Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition

Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Inc. (ONAC) Participating in NativeGiving.org Initiative

16 Sep 2015 6:00 AM | Christy Finsel (Administrator)

News Release

Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Inc. (ONAC) Participating in NativeGiving.org Initiative

Oklahoma City, OK (September 16, 2015) – The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Inc. (ONAC) announced today that it is one of seven Native American organizations invited to participate in the NativeGiving.org initiative. This initiative is a project that aims to attract donors to smaller Native nonprofits to help them expand their services in their local communities. Sponsored by First Nations Development Institute, this project offers fundraising assistance and an online giving portal at www.NativeGiving.org.

ONAC was selected by First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) to participate in the project to assist the organization with its fundraising efforts. Besides ONAC, the other participants in the project are College of Menominee Nation in Wisconsin, Oyate Teca Project in South Dakota, S.T.A.R. School in Arizona, Sust'ainable Molokai in Hawaii, Zuni Youth Enrichment Project in New Mexico, and the Santa Fe Indian School Leadership Institute.

“The NativeGiving.org project is a great way for us to enhance our ability to raise funds and awareness of our work here in Oklahoma,” said Christy Finsel (Osage), Executive Director of the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition. “We’ll be promoting the new site in addition to our normal fundraising activities, and First Nations will also be actively promoting it on behalf of all of the participants. We certainly hope it will generate more awareness of and resources for our work and mission, not only in our own area and region, but from other parts of the U.S.”

The NativeGiving.org website is now up and running. On the site, people can research the organizational profiles and financially support one or more of the nonprofits. First Nations will incur all processing, administrative and handling costs. Thus, 100% of the gifts made to the participants will go to furthering that organization’s mission.

All of the participants in NativeGiving.org are current or previous grantees of First Nations, which is a 35-year-old national Native organization that works to build Native economies and communities. Further, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is supporting First Nations’ work on the NativeGiving.org project.

First Nations also will provide training and technical assistance to the participating organizations through coaching, webinars and an online learning community to share resources and build the group’s collective knowledge and best practices from their own organizations. It will also facilitate a dialogue between project participants and Native grantmaking tribes and other funding entities in hopes that mutually beneficial partnerships can be established.

About ONAC:

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) is a nonprofit Native asset building coalition that works with Oklahoma tribes and partners interested in establishing asset-building initiatives and programs in Native communities, for the purpose of creating greater opportunities for economic self-sufficiency of tribal citizens.

The mission of the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) is to build and support a network of Oklahoma Native people who are dedicated to increasing self-sufficiency and prosperity in their communities through the establishment of comprehensive financial education initiatives, Individual Development Accounts, and other asset-building strategies.

For more information about the coalition, go to http://oknativeassets.org.

Media Contact:
Christy Finsel, Executive Director
(405) 401-7873, cfinsel@oknativeassets.org

ONAC Newsletter, July 2015

02 Jul 2015 9:46 PM | Christy Finsel (Administrator)

ONAC Newsletter, July 2015

What is the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition?

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) is a nonprofit asset building coalition that works with Oklahoma tribes and partners interested in establishing asset-building initiatives and programs in Native communities, for the purpose of creating greater opportunities for economic self-sufficiency of tribal citizens. The coalition is Native-led and one of only several Native asset building coalitions in the country. Our goal is to increase the number of sustainable Native asset building programs in the state and to support those administering such programs by providing free technical assistance, networking opportunities, mini grant funding, administrative policy guidance advocacy, and promotion of what is working well with these programs at a state and national level.

A Brief History of the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition

In 2001, a meeting supported by First Nations Development Institute (FNDI), a national Native nonprofit, was held to determine interest in the development of a coalition of tribes having initiated (or about to initiate) asset-building programs. It took until 2007 for a group of tribal representatives to meet, at the Cherokee Casino and Resort in Tulsa, agreeing to become an organized Native-focused asset-building group, along the lines of those developed in some other states. This initial meeting established three objectives:

1) Identify and bring together Oklahoma tribes that are implementing or planning to implement asset-building programs, for networking and learning purposes;

2) Create and support a venue for Oklahoma tribes to share information on issues related to creating and implementing asset-building programs; and

3) Sustain a Native-led asset-building group – made up of tribal and tribal-related entities – designed specifically to address unique asset-building circumstances of Oklahoma tribes.

