longstanding indigenouspopulation that was chased off
their land.
But they're still here andthey're still here guarding
their land.
And more people came from otherparts.
Some people came south to north, some people came east to west
and, frankly, some people camefrom overseas and were brought
(03:54):
over to work in railroads and inother ways, as so many
immigrants from China were.
So we're really kind of thelast frontier, we're the last of
the 48 contiguous states togain statehood in 1912.
And there's a fun story behindthat too.
We have this unique mix of allthings American, including our
(04:16):
politics, our food, our culture,our music and everything else.
We are the most geographicallydiverse state in the Union,
which I think is an incrediblething, particularly given the
physical size advantage thatstates like California or Texas
have over Arizona, and I thinkwe've got one of the most
(04:37):
colorful histories of any statein the Union when you look back
at some of the great storiesthat have emerged just over the
last couple centuries.
We're a great place.
I would agree with you, and Ithink we have a lot to celebrate
.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
So can I know what one of your favorite stories is?
Because I know a lot of reallygreat stories about our state,
but I'd love to hear what one ofyours is Well being in public
service.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
A lot of people ask me about like, tell me about
Arizona politics, and I say youdon't need to know about
politics.
Today.
Let me tell you a story aboutour founding, and I'll shorten
it up for you because it can bequite long and involved.
In 1910, arizona had astatehood convention and we sent
our proposed constitution toWashington DC and the president
(05:23):
Taft said no because it was tooprogressive.
This was the progressive era,and we included the election for
retention of judges in ourConstitution, and that was a
step too far for the president.
New Mexico got statehood,because they submitted around
the same time, but we did not,and so he sent it back and we
convened the exact same peoplewhich I think was a feat in the
(05:47):
constitutional convention.
They took a vote and amendedthe constitution, sent it back
to Washington DC.
Of note, they didn't retype it,they didn't resign it and they
didn't redate it.
All they did was attach theamendment and set it back to
Washington DC.
Time goes by, it goes throughits thing and a little over a
(06:08):
year later, in February, early1912, president Taft signs the
Declaration of Statehood, which,if you read it, spells out this
story.
And then Arizona becomes astate.
On February 14th 1912, which is, of course, not only statehood
day, but it's St Valentine's DaySome people celebrate.
And then one of the firstthings that Arizona did as a
(06:33):
state was amend the Constitutionand take out the amendment that
we had sent to Washington DC.
So when people ask about Arizonapolitics and how we are, I let
them know this story, because wehave this crazy organized
independence.
We always manage to get thingsdone.
We manage to get big thingsdone, and that's just a small
example.
(06:53):
And we do it together and we doit in a way that nobody could
predict, but it just happens.
And so the fun epilogue of thatstory is, you know, I'm in
charge of the State Library,archives and Public Records.
That's one of the pieces of myportfolio and in the State
Archives we have two originaltyped versions of the
(07:15):
Constitution, the original onesthat were signed by the
Constitutional Convention.
Both of them, of course, as Isaid, dated 1910, when our
statehood is 1912.
And that's why.
So you know, that to me is oneof my favorite stories about
this state, as I sit here in myoffice literally overseeing the
(07:35):
Copper Dome, which is the onlyCopper Dome state capital.
I believe in the United States,so I'm just a lucky guy that I
get to do what I do.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
I love that story too , and I also love that the next
presidential election Taft didnot win Arizona, Like Arizona,
can get things done yeah,surprise, surprise, sorry,
president Taft, yeah.
So what roles then do theschools in our state and
educators play in helpingconnect students with the 250th
(08:08):
anniversary?
Because I think you know Itaught in Arizona for 17 years
and I think a lot of times kidsare like, oh, that happened 250
years ago, like who cares?
But how can we help connect ourstudents with this?
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, Well, you know, I think that innovation is a
really good way, I think.
Let me give you a great examplefrom pop culture.
