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Tawna Sanchez was honored 2006 as a Buffett Award finalist for her steadfast commitment to help Native women and children lead lives free of violence and abuse. She has also worked on peace and social justice issues on an international level. Sanchez is currently the Family Services Director at the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA Family Center) coordinating services in domestic violence, rape prevention education, foster care services for youth and their families, early childhood programs, anti-poverty and services to Native American elders. Sanchez has facilitated and led training workshops in culturally appropriate services, domestic violence, child welfare issues, drug and alcohol prevention, diversity and internalized racism issues.
As the Family Services Director of NAYA Family Center, Sanchez has worked tirelessly to both provide and improve services to Native women who have experienced domestic violence, developing programs to serve Native American Elders, Early Childhood classrooms and home visiting programs, and most importantly programs that serve the disproportionate numbers of Native American children in the child welfare system.
Sanchez served on the Oregon Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Advisory Committee and the Family Services Review Commission, a Governor appointed commission that oversees and advises the Department of Human Services statewide.
As a volunteer, Sanchez’s focus on peace and justice issues reflects both her commitment to traditional values and contributing to the world through service. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Peace Development Fund, the International Indian Treaty Council, the Naah Illahee Fund, and currently the Chair of the Board of Red Lodge Transitional Services, a nonprofit organization devoted to reducing the number of Native American women returning to prison. Sanchez took five NAYA Family Center youth to St. Petersburg, Russia in 2004 for the International Non-Violence and Conflict Resolution Conference.
Sanchez attended the University of California at Berkeley Extension Program and received a Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Studies. She also has an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Merritt College in Oakland, California, and a Bachelor of Art degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Psychology and Communications from Marylhurst University and a Masters of Social Work from Portland State University.
In 2016 Tawna Sanchez was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives representing House District 43, which is North and Northeast Portland. Sanchez currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Ways and Means Committee and the Legislative Audits Committee.