A police helicopter flies over the apartment complex where Grand Canyon University (GCU) freshman Luis Gastelum used to live, just blocks north of campus. The area near 27th and Missouri avenues in west Phoenix, where Gastelum grew up, was not known for its safety. His family moved frequently within the neighborhood, prompting concerns about safety during his high school years.
Gastelum’s mother was particularly worried about him walking through the neighborhood to reach GCU’s Learning Lounge for tutoring. “My mother had concerns about safety,” said Gastelum, now a GCU freshman majoring in accounting. He is also a first-generation Canyon Rising scholar with a full-tuition scholarship.
These safety concerns have been acknowledged by GCU President Brian Mueller, who noted that students were simply trying to get to school safely. Approximately 25,000 ground students attend GCU alongside 7,000 K-12 students at nearby schools such as Alhambra Traditional School and Synergy Public School.
“This is a hotbed of Arizona’s future talent,” Mueller said. “And they were walking to school around very dangerous things that you don’t see now.”
In 2012, GCU began partnering with the city of Phoenix to improve neighborhood safety as part of its Five-Point Plan to transform the community. This initial $2.2 million partnership has grown into a collaboration involving 80 schools, businesses, churches, neighborhood associations, nonprofits, and the city.
Over the past decade, GCU has invested $170 million in capital improvements along 27th Avenue. “It’s the best experience in terms of collaboration I’ve ever had,” said Mueller at an event introducing 27Collab’s safety efforts.
The new police substation on 27th Avenue features a Real Time Operations Center shared by GCU and Phoenix police. Despite these investments, community leaders acknowledge ongoing challenges in reducing crime in areas known as “the Track” or “the Blade.”
Marvin Scott from Rosie’s House and co-chair of Berkley Square Neighbors highlighted efforts led by community leaders and GCU to address local issues like prostitution and drug trafficking.
Dana Drew Shaw from GCU emphasized the university’s role beyond its campus: “It’s about the transformation of the community.”
Alhambra Traditional School Principal Andrew Feight praised the collaborative efforts under 27Collab: “We found out a lot of us are doing great things.”
Many involved recalled support received as children and expressed a desire to contribute back toward improving safety. Parent Kristen Davis noted significant improvements: “I feel this neighborhood is safe.”
Gastelum appreciates both educational resources like the Learning Lounge and recent safety initiatives that have positively impacted his life: “All that made me think that this is my place.”