As a first step to accomplishing its mission, ONAC identified three main action goals:

1) Engage tribal leaders and state and federal policy makers in expanding asset-building opportunities for Native people in Oklahoma through policy changes;

2) Create an information conduit for tribes on financial education, IDAs, EITC, CDFIs, and other asset-building strategies and opportunities; and

3) Develop local leadership, expand membership, and work to make the coalition self-sustaining.

The coalition was launched! Over the years, we have grown the coalition. We now distribute information to 700 constituents and friends. Until July 2014, the coalition structure was informal, not operating under bylaws with elected officers. In July 2014, ONAC received IRS approval of tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as well as determination that ONAC is classified as a public charity.

What Kinds of Asset Building Programs Do ONAC Constituents Administer?

ONAC members currently administer a variety of asset-building programs including: homeownership assistance, entrepreneurship, Individual Development Account, financial education, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), credit and debt repair, estate planning, food security, and Children’s Savings Accounts. ONAC works to support and strengthen these efforts in Oklahoma.

ONAC Has the Following Updates:

In January 2015, Terry Mason Moore and Lahoma Simmons joined the ONAC Advisory Committee. The other advisory committee members, Shay Smith, Ed Shaw, and Cynthia Logsdon, along with current ONAC board members Anna Knight, Dawn Hix, Amber Fite-Morgan, and Mary Elizabeth Ricketts, welcome Terry and Lahoma.

We wish to thank ONAC board member, Amber Fite-Morgan, for her service. At the end of July, she will be moving out-of-state to start a new position. We appreciate all her care for, and governance of, ONAC. Terry Mason Moore will be the ONAC Board Secretary as of August 1, 2015. Her legal expertise will be helpful to the coalition.

ONAC attended a White House Convening on Creating Opportunity for Native Youth on April 8, 2015. During a breakout session facilitated by Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior, attendees were invited to introduce themselves and their work. We shared information about ONAC and the value of partnerships between Native asset building coalitions and federal departments.

In June 2015, ONAC was awarded a $200,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to fund pilot Children’s Saving Accounts, as well as, family emergency savings mini grants to ONAC constituents (so that tribes and Native nonprofits may administer such mini grants). The Children’s Savings Account partners include the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Anadarko), Osage Financial Resources, Inc. (Pawhuska), Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation (Shawnee), Cherokee Nation Child Support Program (Tahlequah), Mvskoke Loan Fund (Okmulgee), and the Ponca Tribe Head Start (Ponca City). For the family emergency savings accounts, ONAC will offer a Request For Proposals (RFP) to fund a total of six family emergency savings accounts programs over the next three years. More information to follow. We are thankful to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for their support of ONAC and Native asset building efforts in Oklahoma!

Also, in June 2015, First Nations Development Institute awarded ONAC a Native Youth and Culture Fund award to fund 80 Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs) with two ONAC constituent partners (Osage Financial Resources, Inc. and Mvskoke Loan Fund). We will open the accounts over the next year. This is part of ONAC’s efforts to fund CSAs for Native youth across Oklahoma. Thank you for First Nations Development Institute for their support of this project!

The 2015 ONAC Conference will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, in Oklahoma City, at the Oklahoma History Center. Click Here for more information about the conference and to register.

In 2014, with support from First Nations Development Institute and the Ford Foundation, ONAC made four grants ($3,500 each) to the following awardees: The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Housing Division, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Housing Authority of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. As of May 2015, each grantee has completed their grant objectives. We are appreciative of all their hard work and congratulate them on the positive impact their asset building projects had on their communities

ONAC continues to offer free technical assistance to constituents in Oklahoma (such as tribes and Native nonprofits) who wish to design and implement debt reduction account programs, financial education programs, Children’s Savings Account programs, Individual Development Account programs, family emergency savings programs, etc. If you would like such assistance, please contact Christy Finsel, ONAC Executive Director, at cfinsel@gmail.com.

Each quarter, we publish a report with our completed activities. To view our progress, please go to the Our Work section of our website and click to learn more: http://oknativeassets.org/our_work. You can see our work, by year, on the left side of the page.

ONAC has launched a 2015 membership drive. Memberships help our coalition to be sustainable. To join as a member, please see: http://oknativeassets.org/membership. Thank you to those who have joined thus far! Your support keeps our coalition moving forward.

