Meet Crisann Black | CEO and Creator of Uniting Arizona

We had the good fortune of connecting with Crisann Black and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Crisann, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

The inspiration for starting uniting Arizona came from my father William Wright. He owned a Landscaping company called Artworks Landscaping in the early 90’s. He resembled a lumberjack. Big in statue with a heart of gold. He would employ anyone who was looking for work including friends , family and people who lived at Santa Rita park. My Dad was great at seeing past people’s circumstances and was able to see people at their core. He would take a few guys from the park with him complete a large Landscaping job and at the end of the workday they’d head back to our house. My dad would make a large pot of goulash or spaghetti. He would offer the gentleman a place to shower, he would cut their hair if they needed a trim and he would launder their clothes for them. While they waited for their clothes to be done drying , they would put on my mom‘s sweatpants and relax while eating and watching tv. My Dad tried his hardest to be a great host. When their clothes would dry, they would change out of the sweatpants and pack up some leftovers for later.. My Dad would pay them and take them back to the park. The men would then return to their friends at the park . I feel like it it must have been like a mini extreme makeover for those men. When my Dad would return for more workers the following week everyone would come out and want to help. He made a great name for himself amongst the people living at the park. Shortly thereafter my Dad would fall on hard times battling mental health issues and addiction. He too became homeless. I was 18 when he died and I couldn’t save him. It took me years to make peace with that fact. But I put on my thinking cap and went to work. I would let my pain be the fuel that burned the midnight oil. It is my goal to create the first mobile hygiene unit that replicates the beautiful mission my Dad started. I have an RV that we need to remodel into showers, laundry and barbershop for the homeless community in Tucson Az. We would set up at Santa Rita park or any other location to serve the homeless free food, hygiene, allow them to shower, get their hair cut and wash some clothes. God willing, we will be a National Nonprofit one day.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Growing up, I was a runaway teen who was the survivor of sexual abuse. I was pregnant at 16 and gave birth at 17 to my eldest son Emilio( 21). It’s easy to say that I was a troubled teen, being involved with gangs and selling drugs to make money. I struggled to find my identity and battled so many demons in my journey to finding my best self. I had a low self-worth and was reflecting all my hurt and anger into my actions. It took me years to get a foothold on where I wanted to be in life. Through prayer, meditation and therapy I was able to change my life around. Early on I knew I wanted to work with people with special needs. By the time I had my 2nd son Gianni(13) 8 years later. I had already started my career in the field of Developmental disabilities. I began as a caregiver working in my client’s homes providing them with various home and community-based services like personal care and hygiene, range of motion therapy and transferring and housekeeping. Over the next several years as I progressed, I became a Support Coordinator arranging their care instead of providing it to them. I became a Notary, CPR and first aid instructor. I was a working mom who had my last 3 children Gino(9),Sophia (7) and Zeus (4)while I worked my way up the chain of command into an Assistant Director position that I stayed in for the last 10 years. before recently leaving and starting my own business. Tucson’s for Special Needs nightclub called Club Zeus named after my son Zeus who has Autism. It was apparent to me early on in my career that there needed to be more social activities for Adults with special. I know that my way of thinking is considered innovative and somewhat unconventional but to me life is bigger than thinking just outside the box it’s about thinking outside yourself and actually putting your mindset into the situation for the greater good. I am so blessed to know that my thoughts are only as important as the steps I take to make them happen. I operate Club Zeus once per month and Uniting Arizona once per week and I am still able to balance my life and my job.  I am blessed to have such a strong belief in myself and the things I want to accomplish for the sake of others. It’s similar to the saying, when a person plants a tree it’s not because they intend to one day sit under it shade to find respite and enjoy it’s fresh fruit, it’s so that future generations will be able to enjoy this labor of love. Have morals and have compassion, and most importantly believe in yourself. I still cannot believe I’ve been in the field for 20 years! I have absolutely no intentions of ever leaving.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
On a perfect day we would go to breakfast at Cora’s cafe nestled on Tucson’s Southside. Best Mexican breakfast in town. Then we’d go shopping downtown at Creations to find one-of-a-kind items. We stroll along to the thrift store the Otherside located in the historic 4th Ave scene. After an afternoon of shopping, we’d rest our piggies at El Chinito Gordo off of Miracle Mile. We have a mojito and some delicious Camaron Culichi which is Spanish for ” how we die happy” . This is a spicy blend of Chile sauce smothering bountiful grilled pieces of shrimp on a bed of warm pasta. Oh my god I need to stop I’m salivating. If you’re up for it, we would head to the La Encantada to do some retail therapy. They have everything from a Tiffany’s to more delicious restaurant and specialty shops. For dinner we’d hit up RA sushi enjoying some spicy tuna rolls, sake and great music. By now I’ll need a wheelbarrow to take me home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A huge shoutout to all my dedicated volunteers like my family Husband Terry, My kids Emilio, Gianni, Gino, Sophia and Zeus. My Brother Will, my Mom Rebecca and Stepdad Luis , my mother-in-law Maria, My best friends Astrid and Angelica, My new Friend Alexis, my niece Kayla, my cousins Larissa ,Monica Michael, Ari & Blanca, Friends Mercedes, Ariana, Kelly, Carla Mejia at Baking is my Therapy, Patrick at Squared Up Pizza at Park Place Mall,  Sauce Pizza , Jaquie at Shotz de Salud, and so many more people who have been so consistent with their love and support of our Homeless Community and of People with Developmental Disabilities.

Website: www.unitingarizona.org

Instagram: Uniting Arizona

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crisann-black-az

Twitter: @Unitingarizona @clubzeusaz

Facebook: @unitingarizona @clubzeusaz