Arizona is—and has always been—a land of great contrasts. Our pine-topped, snow-capped north quickly gives way to the vast Sonoran Desert, dotted with saguaro cacti. Our roots span the ancient Hohokam, the Spanish missionaries, and American pioneers, and yet we remain the youngest state in the contiguous United States. We were settled by self-reliant western heroes, but our development remains dependent on top-down infrastructure investments and resource management. It’s still a surprise to find someone born and raised here, yet we are home to the fifth-largest city in the nation.