You know, nobody had too muchof an idea who Alexander
Hamilton was until Lin-ManuelMiranda made it this smash hit,
and he did it in a way that wasjust absolutely fascinating.
One of my kids was listening tothe soundtrack and how he used
(08:48):
the cast that he used, andthere's this fabulously talented
group of people and the waythey told that story.
Not all of it's 100% accurate.
I think he took a coupleliberties here and there, but
this, to me, is the way thatschools can, I think, do what
they do best and teachers can dowhat they do best, and that is
figure out ways that work foryour students.
(09:09):
You know it doesn't make anysense for a guy like me who's,
you know, pretty good at doingsome other things.
You know, running governmentagencies is very different than
running a classroom, I'm sure,but those kids really are
depending on teachers,administrators, educators,
school boards to figure out waysthat work for their communities
(09:32):
, that work for their students,that reflect.
You know, a way to reach backand learn from history.
You know, one of the things Ithink is to help kids understand
why the past is important, isto let them know why they're so
smart and why they've developed,and I used to do this at the
beginning of every semester.
(09:53):
I occasionally was an adjunctprofessor at Phoenix College,
teaching constitutional criminallaw procedures, some ethics,
things like that, and what Iwould tell them was these are
about 20-year-old students,right?
I'd say, listen, you're 20years old.
Think to one of your cousins orneighbor or something who's 10.
Like, what does your lifeexperience look like between 10
(10:14):
and 20 years old?
How much have you learned?
Right, now, think how that10-year-old sees a five-year-old
kid.
What have they learned betweenfive years old and 10 years old?
How do they act differently?
How do they see the worlddifferently?
Now think about that two and ahalf year old kid who's still
basically shoving dirt in theirmouth, you know, or whatever two
(10:35):
and a half year old kids do.
And then I say now think aboutyou at 20 and me at 40, whatever
I was at the time, I'm in myfifties now, but you know 50s
now and kind of make itrelatable to them in their own
life outside of themselves, andhelp kids appreciate you are
(10:56):
learning.
Whether you want to or not.
You are growing and developingand creating this new person all
the time, and that's awonderfully exciting thing.
So those lessons that we canlearn from the past help us grow
and develop.
They help us become betterversions of ourselves all the
time and if we just take alittle bit of time and work on
that, we could probably dopretty darn well for folks
(11:27):
particularly like, for example,through storytelling.
I told the story about theConstitution.
People love that stuff becausethere's a little drama, there's
a hero, there's a villain,there's a thing that happens, a
through line.
That's what this is about.
America 250 is our story andAmerica 250 tells us something
really importantly too, becausethose of us who have been around
long enough remember thebicentennial right 1776 to 1976.
(11:49):
I was a six-year-old kid and itwas like the patriotic tooth
fairy had just thrown up allover.
There was red, white and bluebunting everywhere.
They did the quarter with thelittle, the buffed-out, you know
patriot guy with histhree-corner hat.
You know what I'm talking about, that stuff and it was just a
celebration.
Everybody was super happy.
(12:11):
This one's a little different.
The mood in the country is alittle bit different, but I
still think that that's thechallenge of education and I
think that's one of the reasonswhy people get into education so
they can be creative, so theycan capitalize on opportunities
like this to capture theimagination of young people and
relate to those young peoplethat they know.
(12:31):
There might be kids in yourclassroom that have unique
stories in their lives that youcan relate back.
You know a kid who may havefamily in Massachusetts,
whatever right, who may, youknow, have some other thing
right that you can just drawthese little bits and pieces and
connections from B.
But that that's the nature ofthe work I think, for educators
(12:55):
is to keep the interest of kids,and it's got to be so hard now
because they're just scatteredall over the place.
But I feel like you know,educators are up to the
challenge.
I come from a family of publicschool teachers and they were
pretty creative.
They were pretty creative intheir approach to, you know,
raising kids.
So I think the opportunitiesare all there.