In December 2014, we offered our first year-end donor campaign as a newly registered nonprofit. We greatly appreciate the constituents and friends who made a donation to our coalition. This donor campaign was the first of many ONAC will offer as a means of raising funds for mini grants, Children’s Savings Accounts, and support of our coalition.

We hope to see you at the ONAC Conference on July 14, 2015! Thank you for your support of ONAC!

Christy and the ONAC Board and Advisory Committee Members

W.K. Kellogg Foundation Awards ONAC a Grant for Children's Savings Accounts and Mini Grants for Family Emergency Savings Accounts

23 Jun 2015 8:38 AM | Christy Finsel (Administrator)

News Release

Contact: Christy Finsel cfinsel@gmail.com
(405) 401-7873

June 23, 2015

Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Inc. (ONAC) to Offer Children’s Savings Accounts and Mini Grants for Family Emergency Savings Accounts with Tribes and Native Nonprofits in Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, OK - The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Inc. (ONAC), a statewide coalition in Oklahoma, has begun a project to promote family financial security and opportunity for American Indian families in Oklahoma through pilot Children’s Savings Accounts and family emergency savings accounts.

The project is funded by a $200,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Michigan.

“Children’s Savings Accounts, or “CSAs,” provide a nest egg of savings and can positively affect children’s educational development. Building from the groundwork that ONAC has laid with CSAs over the last few years, this project will launch the largest pilot of a Native Children’s Savings Account project in Oklahoma,” said Christy Finsel (Osage), Executive Director of the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition Inc. “This project will also help our constituents to provide family emergency savings accounts. With the varied project designs of our partners, we will be able to help Native youth and their families save for their future, have access to flexible savings, and connect to other asset building services. These resources from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will allow the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, and our Native partners, to address intergenerational poverty and to continue to positively impact a number of American Indian citizens in Oklahoma.”

Efforts will focus on offering financial education, opening accounts and providing the initial opening deposit funds. The project will also continue to build the capacity of ONAC constituents to provide similar programs in the future.

With this project, ONAC will work with our constituents to open a total of 270 Children’s Savings Accounts for American Indian children, ages birth to eight, in Oklahoma over the next three years. The partners include the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Anadarko), Osage Financial Resources, Inc. (Pawhuska), Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation (Shawnee), Cherokee Nation Child Support Program (Tahlequah), Mvskoke Loan Fund (Okmulgee), and the Ponca Tribe Head Start (Ponca City). Additionally, ONAC will offer a Request For Proposals (RFP) to fund six constituents (tribes and Native nonprofits in Oklahoma) as they provide family emergency savings accounts to tribal citizens. The family emergency savings accounts may be linked to other asset building programs the constituents already administer such as financial education, entrepreneurship development, foreclosure prevention and homeownership preparation, Native language, matched savings account, credit builder/credit repair, and free tax preparation assistance.

“This project will help Native families, with lower incomes, to open flexible savings accounts to buffer them in times of emergency, income fluctuation, or irregular expenses,” Finsel said. “Such accounts will promote financial inclusion by providing a mechanism for Native families to connect to mainstream financial services that are safe and affordable. With this funding, we will provide the initial opening account deposit and then the families can grow the accounts over time with their own deposits. Emergency savings accounts, for any family, can be a step along the way towards family financial stability and economic mobility.” Finsel added, “We are very excited about the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s investment in Oklahoma Native communities and our Native-led asset building coalition.”

About the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition Inc.: The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition Inc. (ONAC), first organized in 2007 and now a nonprofit, is a Native asset building coalition that works with Oklahoma tribes and partners interested in establishing asset-building initiatives and programs in Native communities, for the purpose of creating greater opportunities for economic self-sufficiency of tribal citizens.

The mission of ONAC is to build and support a network of Oklahoma Native people who are dedicated to increasing self-sufficiency and prosperity in their communities through the establishment of comprehensive financial education initiatives, Individual Development Accounts, and other asset-building strategies. For more information about the coalition, go to http://oknativeassets.org.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation: The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.

