Project Spotlight

Initiative Description

ILAworks to build leadership capacity for urban and tribal community members in the Southwest.

“The expanded ILAprogram will afford participants the opportunity to explore issues and find ways to make a positive difference for Indigenous people in urban and reservation communities within an IDEAlens.The concept of the proposed ILA“IDEA”” program is to integrate anti-racism and anti-oppression concepts within each of the ten-ILAmodule segments. In doing so, participants will be inspired and motivated in how to execute strategies and lead change in their communities in consideration of IDEAstrategies”

– K.Talbert

Initiative Impact

Cohort members benefited from guest speakers who have similar shared life experiences.

“We had Chris James, who is the Executive Director of the National Center forAmerican Indian enterprise development. He's from North Carolina…And he's from the rez. He worked for his tribal community for many years.Two people from our cohort were from his same rez.And one of them… is kind of where Chris James was previously. He works for his tribe, in education. He's trying to like expand, but he doesn't know how. And so…it was a really good conversation that we all got to witness between these two.And they had that mutual connection, of having guest speakers from that rez.” –

K.Talbert

What’s next?

ILAheld a strategic planning meeting in February of 2023. Several plans are being explored to expand programming.

“The first idea was to give presentations to our funder, APS, and their NativeAmerican Networking Organization (NANO), hoping that some members would apply to and become a part of the Indigenous Leadership Academy.The second idea was to start aTribal leaders academy or a non-profit leadership academy….Lastly, ILAcould align our funding proposals to Community Economic Development (CED). []as well as]...show how our work is creating a social impact.” –

K.Talbert

Institutionalizing Opportunity: Enhancing Pathways to Professional Development and Mentorship for Minoritized Students

Awardee: Joe Kaufman; Dr.Angel Luis Molina; Dr.Yushim Kim; Dr. Maribel Guerrero; Maryjo Douglas Zunk

Award: $ Grant awarded for honorarium and associated costs

Photo Caption:

“...we don't always know the experience of the students. We can identify problems and we can see challenges that we might see. But we don't live their experience. So it's very useful for us to hear from them. So that then we can say, oh, okay…I didn't know about that.And now I know this is an issue.And now you know, we can do something about it.”

1 Listening sessions

19 Participants