(13:17):
But far be it from me you knowa politician to tell teachers in
their classrooms how theyshould be doing their jobs.
I'm just trying to provide theopportunities for them to make
that thing happen, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
I love that you bring up storytelling, because you're
talking about how you know youcan trace your ancestry back to
the place where we are now.
Before it was Arizona, and Ilearned that my eighth great
grandfather fought in theRevolutionary War, and so for me
for me it's.
I'm here in Arizona and my jobis to continue the work that he
(13:52):
started so many generations ago.
And kids, you know, I taughtmiddle school, I taught high
school.
Now I'm teaching some classesat ASU.
It doesn't matter the age, theylove stories, right, the Taft
drama.
It's fun and it it does showthe spirits of our state, of our
(14:12):
country, and I I think thateducators or parents or anybody
in the community can start kindof doing that with students to
get them excited about somethingyou know the 250th anniversary
of the Declaration ofIndependence.
So what opportunities willArizonans have to kind of get
(14:33):
involved, you know, with events,with projects, because I know
that this isn't just going to beon July 4th 2026, we're going
to throw a party and we're done.
I know that there's a lot goingon.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Well, we're going to do that too.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yeah, you bet.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
And other things.
Right, we have.
I mean, the website is, andlisteners, the website will be
in the show notes, but there areso many cool things that can be
done, starting today if youwanted to right.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, look, when we, when thecommission, started doing its
work, we just kind of sat aroundand started imagineering what
do we want to do, like, whatkinds of things can we do?
And everybody's always like, ok, you know, john Adams had
prescribed marching bands,sporting events, fireworks,
displays, festivities like thatright, like, our celebration is
(15:27):
pretty well prescribed and OK,that's great.
But what else can we do?
You know, in here, becausethat's all going to happen,
we're going to have those thingshappening in big and small
communities across Arizona.
But the notion was like, how dowe tie everybody together under
one banner for the state right,and have this unique sort of
(15:48):
experience that is uniquelyArizona for this 250, because
it's going to be a littledifferent than Pennsylvania.
You know, the Commonwealth is adifferent place.
It's going to be different thanDelaware or Connecticut.
We're out West and we do thingsa little differently out of
here, thank goodness.
And so, anyway, we've createdall these opportunities,
captured mostly by some of theprojects that we're working on.
(16:12):
So one of the big projects thatis continuing to build is
called Passport 250.
Passport 250 is basically likeI don't know, you could say it's
sort of like this permissionslip to explore right, and we've
got a whole bunch of componentsto it.
There's like Dine 250, which isgoing to promote a bunch of
(16:34):
little cafes and eateries acrossthe entire state where people
can go check out.
We're going to have Hike 250,with hiking trails and Read 250
opportunities for kids to readand get up to a certain amount
of hours, read and do stuff.
Like all these kinds ofactivities.
We're working with the traveland tourism folks.
We're working with the ArizonaState Parks.
(16:54):
We're working with educatorsacross the state.
We're working with militaryfamilies and veterans groups.
One of the projects is a hike250, 250 miles of hiking trails
across the state, and a sideproject under the Veterans and
Military Families Committee isthe Freedom Trail, the Arizona
Freedom Trail, which is we'retaking over the Arizona Trail,
(17:16):
which is an 800-mile trail thatgoes from Utah to the Mexican
border.
We're splitting it into 250sections and we're going to have
a relay and we're sending folksup and down this trail, either
hiking or biking or horsebackriding or running or walking or
whatever people can do, and sowe can complete that and really
(17:38):
feature sort of the backbone ofArizona that way.
One of my favorites is Cheers250.
We're doing 250 wineries,breweries and distilleries
across the state.
We've got an exclusive dealwith Mother Road up in Flagstaff
to do our beer.
We've got a bourbon that'sgoing to be coming out of Santan
(18:01):
.
In Chandler we're zeroing in ona winery so we can balance
things out.
