CCUIH currently works with six outstanding interns on projects ranging from legislative tracking to art & design. Over the next few weeks, we will be featuring each of our interns on our website. The first is Amanda Whitecrane, our Policy and Legislation Intern, who we can thank for her diligent work on the California Legislation Tracker. Amanda is also helping us start our Urban Indian Policy Blog.
Learn more about Amanda, in her own words:
I’m delighted to be an intern at CCUIH. I’m learning more about policy and legislation as I update the website and I’m anxious to see what the future will bring as I get to know more about their important work. I recently received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and an American Indian Studies minor at San Francisco State University. I moved to the Bay Area nine years ago from Lame Deer, Montana. As a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, I received my Associates degree from Chief Dull Knife Tribal College in Business. Upon moving to California I worked in Native American non-profits before making the decision to continue my education. I have two daughters, ages 5 and 11, who are absolutely my world and their future is the basis of many of my educational/career pursuits. I’m an active volunteer at NAHC in facilitating IllumiNatives, an evaluation advisory board aimed at creating meaningful and purposeful research that illuminates our community. It ensures that evaluation projects are successful in empowering youth and parent voices within the program. I came to CCUIH as a student and member of the San Francisco community to learn about how policy impacts Native communities.
Through all of my endeavors I hope to someday be able to assist in the establishment of a Native American cultural center that serves as second home to the San Francisco Native community. With the dwindling availability of space in San Francisco it is time to demand that the Native American people have a designated cultural center that can be utilized for community events, educational and cultural classes serve as a resource for residents and an opportunity to acknowledge the original Ohlone people of San Francisco. It is essential for urban communities to offer this space for our youth to develop positive cultural identity. Thank you for allowing me to share with you who I am and my path. Be well.