RELAY REPORT: ARIZONA (TUCSON) JULY 15TH, 2026
It won’t take long, after first meeting DaNel Hogan, to learn about at least a couple of her great loves. The first is the physics trick. She’ll show you her ring and chain necklace, and then demonstrate how she can drop the ring through the chain and somehow not have it fall to the ground. “It’s not magic, it’s physics,” she’ll tell you, which is potentially how you’ll also learn about her day job as a science educator.
If you’re a woman in Tucson, Arizona, though, you’ll also learn about POWER Dinners. You’ll be encouraged to come to the next one and to bring a friend. And when you do so—perhaps eagerly, perhaps with the trepidation that always comes from walking into a new space— odds are, it will feel like home. You’ll sit down in a corner of Tesoro Latin Kitchen reserved for the group, be given a conversation prompt, and end the night marveling at how much you learned about and from the women next to you.
POWER stands for Powerful, Outstanding Women Engaging in Resilience. The Tucson gathering is actually its second iteration. DaNel first organized a group of women when she lived in Washington D.C., and then brought the idea to Southern Arizona when she relocated. It’s a classic example of a convenor identifying the space they themselves were craving, and then making the invitation. In DaNel’s case, that means extending it whenever she meets a new woman in Tucson—at work, at a social gathering, at the grocery store check-out line.
It would be one thing if POWER relied solely on DaNel’s magnetism. But the actual magic of the space is the way that its participants both feel welcomed and inspired to offer their strengths to the group. Because yes, the idea of collective and individual power is right in the group’s name, but, quite honestly, it’s also the feeling that the group gives each other. When you sit down at dinner at Tesoro, you’ll almost immediately be launched into conversation with a fascinating, inspiring neighbor. Perhaps a “literal genius in the math world,” or a woman who recently successfully chased a snake out of her yard. In another corner of the room, DaNel might explain why she does the physics trick— it introduces herself as a safe, interesting person, but also as somebody with something to share.
That’s it, in a nutshell. POWER Dinners are spaces where the women in attendance can’t help but feel that they have something to share. That’s always the case, but never more so when the group gathered on July 15th, both to celebrate the relay and their 25th event after a post-pandemic restart.
In every single way, the event was a group project, a result of hands raised to help out. The reason why the Interdependence Relay came down to Tucson in the first place was due to the energy and vision of Dr. Allie Hughes, a longstanding participant in the group. The social media-ready videos from the night were thanks to the videography talents of Sierra LaDuke– Send It Story + Strategy, who just started attending this year. And the beautiful conversation cards that both helped kick off that evening’s discussion and were added to the box were the creation of Alison Smith– The Thrive Designer– who was attending her first ever event.
It was only fitting, then, that after a brief tour of the box, the group was invited to all share their answers to an opening prompt. “What would those who know you best say that you contribute to your community?” Soon, the line between POWER attendees and other restaurant patrons was blurred as the room filled with answers. Attendees talked about their love for Tucson as a city, their careers as educators, and long legacies of service.
Dinner was served, and the conversation kept going. Every group member got to answer a different conversation prompt from Alison’s cards. And then, they all reflected on one last prompt, this one both for their sake, and as a gift for the box.
“Complete this sentence: In the spirit of interdependence, I commit to…”
Before the night was over, the Arizona section box was stuffed full. This was never going to be a group that could be represented by just one item. The group lingered. Some stuck around, as is often the case, for dance lessons put on by the restaurant. Others shared plans for the future. A new POWER Dinner chapter in Chandler. Their new POWER Pack Podcast. More chances to share your gifts, but more importantly, more chances to encourage neighbors to share theirs.
WHAT COMMITMENTS OR DECLARATIONS DID THE GROUP MAKE?
When you look in the box, you’ll find nearly 20 different individual commitments. That’s not because the group couldn’t have come to a consensus, but because doing so wouldn’t be in the POWER spirit. Their commitment, now and always, is to a collective space that celebrates every single individual’s gifts, and to share those gifts with the community.
AND WHAT WENT IN THE BOX?
The more appropriate question might be, “what didn’t go in the box?” Because, again, the point is an abundance of gifts and stories.
In this case, POWER’s gifts included the following.
Commitment cards from each of the 20 women who attended the dinner. The Interdependence Conversation Cards from Alison Smith - The Thrive Designer. It’s also worth noting that the POWER crew sent extra copies of these cards to Garrett and Carly, the relay organizers, in hopes that they could also be useful for future groups.
A lizard with a story from attendee Sophia.
An Arizona magnet, postcards, and a key chain, also from Sophia.
A ceramic chili pepper
A ceramic Ben's Bellskindness coin,
A lens cloth about being outdoors from attendee Mabel,
A bottle with creosote inside so people can smell what the Arizona rain smells like
Two rings and chains (the legendary physics trick!) with a card that links to a video about it,
A Taking Up Space patch from attendee Czarina who runs a cool non-profit that sends middle school Indigenous girls to space camp.
WANT TO FOLLOW THE POWER DINNER COMMUNITY?
Listen to their new podcast! And if you’re in Tucson, come to one of their monthly dinners (if you send us an email at the contact form on this website, we’ll put you into contact with DaNel and the crew!).
