MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hello everyone,
I hope you are all doing well as we approach the end of summer. August has been a busy month for me as I’ve been working on a strategic plan for the foundation and organizing our upcoming event.
We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a grant writing training at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM on Thursday, October 10, 2024, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. This training is open to Pueblo people who are interested in learning about grant writing, implementation, and reporting specific to the Chamiza Foundation. It’s a free training, but space is limited, so please contact me if you would like to attend.
In addition, the Chamiza Foundation has been diligently working on its strategic plan for almost a year. We will soon be reaching out to past and current grantees, board members, and tribal leadership to gather their input. We look forward to completing the plan and using it as a framework to guide our future actions and decisions.
On a personal note, I am proud to announce that I have become a board member for The Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching! I am honored to be the first Indigenous person on their board and I am committed to representing our people to the best of my ability. Click here to learn more!
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Amanda J. Montoya
The Chamiza Foundation Welcomes A New Board Member
Please help us welcome Ms. Elena Aguilar!
Elena Aguilar has earned her master’s degree in social work with an emphasis in Leadership and Administration. Aguilar has continually worked to promote awareness of important issues that affect indigenous people and communities throughout her social work practice and academic career. She has developed programs to spread knowledge about indigenous peoples and improve their wellbeing. Her current work with Public Education Department has led her on a path to continue to advocate on behalf of Indigenous students and families. She currently participates in three boards to promote early childhood education.
Aguilar has worked in Tribal Government for over 10 years promoting holistic wellness, managing grants, organizing conferences, and facilitating community events. Aguilar has also worked in the non-profit sector to promote early childhood education to rural tribal communities, create policies, and advocate legislatively for early childhood education.
She hopes to support Indigenous communities with their pursuit of education sovereignty while also honoring each tribe’s unique traditions and values. Aguilar has been raised by the communities of San Ildefonso Pueblo and Santa Clara Pueblo. She uses her free time with her family, reading indigenous authors, and hiking.
Elena currently serves as the Tribal Consultant Specialist of Indian Education for the New Mexico Public Education Department. As part of her job, she is responsible for providing timely and relevant customer service, technical assistance, and support to districts, charter schools, and Tribes across the state implementing the Indian Education Act.
Chamiza Foundation
Celebrating our Former Board Member: Diane Reyna
Photo (L to R): Amanda J. Montoya (Chamiza Executive Director), Diane Reyna and Ben Calabaza (Board Secretary)
Today, we had the honor and privilege of spending some time with our former Chamiza foundation President, Diane Reyna. We presented her with a plaque to recognize her 25 years of service to the Chamiza Foundation. Thank you, Diane!
“I tell people, wherever I go, that the Chamiza foundation board experience is the best board experience that I’ve had in my life and I’ve been on a lot of boards. It’s been the best. And the reason is that Chamiza is value based in Pueblo values. And every single board member knows that from their own experience. And I think that’s why the longevity of this board, the work of this board has been blessed because of the guidance that each of us brought, because of our ancestors and our relatives, and we took our responsibilities very seriously.” -Diane Reyna