OKLAHOMA NATIVE ASSETS COALITION RECEIVES GRANT FOR INVESTING IN NATIVE FAMILIES AND PROMOTING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NATIVE ASSETS

18 Jun 2015 6:43 PM | Christy Finsel (Administrator)

PRESS RELEASE

Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Christy Finsel

June 18, 2015 (405) 401-7873

OKLAHOMA NATIVE ASSETS COALITION RECEIVES GRANT FOR INVESTING IN NATIVE FAMILIES AND PROMOTING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NATIVE ASSETS

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Inc. (ONAC) recently received a $17,482 grant from the First Nations Development Institute of Longmont, Colorado. This award will support Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition’s Investing in Native Families and Promoting Conversations about Native Assets project.

With this grant, the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Inc. (ONAC) will partner with Osage Financial Resources, Inc. and the Mvskoke Loan Fund to fund 80 Children’s Savings Accounts in the next year. Both of the project partners are Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that offer loans and other financial services in their home communities. The project includes financial education and an art project. Prior to opening the accounts, youth participants and their families will receive Native-focused financial education materials from ONAC. They will also be invited to create a piece of art that reflects their understandings of Native assets. Partners will display the youth artwork at an art show at a location of their choice. ONAC will then generate a calendar, with the youth art included, which highlights various perspectives of Native asset building throughout the year.

“This grant will assist ONAC, and our partners, as we fund Children’s Savings Accounts for Native children who are living in two rural communities in Oklahoma. This pilot is part of a broader effort, on behalf of ONAC, to open Children’s Savings Accounts with Native youth throughout the state. We appreciate First Nations Development Institute’s investment in our coalition and we are excited about this opportunity to help Native youth from families experiencing poverty to build a nest egg of savings,” said Christy Finsel (Osage), Executive Director of the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Inc.

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition Inc. (ONAC), founded in 2007 and now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a Native asset building coalition that works with Oklahoma tribes and partners interested in establishing asset-building initiatives and programs in Native communities, for the purpose of creating greater opportunities for economic self-sufficiency of tribal citizens.

The mission of ONAC is to build and support a network of Oklahoma Native people who are dedicated to increasing self-sufficiency and prosperity in their communities through the establishment of comprehensive financial education initiatives, Individual Development Accounts, and other asset-building strategies. For more information about the coalition, visit http://oknativeassets.org.

# # #

2015 Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) Conference

10 Jun 2015 12:50 PM | Anonymous

We invite you to attend the 2015 Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) Conference, on Tuesday, July 14, 2015. The conference will be held at the Oklahoma History Center (located on the northeast corner of N.E. 23rd & Lincoln Boulevard, across the street from the Oklahoma Capitol), 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

During the conference, we will examine the current state of Native asset building in Oklahoma; have opportunities for peer learning; share information about Native asset building models, funding sources, partnership opportunities, research, training and technical assistance; and learn about ONAC next steps and ways to be involved in the Coalition.

At the end of the day, we will have a networking reception and provide ONAC membership information. We invite you to participate in this interactive conference.

Who should attend the conference?

Those interested and engaged in Native asset building in Oklahoma. We invite Tribal leaders, Tribal program directors, Native nonprofits, Native asset building practitioners and researchers, state representatives, students, cultural advisors, policy organizations, funders, financial institutions and financial institution regulatory bodies, national asset building organizations, inter-tribal organizations, representatives from the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, IRS, and Administration for Children and Families, and others interested in tribal asset building in Oklahoma to attend.

Conference Schedule: July 14, 2015

9:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Conference
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Networking Reception and Membership Drive

Agenda: Click here to download the agenda.

Registration Fee: The 2015 ONAC Conference Fee is $25.00. You may register and pay for the registration fee online.

To Pay by Credit Card:
Register using our online form and choose pay online to be directed to our secure Pay Pal site.

To Pay by Check:
Register using our online form and print the registration invoice. Please mail a copy of the invoice with payment by July 8th. Attendees who are not able to mail their check by July 8th, should bring a check with them to the conference.

To Register:
Click Here

Registration Fee Waiver: If you need an ONAC Conference Fee Waiver, please contact Christy Finsel at cfinsel@oknativeassets.org to request a waiver. Once approved, please enter the registration fee waiver discount code in the online registration form.

Hotel Room Block for July 13th: Colcord Hotel, 15 N. Robinson Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

Call: (405) 601-4300 and ask for the room block for the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition.

