NAYA E-NEWS JULY 2010

Congrats to our 2010 NAYA Early College Academy Graduates!

Photo Credit: Rebecca Cheney Chit-Chat Images

NAYA Family Center is proud to announce 14 new Early College Academy Graduates! Students from the Siletz, Lakota Sioux, Warm Springs, Blackfeet, Salish, Ojibwe, Yakama, Colvile, Cowlitz, Klamath and Navajo nations, made us incredibly proud as they took this important step in their journey to become the next generation of Native leaders! Thirteen of the fourteen graduates are signed up to continue on into higher education and training programs, many with full and partial scholarships!

One of our students, Michael Marteeny, came to NAYA Family Center after he was told repeatedly by his high school counselors that he was not college material and probably would not graduate. We are proud to share that he earned over 18 college credits prior to graduating and had multiple acceptance letters and scholarship offers to four year universities. He is just one of our success stories.

It is clear that our entire community shared in this moment, as we packed the auditorium with over 250 people from all backgrounds and ages to support our children.

If you are inspired by this story, please make a financial contribution to NAYA Family Center at our website www.nayapdx.org. Support our youth, support our future.

Neerchokikoo Powwow a Great Success!

Photo Credit: Molly Garmire

The Neerchokikoo Powwow was well received by both the Native and Non-Native community on that beautiful weekend in May, as more than 3,500 people were in attendance. The Native American Youth and Family Center's first ever powwow was not only a celebration of the purchase of the new NAYA building on a historic site, but also a time to come together and share knowledge.We were fortunate to have Grande Ronde Tribal Member, Bobby Mercier perform the ground blessing ceremony for this momentous occasion in our community's history. With hearts and stomachs filled by our Native vendors, artists, food, dancers and drummers, the two days with each other was two days well spent.

Special Thanks to our major sponsor the Portland Development Commission, as well as Arnold Little Head, Ed Goodall, Bobby Mercier, Dr. Cornel Pewewardy, Four Directions, Harold Paul, Buzz Nelson, Leroy Big Boy, NIVA and all the Veterans, Our Youth and Elders, Northwest Area Foundation, Bow and Arrow, AIM, and PSU Capstone Students.

SAVE THE DATE: 5th Annual Homeownership Fair on July 31, 2010!

Please join us for the
5th Annual Native American Housing to Homeownership Fair
Saturday, July 31st, 2010 10am-3pm
At NAYA Family Center 5135 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR

The Fair is FREE and open to everyone.

Questions? Contact Jen Matheson (503) 288-8177, ext. 297 jenm(at)nayapdx(dot)org