But people will be able to goout and explore and a lot of
it's really about supportinglocal business, getting out to
smaller communities and reallykeeping those travel dollars
close in Arizona.
Sort of the economic motivatorunderneath this is we are a
(18:21):
richer state.
When we experience Arizona, wedon't mind people going out of
state or overseas whatever, butthere is so much to offer right
here in the Grand Canyon Statefor people to just stay close to
home.
You know, go down to Bisbee,explore Route 66, go down to
Yuma.
The state prison down there isweird but it's so cool.
In fact, the first library inthe state of Arizona was at the
(18:43):
state, at the territorial prisonin Yuma.
I don't know if you knew that,liz, I know you're in education.
That's cool, but yeah, sopointing out these things.
Then we've got a couple ofbigger projects which I think we
mentioned a little earlier wasthe Liberty Bell project.
So many decades ago there was areplica Liberty Bell that was
donated to the state of Arizona.
(19:04):
In fact, every state got one.
Well, we're deciding to dosomething a little different,
because right now it sits kindof unceremoniously between the
House and the Senate buildingshere at the state Capitol
complex.
We're going to pick it up andput it on the back of a trailer
and create a mobile museumaround this object.
And then we're going to takethe Liberty Bell and we're going
(19:25):
to tour it around the state andwe're going to take it to
libraries and city halls andwe're going to tour it around
the state and we're going totake it to libraries and city
halls and we're going to take itto school parking lots and
where they're doing food drivesand all this stuff, to sort of
bring attention and educationand connectivity not just to the
Liberty Bell and the statecapitol but to what all of this
is about.
And so that's going to behappening in the spring of 2026.
(19:47):
That's going to be happening inthe spring of 2026.
And when it gets back to thestate capital, our good friends
over at Sunt Corporation havedecided to donate a new
ceremonial permanent base forthe bell, because they pick it
up and move it here and thereall the time.
And this base will actuallyhave time capsules in it, a 50
and 100 year time capsule.
(20:10):
So, like this whole project isjust turning into so much fun,
we've got a musical that we'rekidnapping over at, uh, gammage
Auditorium in Tempe Suffs, uh,the musical that commemorates
the suffragettes and that wholething.
The first show opening night isgoing to be the America,
arizona, america 250 productionof Suffs.
We're just kidnapping it andwe're just going to throw our
name all over it and put ourlogo on it and having a good
(20:32):
time with that.
And last but certainly notleast, is all the communities,
chambers of commerce, libraries,municipalities across the state
have been joining with us intheir projects.
They're renaming projects anddoing a lot of fun stuff.
So in 2026, in August, thePayson Rodeo and, um, I think
(20:53):
they have a big parade orsomething going on up there.
They're going to rename it theArizona America 250 Rodeo Parade
and Film Festival.
It's a film festival up thereand the great thing is and I
know we're on a podcast, but uh,we're, we have cameras on while
we're, while we're recordingthis, I'm going to show you.
I don't know if you've seen it.
The logo for Arizona America 250is a phenomenal piece of art.
(21:16):
As you can see, it's got allfive of the five Cs cotton,
climate cattle, citrus andcopper, of course.
And it was created anotherstory by a bored high school
student who was 17, sitting in aclassroom and the teacher read
(21:37):
some announcement and it waslike well, if you're bored,
create a logo.
So she did.
And Riley, who basically didn'thave huge aspirations she
wanted to be a nail tech.
She wasn't really sure withwhat to do with herself.
Blah, blah, blah, blah blah.
She submits this thing and outof almost a hundred submissions
statewide, the internet votesand decides that she's going to
(21:58):
be the winner.
And she has since hung out withme and her family.
She was on the floor of theHouse of Representatives, she
met the governor.
She's been putzing around thestate at all of these things.
We had featured her on thenight of the anniversary of Paul
Revere's ride at our bigcelebration here at the state
(22:20):
capitol, and today I think she'salready enrolled.