The room block is available for July 13th at a group rate of $174.00 a night, plus tax, for a deluxe king or double room. The room block is available until June 22, 2015 only. If you call and find that the room block is full, please call Christy Finsel at 405-401-7873 so that we may try to increase the block. For those also needing a room on July 14th (after the conference), please call to make your reservation early and ask if they will honor the $174.00 rate for you on the 14th as well.

What is ONAC?
The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) represents a consortium of Oklahoma tribes and partners interested in establishing asset-building initiatives and programs in Native communities, for the purpose of creating greater opportunities for economic security of tribal citizens.

What is ONAC’s role with Native asset building?
ONAC is working with constituents and partners to increase the number of Native asset building opportunities in the state such as:

financial education programs
credit builder programs
Individual Development Account programs (matched savings)
homeownership and foreclosure prevention programs
children's savings programs
entrepreneurial programs
free tax preparation at Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites, etc.

Questions?
If you have any questions about ONAC or the 2015 ONAC Conference, please contact Christy Finsel, ONAC Executive Director, at cfinsel@oknativeassets.org or at (405) 401-7873

ONAC Attends A White House Convening on Creating Opportunity for Native Youth

30 Apr 2015 11:33 AM | Christy Finsel (Administrator)

ONAC attended a White House Convening on Creating Opportunity for Native Youth on April 8^, 2015. During a breakout session facilitated by Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior, attendees were invited to introduce themselves and their work. We shared information about ONAC and the value of partnerships between Native asset building coalitions and federal departments. ONAC appreciated the opportunity to attend this convening.

This convening is part of Generation Indigenous (Gen I), a Presidential Initiative launched by President Obama on December 3rd, 2014. "Gen I is a Native youth initiative focused on removing the barriers that stand between Native youth and their opportunity to succeed. This broad US Government initiative will take a comprehensive, culturally appropriate approach to help improve the lives and opportunities for Native youth…" (Source: http://genindigenous.com).

Please see the press release below for information about an upcoming Tribal Youth Gathering.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2015

White House to Host Tribal Youth Gathering

WASHINGTON, DC - On Thursday, July 9, 2015, the White House will host the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering in Washington, DC, to provide American Indian and Alaska Native youth from across the country the opportunity to interact directly with senior Administration officials and the White House Council on Native American Affairs.

The Tribal Youth Gathering, a collaboration between the White House and Unity Inc., will continue to build upon the President's Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) initiative and his commitment to improve the lives of Native youth across the country. President Obama launched the Gen-I initiative at the 2014 White House Tribal Nations Conference to focus on improving the lives of Native youth through new investments and increased engagement. This initiative takes a comprehensive, culturally appropriate approach to ensure all young Native people can reach their full potential.

The Gen-I Native Youth Challenge invites Native youth and organizations across the country to become a part of the Administration's Gen-I initiative by joining the National Native Youth Network - a White House effort in partnership with the Aspen Institute's Center for Native American Youth and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Youth who complete the Gen-I Native Youth Challenge will be eligible to register for a chance to attend the upcoming White House Tribal Youth Gathering. The application to attend the Gathering can be found HERE. Additional details about the conference will be released at a later date.

Dawn Hix, ONAC Board Member, Highlighted as a Financial Literacy All Star

29 Apr 2015 11:31 AM | Christy Finsel (Administrator)

First Nations Development Institute is proud to partner with Dr. Per Cap during Financial Literacy Month to highlight the great work of some financial literacy heroes. Dr. Per Cap, as usual, provides his insight on all things related to Native American financial education.

Dr. Per Cap’s Financial Literacy 2015 All-Star Picks

April is national Financial Literacy Month, so let’s celebrate by recognizing a few outstanding individuals who are working hard to expand financial education efforts throughout Indian Country. In keeping with what has become an annual tradition each week in April, I will highlight the accomplishments of one totally awesome person who embodies the spirit of Native financial empowerment through selfless dedication, action over words, and an inclusive community vision. We’ve got five weeks in April this year, so here’s a bonus All Star!

All Star #5: Dawn Hix, IDA Coordinator, Choctaw Asset Building

Nothing says freedom like free money. That’s the idea behind a program called Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). IDAs are a nifty wealth-building strategy that offers free money to account holders through matched savings to help purchase a home, fund a business, or pay for higher education.

