ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Pima County’s Office of Community and Workforce Development is one of the region’s most ambitious, human‑centered engines for economic mobility, housing stability, and opportunity. At its helm is Director Dan Sullivan, a lifelong Tucsonan whose personal history is woven tightly into the fabric of the county he now serves. Director Sullivan’s father not only worked for the county, but the Sullivan Jackson Employment Center, is named after him.
Sullivan’s own path to leadership was shaped by journalism, political work, and years advocating for trade unions before joining Pima County nearly a decade ago. His tenure has spanned homeless services, workforce development, and dislocated worker programs, culminating in more than five years as director. Under his leadership, the department has grown into a broad, interconnected network of programs that touch tens of thousands of residents each year—from the Kino One Stop and youth workforce initiatives to rent and utility assistance, home repair, weatherization, and the nationally recognized Emergency and Eviction Legal Services (EELS) program.
The department’s mission, as Sullivan puts it, is prosperity. “It is our mission to bring prosperity to this community”. That mission is reflected in CWD’s innovative navigator model that ensures “there’s no wrong door” for residents seeking help, and its commitment to meeting people where they are—literally and figuratively—during some of the hardest moments of their lives.
Youth services have become a cornerstone of this work. The Pima County Youth Center now sees roughly 6,000 young people annually, offering a trauma‑informed, welcoming environment where teens and young adults can pursue GEDs, pre‑apprenticeships, and career pathways that lead not just to jobs but to long‑term stability. Early childhood education has also emerged as a defining priority, with the PEEPs program reducing barriers to high‑quality preschool and laying the foundation for lifelong success.
Across all these efforts, Sullivan’s leadership philosophy is unmistakable: honor the people doing the work. Sullivan emphasized that his role is to empower staff, nurture internal talent, and foster a culture grounded in “heart and urgency”.
