Empowerment Economics and Portland’s Native Community
Following a rigorous, participatory research project in partnership with the Institute for Economic and Racial Equity, NAYA’s Individual Development Account (IDA) program has been deemed a sterling example of empowerment economics, supporting the organization’s mission to enhance the diverse strengths of the Native community.
The IDA program is just one of the many ways NAYA strengthens economic security for Portland’s urban Indigenous community. IDAs are an innovative way for low-income families to gain greater financial security and work toward a specific goal; they make it possible for people to build assets with matching funds for things such as a first-time home purchase, paying for post-secondary education, or expanding a small business.
The case study, titled “Balance and Belonging: Empowerment Economics and Community Development at NAYA,” found the IDA program prioritizes deep, meaningful relationships with participants, uses a culturally-connected approach to financial wellness, and recognizes the inherent strengths of Indigenous people, among other findings.
The IDA program is one of the Community Development department’s oldest and most effective programs. As part of the state’s IDA initiative, the program served 66 people between 2020 and 2021, providing them with the tools and resources needed to create opportunities for multi-generational stability and prosperity. The case study called NAYA’s program “one of the most progressive in the country … offering savers (participants) greater flexibility in accessing and using the funds.”
Portland’s Native community has experienced enormous intergenerational trauma due to government policies that stripped families of wealth, sovereignty, and identity. However, this program and the breadth of wraparound services at NAYA ensure that Portland is a vibrant hub for its nearly 90,000 urban Native Americans from over 400 tribes. IDAs benefit the community through its intended outcomes—giving individuals and families a sense of belonging, as well as sovereignty.
“At NAYA, we strive to create a thriving urban Native community with opportunities to flourish and be self-determined. The IDA program is one of our longest-running community wealth building programs, and through it, we’ve seen Native people buy homes, start businesses, pursue higher education, and stay housed. We’re proud to create a sense of place and belonging for Native people through our efforts, and connect community members with their Native identity,” said NAYA CEO Babtist Paul Lumley.
Sneha Gantla, an IERE researcher, described the case study as a true labor of ambition, love, and great humility in the institute’s announcement on the report’s release. “This project has highlighted significant connections between NAYA’s relational worldview approach to community development and the empowerment economics framework. We are grateful, through and through, to share this chapter of the urban Native American community’s story of balance and belonging,” said Gantla.
NAYA would like to thank everyone, from the program participants and researchers to like-minded organizations, for pursuing a more equitable world. And thank you to the tribes and tribal communities that continue to celebrate their heritage, showing a level of resilience that we can all be proud of.