“For most people the program means independence,” explains asset-builder extraordinaire Dawn Hix. “Their motivation is tied to things like freedom, personal choice and pride of ownership. When a saver makes his or her last deposit and is ready to purchase a meaningful asset – that’s a great day.”

Make no mistake, Dawn has witnessed more than her share of great days since joining Choctaw Asset Building in 2009 – over 400 in fact. That’s how many savers the Durant, Oklahoma-based IDA Coordinator has helped to complete the program while collecting deposits, teaching financial education classes, and facilitating asset purchases. The combined personal savings add up to more than $700,000. Tack on another $1.5 million of matching funds and we’re talking over $2 million of new wealth creation. That’s an astonishing number considering that while IDAs are a proven model, they’re also notoriously tough programs to manage due to high participant dropout rates.

So what’s Dawn’s secret to keeping savers on track?

Aside from a well-oiled referral network that includes Choctaw Nation Housing, Little Dixie Community Action Agency, the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, and Big Five Community Services, Dawn works hard to build strong relationships with her savers and maintains a constant presence in the communities her program serves in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. A lifelong educator, she spent 16 years as a high school business teacher with the Durant Public Schools before her current position at Choctaw Asset Building, a division within the Choctaw Nation Career Development Department. Motivated by a genuine desire to see people succeed by realizing their dreams, she’s especially proud of becoming reacquainted with some of her former high school students who later become IDA savers.

“They’re great because I can still tell them what to do!” joked Dawn.

One of these individuals, currently a graduate student and employee at Choctaw Nation, stands out in particular.

“He was in my class during his senior year,” she recalls. “Then a few years after I transferred he joined the IDA program. He saved for three years to buy a house, but when it came time to close there was a mix up and his down-payment funds were not available. He called while I was in a meeting out of town and was really stressed. Fortunately, I was able to get in touch with our advisor in D.C. who approved the close that day with pending funds.”

Never one to take personal credit for accomplishments that she feels are the result of dedicated partners and team effort, Dawn is always quick to mention others when sharing highlights from her career. She also draws inspiration from her husband of 28 years, Tandy, who just happens to be a local banker (go figure!), and their two sons whose families include two grandchildren and a third on the way.

“A wonderful thing about working in the tribal world is that you don’t work alone,” she adds. “We all work together for one goal: to help tribal members succeed. I am so very blessed to work with a group of professionals who make it so very easy to reach that common goal. There is no one-person show here. I also have a large circle of friends and professional acquaintances to call on in times of need. The Native world and the asset-building world are wonderful at sharing their experience and knowledge.”

Now that’s what I call a class act. Thank you, Dawn, for all that you do. The Native asset-building world is more than blessed to work with you, too!

Two New ONAC Advisory Committee Members

02 Feb 2015 11:36 AM | Christy Finsel (Administrator)

In January 2015, Terry Mason Moore and Lahoma Simmons joined the ONAC Advisory Committee. The other current advisory committee members, Shay Smith, Ed Shaw, and Cynthia Logsdon, along with ONAC board members Anna Knight, Dawn Hix, Amber Fite-Morgan, and Mary Elizabeth Ricketts, welcome Terry and Lahoma and thank them for their service to ONAC.

2015 Tax Time Resources Noted by ONAC

30 Jan 2015 2:24 PM | Anonymous

If you are looking for a way to try to incentive tax time savings among tribal citizens, one option is to promote the Doorways to Dreams (D2D) Fund SaveYourRefund campaign. D2D is a nonprofit that works nationally to help people save their money at tax time.

What is the D2D Fund SaveYourRefund promotion?

SaveYourRefund is a national tax-time savings promotion that encourages consumers to save a portion of their refund through cash prize drawings. The SaveYourRefund promotion is available to anyone (over 18) who splits and saves at least $50 of their federal tax refund. Promotion participants can save their $50.00 in a savings account or CD, IRA, savings bond, prepaid card, 529 college savings account, or in an Individual Development Account.

For 10 weeks, during the tax season, there will be weekly drawings where participants could win $100.00 each. The drawings will occur every Friday from February 6th through April 10th. D2D will also award one grand prize winner from their photo contest (the award is $25,000). Winners are chosen through random selection. (Information courtesy of D2D Fund).

Why is tax time an important time to promote savings?