She's a freshman at ArizonaState University.
She's going to get her degreejust because of this.
She hadn't even thought aboutit.
So, yeah, this has already beena success in my mind.
We got one kid to say I mightbe able to do that, let's try.
(22:40):
And that, to me, is really whatthis is all about.
It's to show that, in our besttimes and in our worst times,
our whole history is aboutforward movement, progress and
trying harder for success, andwe should take the time to
celebrate the successes that weown as a nation.
That's what's really important.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
And I know that that sticker has actually been sent
the logo to the SmithsonianMuseum of American History for
their semi-quincentennialexhibit.
So not only did she create thisincredible logo, but now she's
going to be in a Smithsonianmuseum.
How cool is that.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Yeah, for a 17 year old kid from Arizona to have a
bit of her artwork in theSmithsonian is is an is an honor
and it's it's a, it's aprivilege to be able to be a
part of that.
You know, to help this, shedidn't even really know what she
was doing when she did it, Idon't think, but it's just been
such an impactful thing in herlife and her family's life.
(23:39):
Honestly, you know, I met hergrandparents and her folks and
they're just the nicest peopleand it's just been so great.
And as we go around the stateand we talk to people about this
, they just get inspired oh,that sounds awesome.
We should do this, we should dothat.
And if all we do is reallyraise some hopes and get people
talking about something otherthan the things that divide us,
(24:02):
if that's the conversation thatwe're having because we're
talking about America 250, I'min.
I'm in 100% Right, because thisis the epitome of America is
finding a reason to cometogether.
And a lot of times we did itbecause of tragedy.
A lot of times we did itbecause of natural disaster or
emergency.
This is our chance to do it,because we're celebrating each
(24:22):
other, we're celebrating ourcollective history.
We're celebrating the goodstuff, acknowledging the not so
good stuff, but really having agreat time with it, like Tucson
just did.
They just celebrated 250 yearsof the Presidio being built down
in Southern Arizona and Ithought that was a great thing
and a great privilege for me tobe a part of that.
(24:42):
So this 250 thing just keeps onrolling and I'm super excited
to be a part of it.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I love, I'm so excited for all of these ways to
be a part of the read 250, thedine 250.
Um, I mean, I've lived inArizona since I was six years
old, so, again, I'm a little bitbiased, but I our state is so
diverse and I've been to so manyplaces that I would go and be
like I never knew that thisexisted.
(25:10):
And you know, arizona's historyis not perfect.
There are internment camps here.
There are, you know, places ofreally just being able to think
about history in general, and soI love that we are encouraging
people to go explore.
Our state is amazing and to goexplore it and shop local and
(25:33):
eat local and drink local.
As soon as you said Mother Road, I'm like I went to school in
Flagstaff, I know exactly whatyou're talking about, and Santan
, you know, is here where I liveand it's such a celebration of
our state and the people in it.
So this might be kind of a hardquestion then.
So what message do you hopethat, specifically, students and
(25:55):
educators and again, whetherthey're public school, private
school, charter, homeschool,whatever those educators look
like, what do you hope they takeaway from this commemoration as
we kind of look to the future?
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Well, I hope they take a couple of things away.
But one of the things I think Ithink back and I think about my
experience as a kid during thebicentennial and one of the
things that I came away with wasthis kind of this question, not
so much a definitive this isawesome, right but a question.
And the question was but itkeeps kind of popping up in my
(26:31):
head and it's just like like howthe hell do we do this?
Like, how does this work?
How do we organize this manypeople in this vast of a space
and everybody and things stillget done, maybe not perfectly
all the time, okay fine, but wehave a fully functioning society
.
We've got a whole bunch ofpeople that are working together
(26:54):
in ways that no one could haveever imagined.
I mean, we don't live in thedays anymore where you make your
own clothes and you raise yourown vegetables and you do all
the other kinds of things likethis.
