09/06/2026
History of the AZCOA. This is a long post, but I wanted to share our history so that the members who asked me to carry it forward back in 2010 would know that it has morphed into a coalition and is still living.
The East Valley Committee on Aging expanded to the North Valley Committee on Aging and the West Valley Committee on Aging. At that point we decided to shape shift it to a coalition style networking event. After Covid, Dustin Jackson of Griswold Fame, led the change to Arizona Coalition on Aging, which it is today.
Special thanks to Jim Gunkle, Linda Starr, Roberta Orley, Bob and Marquita White, and so many others who entrusted me with the committee that they had given of themselves for so many years. Many people that you would know have been involved in EVCOA in the past and maybe this will be nostalgic for them. Here is where it began:
Clara B. Emmett’s Community Leadership in Mesa
Clara B. Emmett (1899–1990) was a pioneering and tireless volunteer in Mesa, Arizona, whose work spanned decades and touched many aspects of community life. She is best remembered for leading the East Valley Committee on Aging—a committee within Mesa’s Community Council—for over ten years. In that role, she championed senior services and advocacy, laying groundwork for later regional coalitions like the Arizona Coalition on Aging.
One of her most enduring contributions was helping establish the Mesa Senior Center, a vital resource for older residents
Her leadership extended beyond this single project, as she was deeply involved in numerous organizations, including:
Muscular Dystrophy Association – helping to start the state chapter
United Way – supporting local and statewide initiatives
Area Agency on Aging – advocating for aging services across Arizona
Mesa Community Council – shaping local governance and community programs
Salvation Army Auxiliary – contributing to charitable and relief efforts
Red Cross – participating in disaster relief and community support
Pre-Hab – likely referring to pre-hospitalization or rehabilitation services
Mesa Association of Re****ed Citizens – supporting inclusion and services for people with disabilities
Tri-City Retired Seniors Volunteer Program – encouraging intergenerational service
Catholic Social Services – aiding vulnerable populations
Governor’s Council on Aging – influencing state-level aging policy
Her work also included 50 years of involvement with the Republican Party and leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Bishop’s Storehouse and Cannery in Mesa for 25 years
In recognition of her service, former Arizona Governor Evan Mecham named her one of the state’s Senior Citizens of the Year in 1987
Clara B. Emmett’s legacy is defined by her unwavering commitment to service, her ability to mobilize communities, and her dedication to improving the lives of older adults and underserved populations.
