Native Women Lead Announces Shadiin Garcia as Executive Director, Merging Our Collective Wisdom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Shadiin Garcia, shadiin@nativewomenlead.org
Date: January 22, 2025
Native Women Lead Announces Shadiin Garcia as Executive Director, Merging Our Collective Wisdom
ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Native Women Lead, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Native women entrepreneurs while championing economic justice and racial equity, is proud to announce Shadiin Garcia, Ph.D., as its new Executive Director. A Laguna Pueblo and Chicana leader, Shadiin brings decades of expertise in education, policy, and social justice to this transformative role.
"As we honor our mission to empower, amplify, and rematriate, we are thrilled to welcome Shadiin Garcia to steward Native Women Lead into its next chapter," said Vernelle Chase, Chair of the Board of Directors. "Her vision for continuing to foster community strength and entrepreneurial agency aligns deeply with our commitment to building a future rooted in love, sovereignty, and innovation."
Native Women Lead was founded in 2017 by a coalition of Indigenous women leaders who recognized the unique entrepreneurial strengths of Native women. Since then, the organization has convened sold-out events, piloted innovative lending models, and launched programs like the Matriarch Revolutionary Fund, the first-ever Indigenous women’s gender lens investment fund. In the past three years, Native Women Lead served 2,429 Indigenous women entrepreneurs representing 480 Tribes, Pueblos, and Nations with 40% of participants off tribal lands, 25% on tribal lands, and 8% in both spaces, reflecting a wide and diverse network of Native women. Since its inception in 2017, Native Women Lead has invested a total of $2,781,938 in support of 3,487 Indigenous women.
Shadiin Garcia is committed to guiding the organization toward a prosperous future, harnessing the power of collaboration and embodying the wisdom that is foundational to Native Women Lead. At the heart of our mission is a loyal dedication to our American Indian communities, a vital aspect of our identity that shapes our actions and amplifies our impact. This communal spirit not only unites us but empowers every woman leader within our network, fostering collaboration and support, ensuring that our collective efforts advance our vision and create lasting change.
Shadiin’s journey is a powerful testament to the resilience and boundless potential at the heart of Native Women Lead’s mission. As a Chicana and Laguna Pueblo woman from New Mexico, she triumphed over the challenges posed by an underfunded BIA school at Choate Rosemary Hall, ultimately earning her place at Yale University as a Native American scholar. She became the first in her family, among 62 first cousins, to earn a Ph.D.
Shadiin Garcia began her impactful career in public education as a teacher and administrator, with the first teaching role at the Heart of the Earth Survival School in Minneapolis, a pivotal institution founded by the American Indian Movement (AIM). This experience solidified her commitment to social justice and educational equity. She later transitioned to state government as the Deputy Director of Policy and Research for former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. In this capacity, she has become a powerful advocate for policies that uplift systemically marginalized communities and promote transformative educational practices.
Her leadership is a testament to the power of cultural connection and community-driven action. Her work spans groundbreaking projects from Oregon’s Senate Bill 13: Tribal History/Shared History, which embedded Native narratives into statewide curricula, to conducting research utilizing Indigenous methodologies, coaching on language reclamation, land rematriation, and frame assets-based approaches.
"I am truly honored to join Native Women Lead, an organization rooted in the strength and visionary spirit of Indigenous women, dedicated to advancing economic sovereignty and transforming our systems,” said Garcia. “With humility and a clear sense of purpose, I am excited to strengthen connections and advocate wholeheartedly for the success of Native women entrepreneurs. Together, we will ensure that every one of us has the tools, resources, and support necessary to thrive and to fully reclaim our joy and sovereignty."
About Native Women Lead
Native Women Lead works at the intersections of Rematriation, economic justice, and racial equity. Our mission is to enhance the empowerment, opportunity, and agency of Native women entrepreneurs by providing essential support, resources, and funding.
For more information, visit https://www.nativewomenlead.org/ or follow Native Women Lead on LinkedIn and Instagram.
###