We live in a day and age whereyou can have time to stop and
think and create and dream anddo all kinds of things, because
we're organized.
Like, how does this all worktogether?
And there's a sense of wonderthat I got attached to my brain
(27:19):
during the bicentennial that Inow hope that we can pass along
to other folks.
And just this, because you getto be humbled by that right,
that I'm a piece of thismagnificent, ever-expanding
puzzle that is the United Statesof America and, ultimately,
more and more, our globalsociety, right, and to make that
(27:41):
connection, I think, is reallyamazing, because you can have a
lot of then with the historicalaspect.
You have a lot of gratitude, andwhat I tell people all the time
you know, no matter whatthey're doing, especially young
people, it's like the twocharacteristics of solid leaders
and people that get stuff doneare humility and gratitude.
Right, you can be a big egoperson but still have a humility
(28:06):
that matters, like anappreciation for your skillset,
your place, your capacity andunderstanding of that, and still
be humbled by that.
And you also have to accompanythat with a certain gratitude,
because none of us got here onour own.
I don't know anybody thattaught themselves how to read.
I don't know anybody thattaught themselves math.
I don't know anybody thattaught themselves how to drive a
(28:26):
car.
And if you said you did, I'mcalling BS on you.
That's not how the world works,right?
So you've got to have gratitude, and to me it's about both of
those things.
So, as far as what I would loveto see people take away from
this, aside from this sense oftogetherness and unity if we can
(28:47):
build that, I think that wouldbe phenomenal.
But, on a personal note, forindividuals, I'd love for folks
to reflect a little bit and justbe a little humble and have a
little bit of grace, just havethat gratitude inside of them,
because we're all a part of thisthing and this thing is
magnificent.
I mean, when you think aboutthe changes in the world and you
think about the changes thathave happened in the world in
(29:09):
the last 250 years, and youconsider the number of changes
that originated in the UnitedStates of America, right In the
law, in science and technologyand the arts, and you know,
transportation and energy andall the innovation, sure,
there's other people that havedone some cool stuff, but this
(29:32):
nation, which is incrediblydiverse, and those diverse
perspectives, give us differentpoints of view and imagination
and ingenuity rises from that.
Right, if we'd all thoughtexactly the same, we'd never
invent anything, we'd nevercreate any opportunities, we'd
never be able to make big thingshappen.
America is about big things andhopefulness, and so as I go
(29:55):
through this, I think about allof that stuff at the same time,
which is why it gives me alittle bit of a headache, but
cause it's a lot, it's a lot,but it's exciting and uh, and
it's thrilling and I really justhope people kind of come
together and have a good time.
You know, at the end of the day, that's really what this is
supposed to be about.
We look back, you know, we'rewe're grateful for the cool
things and we're grateful forthe lessons learned from the not
(30:16):
so cool things, from the badstuff, and I think that those
two things humility andgratitude- they're the most
important takeaways.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Secretary Fontes, thank you so much for your time.
I was already excited aboutthis because I am a civics and a
history person and I very muchlove our great state, and you
know, at Arizona StateUniversity Center for American
Civics, we do have lessons onthe state of Arizona.
I actually have one on the TaftDrama with Statehood and we
invite you to look at theSecretary of State's website.
(30:53):
We will put that in our shownotes.
Look at ours.
You know we have been in ourstates.
I'm part of something calledthe Arizona Civics Coalition and
this is the kind of stuff we'reexcited about.
We're excited about the unity,we're excited about the
celebration not only of ourcountry but of our great state,
and so thank you so much fortaking the time to chat with us.
(31:15):
I am so stoked for this yearand for many more to come.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Yeah, stoked is the right word.
I am as well.
Thank you so much for having meand best of luck in your
endeavor.
And look, if you need anythingfrom our office or from the
archives or anything like that,let us know We've got a huge
amount of really awesome Arizonastuff and we're happy to share
it no-transcript.
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