{"id":31439,"date":"2023-08-01T10:56:53","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T14:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=31439"},"modified":"2023-08-01T13:21:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T17:21:43","slug":"native-advocates-join-inaugural-class-of-obama-leaders-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/08\/01\/native-advocates-join-inaugural-class-of-obama-leaders-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Native advocates join inaugural class of Obama Leaders program"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Announcing\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tAnnouncing the inaugural cohort of 100 Changemakers for Obama Foundation Leaders USA Program\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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President Obama announced the first cohort of 100 emerging changemakers who have been selected to participate in the Obama Foundation\u2019s Leaders USA program.T…<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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Obama Foundation: Announcing the inaugural cohort of 100 Changemakers for Obama Foundation Leaders USA Program<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
Native advocates join inaugural class of Obama Leaders program<\/div>\r\n
Tuesday, August 1, 2023<\/div>\r\n
Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nNote: This post was updated at 12:55pm Eastern on August 1, 2023, with additional information from the Obama Foundation. It was updated again at 1:15pm Eastern on August 1, 1023, with additional information from Friends of the Children.<\/em><\/strong>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nSeveral Native advocates have been named to the inaugural class of the Obama Leaders program<\/a> at the foundation started by the former U.S. president.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nOnly 100 people have been selected for the inaugural U.S. cohort. Former president Barack Obama’s foundation<\/a> refers to them as “emerging changemakers” who are working to improve their communities.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cI\u2019m inspired by this talented group of young leaders from across the United States who are working on the most pressing issues facing our world,\u201d said Obama, a Democrat who served two terms in office.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n \u201cFrom an oncology resident championing health equity for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, to passionate union organizers advocating for the labor rights of educators and first responders nationwide, to the first Black woman executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama\u2014their ideas and leadership will help strengthen democracy now and in the future. These leaders give me hope, and they deserve our support,\u201d Obama said in a news release<\/a> on Tuesday. \r\n

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\r\n\"Jen<\/a> \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\"Christina<\/a> \r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n\"Tasha<\/a> \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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\r\n\"Nikki<\/a> \r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Clockwise, from top left: Jen Loren, Christina Haswood, Tasha R. Fridia, Nancy Deere-Turney and Nikki Santos. Images courtesy Obama Foundation\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThe Native members of the Obama Foundation\u2019s Leaders USA program include:\r\n

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\r\n• Nancy Deere-Turney<\/a>, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation<\/a> who serves as director of the Mvskoke Nation Youth Services Program in Oklahoma.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n• Tasha R. Fridia<\/a>, a citizen of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes who serves as national director of Tribal Programs at Friends of the Children<\/a> in South Dakota.

<\/p>\r\n• Christina Haswood<\/a>, a citizen of the Navajo Nation<\/a> who serves in the Kansas Legislature<\/a>.

<\/p>\r\n• Jen Loren<\/a>, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation<\/a> who serves as senior director of Cherokee Film<\/a>, a Cherokee Nation enterprise in Oklahoma.

<\/p>\r\n• Nikki Santos<\/a>, a citizen of the Coeur d\u2019Alene Tribe<\/a> who serves as executive director of the Center for Native American Youth<\/a> in Washington, D.C.

<\/p>\r\n• Kekoa Taparra<\/a>, a Native Hawaiian physician based in California.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n• Patrick Ti’a Reid<\/a>, a Native Hawaiian who serves as public policy advisor for the American Samoa Government\u2019s Office of the Governor<\/a>.\r\n<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cI look forward to scaling the impact of my work for Native American communities as an Obama Foundation USA Leader,\u201d Santos of the Center for Native American Youth said in a news release<\/a> on Tuesday. \u201cWorking alongside the inaugural United States Leaders, I will gain necessary insights and resources to drive systemic change and create lasting solutions to the challenges that impact our Native American youth.\u201d\r\n

<\/P>\r\n \u201cI am honored to collaborate with leaders from diverse backgrounds to advance equity, justice, and social progress,\u201d said Santos, who was a recipient of the “40 Under 40 award”<\/a> from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development<\/a> in 2013.\r\n

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We are thrilled to announce that our Executive Director, Nikki Santos has been selected to participate in this year\u2019s Leaders USA program at the @ObamaFoundation! Follow @ObamaFoundation to learn more about the program and her fellow #ObamaLeaders. https:\/\/t.co\/7XzlpmIFBo<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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<\/P>\r\n\u201cI am humbled to be selected and am grateful for the opportunity to both share my experiences and learn from other leaders selected so that we can collectively have an even greater impact in our communities\u2014especially for future generations,\u201d said Fridia, who lives on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n \u201cI strive to make my ancestors proud in everything I undertake,\u201d added Frieda, a “40 Under 40” recipient in 2020. \u201cMy most important job and greatest legacy is passing on the teachings of my grandmother Frances Wise, to my daughters.\u201d\r\n

<\/P>\r\nHaswood and Taparra are among those featured in a video released by the Obama Foundation<\/a> on Tuesday. Each shared a bit about their work.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n“I am passionate about Native American indigenous political engagement at all levels of government,” said Haswood, who has been a state lawmaker since January 2021. “I hope to partner with other folks on how do we get more Native American, indigenous folks, civically engaged in their current community issues.”\r\n

<\/P>\r\n“As a Native Hawaiian, I\u2019ve seen too often situations in which our indigenous voices are not being heard,” said Taparra, who also runs a research lab that focuses on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander health issues.\r\n

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