Native American Youth and Family Center Celebration

Olivia Drosh, Harry Smith, Tate Eaglestaff

Portland, November 11th. The Native American Youth and Family Center 8th Annual dinner at the Governor Hotel was sold out. The event in the Governor Hotel’s Heritage Ballroom drew over 500 supporters.

Frank Garcia, Renee Rank Ignacio, NAYA Board Vice Chair, Hector Ignacio, Jason Lim

Each year community partners, local politicians and loyal supporters, in the corporate and philanthropic community, gather to bid on valuable Native art work from across the nation, including fine antique baskets, original paintings, prints and hand created jewelry in the silent and live auctions. (Photo Credit, Mariel Klein)

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (Photo Credit, Irena Solomon)

Melissa Clyde and Aaron Ridings

The NAYA Family Center’s 8th Annual Celebration was in honor of Native American Heritage Month. The group thanked major sponsors including: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Comcast, Portland Development Commission, Northwest Area Foundation.

Kim Laramy, Wayne Clark, NAYA Board member, Portland Mayor, Sam Adams

Mia Barnett, Kerry Barnett, Diane Mudrow, Mike Mudrow

Michelle Osborne, NAYA Board Chair from Nike, Nichole Maher, Executive Director, Hank Fore, Comcast Senior Vice President

Rosa and Frank Alby

The mission of NAYA is as follows:

The Native American Youth and Family Center in Portland, Oregon, works to enrich the lives of our Native youth and families through education, community involvement, and culturally specific programming. We have provided educational services, cultural arts programming, and direct support to reduce poverty to the Portland metropolitan area’s American Indian and Alaska Native community for over 30 years.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.