LEAD Program graduates: A new cohort’s time to shine
On Monday, July 8th, friends, family, and community members came together at the NAYA cafetorium to celebrate NAYA’s LEAD graduates.
Established in 2008, the LEAD (Leadership, Entrepreneurial, Apprenticeship, and Design) program is a leadership development opportunity designed to support emerging changemakers and community advocates within Native communities. Over the years, it has built an incredible alumni network of more than 150 community leaders who continue to support the program and its participants. The LEAD program is grounded in cultural values and seeks to present solutions for the advancement of Native communities, drawing from the wisdom and strengths within each diverse cohort rather than a top-down leadership model.
LEAD, known for its one-on-one coaching and networking opportunities, convened for the first time this year after a hiatus due to the pandemic. Participants benefit from personalized guidance and a robust support network, equipping them with the skills and connections necessary for them to thrive.
The 2024 graduation ceremony was a deeply emotional event, filled with heartfelt speeches and expressions of gratitude. Families, friends, and mentors gathered to celebrate the achievements of these impassioned leaders, creating a supportive and uplifting atmosphere. The graduates received praise and recognition, along with a certificate and an Eighth Generation “Tree of Knowledge” blanket to commemorate their achievements.
A particularly touching moment was when Denelle Broncho won the Donita Sue Fry Award and tearfully accepted it, highlighting the profound impact of the LEAD program on its participants. Denelle shared how she had moved to Portland from her home on the Shoshone Bannock reservation in Idaho for a job. In joining the LEAD program, she said she hoped to strengthen her voice advocating for the support of tribal consultation.
The Donita Sue Fry Award is meant for a LEAD cohort member who is community-oriented, brave, and humble in their leadership journey, driven by care and love. Donita embodied these qualities in her work and exemplifying them in current LEAD cohort members is crucial to honoring her longstanding impact on the Portland Native community. A celebratory meal was a highlight, offering everyone a chance to relax, share stories, and enjoy the evening together. The sense of community and shared pride was palpable as the graduates reflected on their journeys and the support they received along the way.
“This is an incredibly compassionate and accomplished group of Native leaders. They are indigenizing professional spaces in healthcare, government, social services, housing, business, and education. The LEAD alumni network showed up in force for these participants which made the program deeply meaningful,” said Bekah Sabzalian, Community Contractor for the LEAD Program, an educator and experience designer who also happens to be a LEAD alumni from 2009.
NAYA’s LEAD Program has a proven track record of empowering its participants to achieve their personal and professional goals. The recent graduates exemplify this ethos, having completed the program with distinction. Their journey underscores the vital role of community support in nurturing leadership within the Portland-area Native American community.
As NAYA continues to foster and support emerging leaders, the LEAD Program stands out as an example of resiliency and tenacity. The community looks forward to the continued contributions of this cohort as they step into their roles as changemakers and advocates.
Congratulations to our 2024 LEAD graduates for their dedication and hard work:
Kata Autobee (Tewa/Pueblo of Abiquiu), Denell Broncho (Shoshone-Bannock Tribes), Luwanna Faye Comstock (Klamath tribal member and Lakota), Amanda Leader (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), Cristal Finley (Yakama), Creeana Bort (Cheyenne River Sioux), Ken Minger (Cherokee Nation), Sara Johnson MHA Nation enrolled – Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara – Three Affiliated Tribes), Xóchitl Garnica (Mexica), Cicilo Goodlance (Oglala Sioux), Daria Bingham ( Yavapai-Apache Nation & Tolowa Deeni Nation), Sheila Davis (Yup’ik, Orutsararmiut Native Council, Callist Corporation, Alaska Native), Winter Rose (Ojibwe), and SuSun Fisher (Confederated Tribes of Siletz, Salish, and Grand Ronde).