New Leadership Strengthens Native Political Power
NAYA is pleased to announce Kim Harless Felix, Ópata, has been selected as our Community Engagement and Policy Director. Kim has served NAYA Family Center and NAYA Action Fund with distinction. She has proven her dedication to community priorities as an elected official in the role of Vancouver City Councilmember, and proven herself as a thoughtful policy analyst and thinker as the Policy Advocacy and Community Engagement (PACE) Manager since October 2024.
In that short time, her leadership in expanding NAYA’s advocacy into SW Washington has helped our community contribute to important policy victories in Olympia, like Rent Stabilization, tuition for Elders, addressing hate crime prosecution, and the expansion of homeownership programs for systematically excluded communities including Native Americans. She has been at NAYA since October 2024, and served on the NAYA Family Center Board of Directors prior to that. In her new role, Kim will guide the electoral work of the NAYA Action Fund and oversee non-partisan advocacy and leadership development at the NAYA Family Center.
“Kim brings incredible leadership to this new role,” says Oscar Arana, Chichimeca, NAYA’s CEO. “We are thrilled she is taking this step with us. Her leadership will be critical to the coming phase of bringing NAYA Action Fund into closer alignment with the needs and goals of the community that gathers at the NAYA Family Center.”
“On behalf of NAYA Action Fund, we welcome Kim to this new role, and we know she will make a powerful contribution to community advocacy,” says Matt Morton, Squaxin Island, Board Chair of the NAYA Action Fund. “We look forward to partnering to advance our shared vision of a thriving and prosperous Native community.”
Kim’s first day will be August 22nd. Kim is one of several elected leaders who have served the community at NAYA, alongside Director of Family Services, HD-42 Representative Tawna Sanchez, Shoshone-Bannock, Ute and Carrizo, and Community Wealth Building Manager, HD-40 Representative Annessa Hartman, Haudenosaunee, Cayuga Nation, Snipe Clan.
Kim’s work and leadership reflect her commitment to the many voices that come together to achieve community victories.
“I’m honored and excited to step into this new role at NAYA,” Kim says. “The advocacy work NAYA has led thus far continues to inspire me, and I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished since I joined the team as a manager. I’m deeply motivated to keep pushing for meaningful change that advances Native self-determination and prosperity. Our incredible Policy, Advocacy, and Community Engagement team is made up of powerful leaders, and together with community we’ll keep growing our political and electoral power.”
Kim welcomes the community to reach out with congratulations. She is particularly interested in hearing from graduates of the LEAD leadership development program, former or active members of the Portland Indian Leaders Roundtable, and those who are engaged with the Portland Youth and Elders Council. Kim’s new role will oversee the team that runs these programs, with the intention to build upon their success in a good way, aligned with community priorities.