Over the past 25 years, Mr. Brian Yazzie has worked in various roles advocating for Native American youth, including positions in public schools, recreation programs, and most recently as the Director of Native American Services for the Boys & Girls Club. He focuses on developing programs that embrace education, community, cultural heritage, and family. Mr. Yazzie believes these areas help youth become successful adults if programs work with families.

1. Overthe past 25 years,Mr. BrianYazzie has devotedhisprofessional careerworkingandadvocatingonbehalf of Native
Americanyouth.Mr. Yazzie hasworkedinmanyareas of youthdevelopment.He hasworkedinthe publicschool system
as a Community/Tribal Liaison,asaRecreationAssistantforaBureauof IndianAffairsCollege,asaRecreationDirector
for a Bureauof IndianAffairsresidentialhighschool dormitory,asa Site Supervisorof a Tribal YouthCenter,and,forthe
past 18 years,as Directorof Native AmericanServicesforthe Boys& GirlsClubof GreaterScottsdale andNational
Directorof Native Servicesforthe Boys& GirlsClubsof America.
Buildingorganizational capacityhasbeenapriorityforMr. Yazzie everywhere he has worked.He believesthatto
achieve completesuccessforayouthprogram, itmust be developedtomeetthe unique challengesof eachcommunity
that influencesthe youthwhoattendthe program.Mr. Yazzie’sfocusesonfourmainareasindevelopingprograms.
These are:buildingyoungpeople toembrace education,be communityminded,embracingtheirheritage,andbeing
familyoriented.Mr.Yazzie believesif youthprogramscanfocusonthese fourareas andwork togetherwiththeir
immediate andextendedfamiliesyouthwill have agreateropportunitytobe successfulintheiradultlife.
Mr. Yazzie hasa BS degree inManagementfromthe Universityof Phoenix;duringhis18yearswiththe Boys & Girls
Club,he achievedmanycertificationsandawards.Mr.Yazzie lovesvolunteerworkinthe communityandchurchserved
recentlyasBoard PresidentforUnitedFoodBankinMesa AZ.Mr. Yazzie currentlylivesinDallas,TXwithhiswife and
has fourchildrenranginginagesfrom25 to 12.

2. JamesShortis currentlyaResearchProjectManager at ArizonaState Universityspecializinginjuvenilejustice and
transitional services.Jameshasover15 yearsof experience workinginthe fieldsof juvenilejustice,behavioral health
and youthdevelopmentaswell asa Master of Science inCriminal Justice andanExecutive Certificate inJuvenile
CorrectionsandSupervision.Priortohistime atASU, Jameswasthe Director of Correctional Programsforthe Boys&
GirlsClubsof Greater Scottsdale atthe Salt RiverPima-MaricopaIndianCommunityDepartmentof Corrections,where
he developedaprogramthat fullyintegratedyouthdevelopmentstrategiesthroughoutthe juvenile facilityand
significantlydecreasedincarcerationandrecidivismrates.Jameshasalsoworkedwithanumber of Native American
communitiestoassisttheminthe developmentandimplementof similarprograms.Mr.Short was alsothe Directorof
Residential TreatmentforArizonaYouthAssociatesaswell asajuvenilecorrectionsofficerandcase workerforthe
ArizonaDepartmentof Juvenile Corrections.Jameshasauthoredorco-authoredarticlesforcorrectional publications
and has conductednumerousworkshops,presentations,andtrainingsonavarietyof topicsrelatedtojuvenile
corrections,youthdevelopmentandtransitional programs
Kristi Stuckwisch,anArizonaLicensedClinical Social WorkerandLicensedIndependentSubstance Abuse Counselor,
sharesherexperienceandknowledge from2decadesof practice inthe fieldof mental health. Specializinginsubstance
abuse,traumaand addictionwork,Kristi hasbeenblessedtohave workedforthe past13 yearswiththe Salt RiverPima-
Maricopa IndianCommunityandthe GilaRiverIndianCommunity. Kristi hasalsobeenprivilegedtohelptrainmental
healthprofessionalsinNavajoNationandthe SanCarlosCommunity. Kristi hasworkedwithinpatienthospitals,
outpatientcounseling,residential treatmentfacilities,juvenileandadultdetentioncenters,grouphomes,legal &law
enforcementsettings,educationfacilities,juvenile drugcourts,adiabetesclinicandmostrecentlyshe hasworkedasa
clinical directorfora large therapeuticgrouphome forfemales. Kristi hastaughtforthe past 8 yearsat ArizonaState
UniversitySchool of Social Workandhas also taught fortwo yearsat Mesa CommunityCollege’sSocial WorkProgram.
Kristi co-facilitatesonlinetrainingforprofessional coachesandsocial workersinthe areaof valuesandhas workedfor
several yearsconductinggrantevaluationsandreportwriting. Kristi holdsherundergraduate degreefromBall State
UniversityinPsychologyandreceivedherMastersinSocial Work fromArizonaState University.