Pictured: completed Medicine bag from class participant
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A Note from the Executive Director
Greetings,
I am completing my first month with DIFRC as well as a new Denver/Colorado resident. Since arriving in Colorado I have been impressed with the warm welcoming my family and I have been offered over the past month. I have also been frequently stunned by the intense beauty of the land and the greenery that my desert eyes are so unaccustomed to. Despite the warm, beautiful weather we have been enjoying, DIFRC staff are busy planning for back to school and for protecting our unsheltered relatives this upcoming winter. The work of planning for modern day needs is similar to the same type of planning and coordination our ancestors and elders conducted in planning for the harsh winters of this region. It is done in advance and with the needs of our entire community in mind - it is also done with the cooperation and support of all our community.
We have an exciting development to share with which we humbly ask for your support to grow as an organization. We are expanding within our building on Fillmore; an additional suite will support our Family Support team as well as relocate our reception area to Suite 112. This will enable us to better serve our community while keeping in mind dignity and respect for confidentiality as well as to allow for a welcoming space for our families who oftentimes have young children with a need to play and explore as their caregivers meet with our staff. Please consider reviewing our Amazon wish list below to help us furnish this space.
Otherwise, I look forward to our Back to School planning and coordination along with ensuring our community is safe and supported this upcoming winter.
Ahéhee’ (Thank you),
Tallerita Tunney Rogers
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DIFRC now has additional office space in the Fillmore building!
Our reception area will move from the garden level to the first floor in suite 112 this month.
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DIFRC Board Meeting
If you are interested in DIFRC or becoming a member of the Board, we invite the community to join us in our Bi-Monthly Board meeting scheduled from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 18, 2022 via Zoom
Zoom Meeting ID: 852 1471 5804
Passcode: 318706
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Nurturing Parenting Program is Back!
DIFRC's Nurturing Parenting Program is for families who want a healthier and more nurturing family lifestyle while also learning about traditional practices in parenting skills.
To register, reach out to Carrie Howell at 720-500-1014 or call the front desk at 720-500-1020.
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We are adding to our team!
We are urgently hiring a Family Engagement Specialist.
Do you or someone you know have the right skills and experience?
Social Workers and clinicians are especially encouraged to apply for this role.
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Medicine Bag Class was a Success!
On June 27, we taught a “Medicine” bag making class as a part of our Traditional Techniques culture classes. We had a great time visiting and learning from each other. We also got really great ideas for future culture nights.
Many thanks to Patrick Kills Crow, our staff, our volunteers, and Four Winds for helping to make our June class successful.
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DIFRC Supply Drive
From now until Aug. 5, DIFRC is collecting school supplies to give to the community at DIFRC's upcoming Back-to-School event in August. Please support us if you can.
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DIFRC ED is Joining an Upcoming Panel
At 4 p.m. July 11, DIFRC’s Executive Director, Tallerita Tunney Rogers, will be a panelist speaking about Working with Youth and Families Experiencing Homelessness and Home Insecurity hosted by Pacific Southwest MHTTC.
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DIFRC Board Member, Patrice Kunesh, Nominated as a Prestigious Commissioner by President Joe Biden
President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate DIFRC Board Member, Patrice H. Kunesh, and other national leaders to serve as key leaders in his administration.
Ms. Kunesh, of Standing Rock Lakota descent, was nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read more about her nomination here.
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The RITEI Program Connects Unemployed and Underemployed Workers to the IT Field
The RITEI program, led by Jobs for the Future in partnership with the Colorado Community College System, connects unemployed and underemployed workers to jobs in Information Technology (IT) and advances current workers to middle- and high-skill positions.
RITEI will train eligible individuals via online platforms in CompTIA A+ Certification or the Google IT Professional Certificate, paired with paid work-based learning opportunities, such as an internship or apprenticeship.
The program is at no cost, entirely online, and self-paced with one-on-one support coaching.
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Community College of Aurora High School GED classes |
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Certified Professional Doula Training with
Community College of Aurora
CCA and AlloTM Doula are excited to offer this comprehensive program to prepare students to work as professional doulas.
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Missing in Colorado
The focus of this event is for families whose loved ones have gone missing.
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Voz y Corazón - Suicide Prevention Program
From 6-7:30 p.m. every Thursday at 4407 Morrison Rd. in Denver
This weekly art group is a free program for youth ages 11-17.
An artist will work with youth and their art projects. There is also a suicide prevention component where they teach youth how to look for signs or help others who could be suicidal.
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Free Poetry Youth Summer Program
This free poetry summer program for artistic youth aged 14-25 is an opportunity to get to grow with culture, develop leadership skills, engage in creative expression, and heal yourself through culturally responsive mental health and holistic practices.
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Farmers Market at Focus Points Resource Center |
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Bell Policy and Cultural Impacts
If you, or a loved one you've cared for, have used long-term care services like nursing or home care services, the Bell Policy Center wants to hear about your experiences in this 5-minute anonymous survey!
Whether you've used these services, or a loved one has, we want to know if these services met your health needs based upon your sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
They seek to use this information to advocate for better long-term care that meets the needs of everyone throughout our state.
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Denver Basic Income Project is Hiring
The Denver Basic Income Project is currently hiring for a Director.
DBIP is a local Denver based project with goals to serve unhoused people by examining the impact of direct cash distributions in an effort to encourage a healthier society centered around human thriving.
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DICI Youth Lacrosse Nights |
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About the Protect ICWA Campaign
The Protect ICWA Campaign was established by four national Native organizations: NICWA, the National Congress of American Indians, the Association on American Indian Affairs, and the Native American Rights Fund.
Together, the Campaign works to serve and support Native children, youth, and families through upholding ICWA. The Campaign works to inform policy, legal, and communications strategies with the mission to uphold and protect ICWA.
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DIFRC Team highlights: MSW Summer Practicum Students
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Meet Katrina Hungary and Jessica Frazier. They are MSW Practicum Students from the Washington University Brown School of Social Work and will work with DIFRC until August 2022. |
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Katrina Hungary, Arapaho descendent
Katrina works with different aspects of DIFRC doing the administrative work, regarding grants, creating reports, and understanding the structure of a nonprofit.
Additionally, she works with the youth group to promote their culture while being leaders in the community, as well as working as an advocate in the court system for parents, and providing case management for them.
Katrina also supports cultural nights and with community outreach events.
She previously worked with adults who had severe and persistent mental illness in a residential facility for three years. While there she served as a Social Service Worker and Case Manager, and provided clients with support in maintaining their sobriety and with connecting with their community through gardening, mindfulness, DBT, CBT and other services. She also worked with youth whose parents were being deployed or coming back from deployment, and taught resiliency skills.
Originally from Washington State, Katrina loves the nature that Colorado provides and the people she's met so far. When she's not at working, Katrina enjoys walking her dog Cerberus, hiking, watching movies and tv shows, dancing, singing, doing puzzles, skydiving, paragliding, cliff jumping, and anything in the air.
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Jessica Frazier, Kialegee Tribal Town/Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians descendent
Jessica hopes to gain experience and knowledge through a variety of opportunities.
She previously worked as a case manager, where she supported individuals and families in their journey. She has also worked to teach life skills to all ages, including young women, youth, and adults.
She is originally from Wetumka, a small town on the Mvskoke Nation reservation in Oklahoma, and so far she has enjoyed Denver and hopes to come back after finishing up her Master’s program.
Jessica has a passion for community involvement as well as making art and working out.
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Include DIFRC in your gift giving plan and support American Indian and Alaska Native families. Donate today! |
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