Coffee with Coral.jpg

Experience

Coral Evans is a social, non-profit, and public policy entrepreneur who believes in the concept of thrive-ability as it relates to individuals, neighborhoods and communities. She has over 25 years of extensive, applied experience and knowledge in the design, development, implementation, management, assessment and evaluation of initiatives and programs crafted to assist diverse populations experiencing the systemic effects of poverty.

First elected to office 2008, Coral served two terms (eight years) as a Councilmember prior to her election as Mayor of the City of Flagstaff in 2016. She was re-elected Mayor in 2018.

In addition to serving on the Flagstaff City Council, Coral is the Executive Director of the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association of Flagstaff, Inc., a resident driven social profit (nonprofit) organization that focuses on the redevelopment, growth and prosperity of one of city’s most challenged neighborhoods. Prior to this role, she was the Vice-President of Mission Services for Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona.  She is also the owner of a small business (Destiney’s Creations) and a published author of A Conversation with Alma.

Coral holds a master’s degree in Business Administration, a master’s level certificate in Public Management, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and is nationally certified in public participation practices. Presently Coral is pursuing a Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis on Sustainability. She is a HUNT-KEAN Leadership Fellow, a Babson College Social Innovation Fellow and a Flinn-Brown Foundation Center for Civic Leadership Fellow.  

Coral was recognized by the Arizona Business Magazine as one of Arizona’s “Most Influential Women in Business” in 2018. Other recognitions include:

  • Emily’s List Rising Star Nominee/Finalist

  • Arizona Community Action Association’s Margie Frost Champion Against Poverty Award

  • Arizona Informant Newspaper Newsmaker Award

  • Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Athena Award

  • United Way of Northern Arizona Community Builder Award

  • Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council Cesar E. Chavez Community Award

  • State of Black Arizona Community Luminary Award

  • Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth Caring for Children Award.

She is the third generation of her family to live in Flagstaff. Her family (the Dorsey family) has been an active part of the Flagstaff and greater Northern Arizona community since the early 1900’s. Coral lives in the family home that her grandfather built in 1942 in Flagstaff’s historic Southside neighborhood.

Coral believes in a balanced approach to the stewardship of community resources and is passionate about creating opportunities that allow for civic engagement, civil discourse, community revitalization and genuine sustainability and advancement of all people.