Lenapeowsi Foundation

Weli kishku tahkoken. Nkwelaha kulamalsi. (Greetings tribal members! I hope each of you are in good health and spirits as we move into the autumn season.)

The Lenapeowsi Foundation would like to express our gratitude to each and every one of you for your continued support of our youth and our program! Without your support and participation, we would not be a success. This upcoming year brings exciting developments and unexpected changes to the Lenapeowsi Foundation and our program.

Some unexpected changes within our leaders, will bring unexpected change to the schedule of the Thursday night program. As most of you know, Chairwoman Dr. Nicky Michael has accepted an appointment as Professor of Native American Studies at the University of Wyoming. This is an amazing opportunity for Dr. Michael to share her vast and diverse knowledge and experience of Native American issues with an emerging generation. We wish her, Xavier, Tahkoken, and River the best in their new journey.

In addition, our instructors have been experiencing time constraints, due to an increasing work load with their employers. So the Board of Directors has decided to change the Thursday night weekly program to a bi-weekly or monthly program. The Board is coordinating with our instructors to finalize a calendar. Once we have the details nailed down, the calendar will be posted on our website (www.lenapeowsi.org), Facebook page, and at the Community Center. The program content will still consist of language, dance and craft instruction.

Now for some exciting news! As we move into the coming year, we are looking at expanding our program into the Vinita, Miami and Grove areas to increase our outreach area. We are coordinating with tribal leaders in these areas to identify locations and instructors. Please contact one of the Board members listed below if you are interested in becoming a volunteer instructor or participant.

The Board members have also discussed initiating a Dress for Success program to service our members with professional clothing for interviews and work. This would be a need-based program, where a member can peruse the collection of donated professional clothing, if that member could not afford to purchase new attire for an interview with a potential employer or university. The clothes would be returned or additional items would be donated, once the member was able to purchase their own clothing. Lenapeowsi Foundation is accepting donations for the Dress for Success Program Items needed are professional clothing for both men and women (dress shirts, blazers, slacks, matching suits, shoes). Monetary donations accepted as well. Please contact Michelle Holley to make a donation.

Another new development has been the creation of our web site www.lenapeowsi.org. This web site is still in the developmental stages and will provide an event calendar, Lenapeowsi merchandise (T-shirts, bracelets and fans), updates and many more features, as we move forward.

As you can see there are many new and exciting changes in the works. We will keep you posted as the developments progress. Please feel free to contact our Board of Directors with any questions or suggestions.

Chairwoman, Dr. Nicky Michael, Ph.D
nicky.michael@lenapeowsi.org
Vice-Chairman John Sumpter
longwalkerlongwalk@sbcglobal.net
Secretary Michelle Holley
michelle.holley@lenapeowsi.org
Treasurer Jason Jones
Jason.jones@lenapeowsi.org