Native American Advancement Foundation Inc.

“The president and ceo have a family relationship.”

“The form 990 is reviewed by the president, treasurer and bookkeeper. After their review, a copy is delivered to all board members prior to filing.”

“Native american advancement foundation's conflict of interest policy covers any director or committee member with governing board delegated powers, or any employee, who has a direct or indirect financial interest. In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the board committee. After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the board committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists. After exercising due diligence, the board committee shall determine whether naaf can obtain with reasonable efforts a more advantageous transaction or arrangement from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably possible under circumstances not producing a conflict of interest, the board committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in naaf's best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination, it shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement.”

“In 2020, the board of directors researched non-profit organizations of similar size located in the southwest region. Determination of the compensation was agreed upon by the board of directors after comparing the industry salaries for similar organizations.”

“The foundation's public disclosure copies of financials and forms 990 are available upon request. Form 990 is also posted on guidestar.”

“Guvo academic after-school program (asp) an enrichment education program, asp provides tutoring and family support services with a healthy meal after school. Asp does more than help with homework. The naaf education team created original curriculum designed to provide science, technology, engineering and math (stem) learning and skill-building, primary prevention and wellness from an indigenous perspective, and tohono o'odham language, art and culture. Asp developed from community-based research and local, regional and national education data. Guvo community members and professional tutors from the district develop and manage the after-school program, which includes extracurricular activities designed to keep students scholastically engaged as well as physically fit. Prior to the onset of covid-19, students would begin each session with a study hour where instructors provide tutoring in reading, writing, math, science, and the study of computer programming and robotics. Arts and crafts are also included throughout the week including art, painting, sewing, ceramics, and beading. Traditional o'odham cultural lessons are taught including pottery, dance, cooking, basket making, o'odham language, traditional songs, and gardening. Through a partnership with arizona department of education's prevention services, naaf teaches the students too good for drugs and violence lessons to increase the perception of harm of underage drinking and drug use. These lessons are reinforced on the weekends by providing drug and alcohol-free activities each month. These activities may include field trips, game days, sports, movie nights, star gazing, or camp outs. Participating in the district's healthy o'odham promotion program (hopp) is also incorporated into our lesson planning. The hopp offers fitness clinics and wellness counseling to the students. In september of 2012, hopp was nationally recognized by the american diabetes association for its work towards prevention of diabetes and obesity (the second largest native american tribe, the tohono o'odham has the highest rate of adult onset diabetes in the world, with over 70% of its adult members having the disease). Health and wellness lessons prepared by registered nurses specifically for the program are taught, focusing on the importance of a healthy lifestyle to avoid type 2 diabetes and other illnesses. In response to covid-19 and in accordance with the cdc and tohono o'odham nation executive order, in-person programming for asp was suspended. In response, naaf quickly mobilized door-to-door delivery of program supplies and materials. In this capacity, naaf was able to expand enrollment from 65 students to 120 students. Meals were delivered 5 days a week, and program packets were delivered at least monthly. In non-covid-19 years, asp suspends for the summer and naaf's summer adventure program (sap) resumes session. In 2020, asp and sap merged into one year-long program delivering services to the doorsteps of enrolled children. Meals: each student receives a complete healthy meal and snack in accordance with usda guidelines. A total of 17,020 meals and 17,020 snacks were served in 2020. Participation: in 2020 the nearest bie school was 40 miles away in a neighboring district of grades k-8. Prior to march 2020, a total of 65 students participated in asp at two locations. After march 2020, programming was moved from in-person to an at-home format and enrollment increased to 120 students. Throughout the year, 1,550 program packets were delivered. During 2020, no youth who participated in the after-school program dropped out of school, securing the program's 100% academic retention rate since inception.”

“The store the store provides four rural communities with access to food and household staples. This program also provides job training and internships for high school and college students, allowing them to build their resumes for future employment. The store helps break a cycle of poverty by offering part-time employment. As a direct connection between tohono o'odham culture and economic empowerment, the store provides a space for local artisans to sell their art on consignment without charge. Finally, the store serves as a gathering place for locals to enjoy outside games and events in a safe and drug/alcohol free environment, promoting a drug/alcohol free lifestyle in a prevention type model. Participation: in 2020, the store had 8 employees and 35 community volunteers.”

“Healthy people coalition (hpc) naaf, guvo district representatives and families, and professionals working in the tohono o'odham nation (ton) formed the healthy people coalition (hpc) in 2016. Hpc is a community-based coalition focused on the primary prevention of substance misuse and abuse, and suicide. Hpc is comprised of 12 sectors, and works closely with guvo district council and chairperson, ton health care, healthy o'odham promotion program (hopp) and al jek recreation center. The 12 sectors of hpc are: youth, parents, business community, media, school, youth serving organizations, law enforcement agencies, religious, fraternal or spiritual organizations; civic and volunteer groups; health care professionals; state/local government agencies specializing substance abuse; and other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse. Hpc direct programming is for youth, ages 6-18. A few current hpc community initiatives include: i:mig project, ruth's garden, youth skatepark project, and covid-19 emergency relief efforts. Participation: hpc direct, non-replicated participants are 65-75 youth on an annual basis with indirect participants of 200-800 youth and adults in wider community events, messaging, workshops, and meetings. The i:mig project contributes to the preservation and revitalization of the tohono o'odham language, with special emphasis on the endangered western dialects, and o'odham himdag (ways of life). The i:mig project is a direct response to community priorities to sustain language and cultural practices. Naaf has been tribally designated for this project and holds unanimous resolutions of support from the guvo district council and tohono o'odham nation legislative council. Participation: on 2020 120 youth k-12 received lessons based on the i:mig curriculum. 40 elders have been engaged, with one-one interviews pending. Ruth's garden was established in february 2020, in honor of ruth ortega, a beloved guvo elder. Ruth's garden is managed by a dedicated team of community volunteers as a multi-generational learning site. It is a space to learn and celebrate o'odham language, ceremony, traditional agriculture, food, values, sonoran desert ecology, and o'odham seasons derived from the desert cycles. Moreover, ruth's garden is used as a site for stem lessons in naaf's asp program. The tohono o'odham people suffer the highest global rates of adult and childhood diabetes. A food desert on the reservation, guvo district has experienced increased food insecurity during covid-19 in terms of access and nutrition. Combating these issues is tohono o'odham heritage which is a vibrant desert diet, built on sonoran climate cycles and integrated irrigation and agriculture system. Ruth's garden is a naaf and guvo community project built on tohono o'odham traditional health and food economies. We seek to inspire young people and counteract damaging stereotypes about tohono o'odham people. Participation: ruth's garden is maintained by 20 community volunteers and produce and harvested seeds are distributed amongst guvo district households. Naaf's guvo youth skatepark project creates safe, healthy recreation choices for guvo youth and surrounding areas on the tohono o'odham nation. The goals of the project are to 1) create a recreational space for young people; 2) support the space with sports curriculum including skateboarding workshops and activities based on health, prevention and tohono o'odham culture; 3) promote events for youth; and 4) develop a regional network of skateboarders for healthy lifestyles. These goals align with naaf's mission of "honoring our past by building brighter futures" by integrating tohono o'odham culture into contemporary programs. As an indigenous education and health organization, naaf connects all aspects of health: mental, physical and spiritual through the himdag, the tohono o'odham way of life. The skatepark is scheduled to be built in 2022 and will be the first skatepark on the tohono o'odham n”