Coral Evans
Flagstaff, AZ USA
"I’m going to sit at the table. And we can all just be awkward and uncomfortable with it, but I’m here because my people have something they want to say and they want to be heard."
Career Roadmap
Coral's work combines: Government, Non-Profit Organizations, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I was running for city council and decided to quit halfway through the campaign. That day, a stranger came up to me and basically told me that just because a Black man won in Illinois, it doesn't mean I have a shot at city council. When I realized he was referring to Barack Obama who was on his way to becoming the first Black president of the United States, I decided to keep running—and I won!
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Business Administration and Management, General
Graduate Degree
Business Administration and Management, General
Certification
Public Management
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I’m a fifth generation Arizonan—I still live in the house that my grandfather built in 1942.
2.
I started my career working for a nonprofit, where I organized community events.
3.
When a historic community center was going to be torn down by the city, I led the effort to save it.
4.
After saving the building, I decided to run for city council.
5.
I almost quit halfway through my campaign but kept going when I found out that Barack Obama was on his way to becoming the first Black president of the United States.
6.
After serving on the Flagstaff city council and realizing my passion for civic engagement, I decided to run for Mayor of Flagstaff—and won!
7.
I served two terms as Mayor of Flagstaff, during which time I also worked as a DJ at the Arizona Roadhouse.
8.
I now serve as Northern Arizona Director for Senator Mark Kelly.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
You think just because a Black guy won in Illinois, you have a shot at getting on the Flagstaff city council?
How I responded:
I was running for city council and decided to quit halfway through the campaign. That day, a stranger came up to me and basically told me that just because a Black man won in Illinois, it doesn't mean I have a shot at city council. When I realized he was referring to Barack Obama who was on his way to becoming the first Black president of the United States, I decided to keep running—and I won!
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I grew up in the projects and had no intention of ever becoming mayor, mostly based on my background. However, one thing led to another and I did serve as mayor. You can become mayor no matter what your zip code is or was.
I experienced domestic violence during my marriage. I left that marriage and raised my daughter as a single parent.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer twice—once when I was 29 and the second time when I was running for mayor in my early 40s. This is part of the reason why I emphasize the importance of healthcare.