By NB3 Foundation

Strengthening evaluation skills

By: Alva Gachupin | Evaluation and Research Dept. Coordinator

The Tribal Data Champion Initiative is presented by University of New Mexico Center for Participatory Research (UNM-CPR) and funded by W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The cohort provides opportunities for Indigenous individuals working in Indigenous communities or organizations  to strengthen their evaluation skills by engaging in innovative Indigenous based on co-learning and collaborative of community practice.

The Tribal Data Champions cohort was a great benefit, not only for myself, but for the organization as a whole.  The tools and skill gained in building knowledge in Indigenous Data sovereignty methods and methodologies will always be a resource for the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation.

The Tribal Data Champion cohort  was a space to connect with other organizations with similar goals and objectives in building and strengthening program evaluation and research skills.  Through my participation with the cohort, I have built a network of family as a resource to continue the work in strengthening Indigenous evaluation. The cohort creates a network of like-minded individuals to continue this relevant work of going back to our Indigenous ways of knowing.

If you are interested in applying or learning more about the initiative visit https://nas.unm.edu/ for more details.

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By NB3 Foundation

Thank you volunteers!

We celebrated National Volunteer Week by reaching out to our volunteers who helped during our COVID-19 Response Fund food distributions. Volunteers are important to us at NB3 Foundation because they help us provide quality programs and events. Over the years our volunteers helped us run successful events such as the New Mexico Grande Slam and our NB3FIT XC race. We have also been fortunate to have volunteers from communities coach our various youth programs and even folks who gave some of their time to organize and clean our office spaces. We are looking forward to opening our doors and arms again to volunteers in the near future when it is deemed safe to gather again.

Thank you!

Aldrei Alfonso

Aldrian Draper

Ashleigh Claw

Cathy Newby

Christine Means

Dawn Begay

Delane Big Claw

Derek Valdo

Diane Castillo

Elijah Star

Girt Carr-Hohenstien

Isabella De Jesus

Jan Wallner

Jodie Willetto

Liz De Jesus

Marshall Quam

Maxine Velasquez

Nicolette Abeyta

Notah Begay III

Nykki Antonio

Rick Gonzales

Sarah Braaten

Sean Lujan

Shannon Fleg

Sheldon Purly

Taylor Lucero

Trey Benally

Apache County District One

Chinle Community Health Representatives

Chinle IHS CSU

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By NB3 Foundation

Staff Report: Team members attend workshops to promote inclusivity and accessibility

Members of the NB3 Foundation attended an Ableism 1010 workshop series hosted by the University of Arizona’s Disability Cultural Center. The program was aimed at providing base knowledge about disability identity, culture and activism. During the series, staff learned about ableist terminology, micoraggressions, disability activism history and how to create accessible spaces and events, and about the roots of disability justice work.

Earlier this month, staff also attended the Inaugural American Indian Youth Disability Summit   hosted by the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities. The virtual gathering focused on the youth experience in Native communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and what can be done to help youth adapt during these unprecedented times.

Attending these free workshops were a great learning experience and one example of how the NB3 Foundation is continually growing and learning to better promote inclusivity and accessibility in all our youth programs, events and work.

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By NB3 Foundation

Getting healthy and active together

Twelve Native youth from across New Mexico make up our first-ever Get Active youth campaign.  The campaign is focused on promoting health and wellness in Native youth ages 12-18. Due to the pandemic, we know many of our Native youth have been separated from their peers and their usual school routines. Through the Get Active campaign, youth have been given the opportnuity to (virtually) come together with Native youth across the state to focus on staying healthy and active. We have been offering virtual programming since last summer, however this campaign gave us an opportunity to reach an older demographic of youth.

The youth  have been asked to perform different activities that are aimed at guiding youth towards taking the lead of their own health and wellness. Each week has been centered around on one of our four core areas: physical activity, healthy nutrition, youth development and cultural connections. Some of the activities youth have been asked to preform include designing their own workout routine, making a healthy meal for their family and interviewing  their elders.

During virtual check-ins, youth and their accountability partners (parents/guardians) reflect and share their highlights and challenges performing assigned tasks. Besides being provided FitKits that contain small workout gear and sample exercises, the youth have been tackling the tasks on their own! We’ve witnessed just how creative, motivated determined this group of young people are to live healthy lifestyles.

The campaign finishes up this week, however we look forward to keeping up with this amazing group of youth to see how they continue on their healthy journey.

Here are some photos recapping their journey thus far.

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By NB3 Foundation

Welcome our new team member: Jennie Holmes

Please welcome Jennie Holmes, Pueblo of Sandia, as she recently joined our team as a NB3FIT program coordinator.
Jennie is a certified athletic trainer, who completed her bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training last year. Currently, she is a graduate student at the University of New Mexico studying community health education.
“The opportunity to empower Indigenous youth in ways so they can promote their own health is what motivates me to work at the NB3 Foundation. Being a part of those moments of positivity and joy is what makes it all worth it.”
We’re excited to have Jennie on board.
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By NB3 Foundation
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By NB3 Foundation

Welcome, Ryan Arkie to the NB3 Foundation team

Join us in welcoming Ryan Arkie to the NB3 Foundation team as our evaluation and research assistant!

Ryan is a Pueblo of Laguna tribal member and a graduate of Dartmouth College with a BA in Cultural Anthropology. He is currently working towards his MPH in Health Promotion from George Washington University.
“I am driven to help alleviate chronic diseases that remain prevalent in Indigenous communities. Understanding that these issues are preventable ignites my desire to educate younger generations on how to live healthier lives and promote self-efficacy.”
Ryan is an avid runner who also  enjoys exploring, hiking, camping, and coffee excursions.

We’re thrilled to have Ryan join the #NB3Fam.

 

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By NB3 Foundation

NB3 Foundation unveils new interactive resource for communities working to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages and increase water consumption

The Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation is excited to announce a new interactive resource for communities interested in reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and those who have been working towards a healthier community. This resource titled, “Increase Healthy Beverage Consumption and Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs): A Community Roadmap,” displays easy-to-understand concepts, developed from high-level research, that can be accessed by a variety of users seeking information on how to begin, strengthen and reinforce healthy water consumption in their communities.

 

“We know that when we consume sugary drinks our risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dental issues and obesity increases. This community road map is a great starting point and learning tool for communities that are working to make positive change and improve community health,” said NB3 Foundation COO, Jon Driskell.

 

This resource is the result of a two-year Water First! journey with eight community partners. Together, this learning community explored and shared methods and strategies for making water a first-choice drink in their communities. NB3 Foundation also partnered with the National Drinking Water Alliance  and the National Tribal Water Center to build this interactive roadmap to assist communities everywhere.

“What is great about this interactive map is that it includes tips, resources and examples from our community partners and partner organizations who have been through the process,”said Driskell. 


The roadmap guides the user through five steps, each step offering specific information, links and resources. Recognizing every community’s needs are different, this community roadmap will help inform each unique journey, from early visioning through evaluation, without being prescriptive.

 

Whether you are contemplating strategies to improve community health, are already working to reduce SSB consumption or increase drinking of water, or are simply looking for information for Indigenous communities, check out this fun and interactive resource.

 

Special thanks to our collaborators/partners:

Christina Hecht, PhD, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California

Laura Vollmer, MPH, RD, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California

Marleah LaBelle, M.A., National Tribal Water Center, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Current and former NB3 Foundation team members

Water First! Community Team

Check out the roadmap on our Resources page. 

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