Tax-time savings are powerful for low- and middle-income (LMI) consumers. Tax refunds represent up to 20% of household income for LMI families. (Information courtesy of D2D Fund).

What if your tribe or Native nonprofit wants to work with Doorways to Dreams to share information about this promotion?

It is easy and free to sign up as a partner. Training and marketing resources are available to all at SaveYourRefund.com. Through January 15th, sites are able to sign up directly with D2D Fund using this link. Marketing material is available at: https://saveyourrefund.com/promotional-materials-2/. (Information courtesy of D2D Fund).

What else is ONAC doing to try to promote tax time as asset building time?

Beyond sharing information about this D2D Fund promotion, ONAC has partnered with the IRS and has agreed to post a link to MyFreeTaxes on the ONAC website homepage (http://www.oknativeassets.org). If an individual is filing a simple return, and has a gross adjusted income level of $60,000 or less, they are invited to file their state and federal returns for free by using the MyFreeTaxes link. Please note: ONAC is not in a position to answer tax filing questions or to prepare returns for taxpayers.

As an additional resource, here is a list of Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Oklahoma.

During this busy tax season, ONAC wishes all of our constituents, who are administering VITA sites and/or promoting tax time savings, the best! For those who are newer to sharing such information with those you serve, we hope that the information above may be useful to you.

ONAC Featured as a PolicyLink Partner Profile

07 Nov 2014 5:08 PM | Anonymous

PolicyLink recently interviewed ONAC for a partner profile. To view the full profile visit: http://accesstofinancialsecurity.org.

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) represents a consortium of Oklahoma tribes and partners interested in establishing asset-building initiatives and programs in Native communities, for the purpose of creating greater opportunities for economic self-sufficiency of tribal citizens.

1. We know that ONAC is a coalition working to build- assets and increase economic self-sufficiency of tribal citizens in Oklahoma. Can you tell us more about your asset-building work?

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) represents a consortium of Oklahoma tribes and partners interested in establishing asset-building initiatives and programs in Native communities.

ONAC is working to develop more local and national partnerships; offer mini grants; garner administrative guidance about the use of federal sources of funding for Native asset building programs; provide training and technical assistance for asset building program design and implementation; and generate and gather research and best practices for our constituents so they will continue to build assets in Native communities.

2. What are your current policy priorities?

ONAC constituents are interested in providing asset-building programs to citizens of Oklahoma tribes. Barriers to implementation of asset building programs are the lack of funding and need for some administrative policy guidance from the Administration for Children and Families, for example, about using federal sources of funding for Native asset building programs. More recently, our policy work has been focused on seeking administrative guidance about the use of federal funds in relation to Tribal TANF-funded IDA programs and how Children's Savings Accounts would affect the benefits of a parent receiving Tribal TANF.

In terms of state policy efforts, we are trying to raise awareness/provide education about the need for statewide funding for tribes and Native nonprofits for Individual Development Account and Children’s Savings Account programs.

3. Have you had any policy-related success so far?

ONAC requested and received administrative policy guidance from the Tribal TANF Central Office regarding whether or not Children’s Savings Accounts, (the child’s money) would negatively affect a family’s eligibility in the Tribal TANF program. We received a response that if the parent is a Tribal TANF customer, their child could have a savings account in the his/her name and the parent would still be eligible for participation in their Tribal TANF program. The parent would just have to check that the tribe has noted that children’s income is disregarded in their Tribal TANF plan. We have been sharing this guidance when we have spoken with our constituents about their interest in piloting Native CSAs in Oklahoma.

4. We know you recently held a Community Roundtable on culturally competent best practices. What were 2 key takeaways from your event?

We learned that there is much potential for Native asset building partnerships between the various attendees (Tribal Child Support Directors, Tribal TANF Directors; the Oklahoma Tribal Child Care Association, Native researchers, Tribal Planning Coordinators, ONAC, Administration for Children and Families, Region VI, Health and Human Services, and the Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies, etc).

During the Roundtable, ONAC noted that Native communities may think about assets broadly (and not just as money). Native asset building programs, such as Individual Development Account programs, can be designed in such a way that they help build a number of assets at the same time. For example, including Native language in the financial education classes and allowing IDA participants to purchase assets such as homes, post-secondary education, dance regalia, or commonly-held assets for small business, would provide the cultually competent flexibilty needed.

5. How is dance regalia important to asset building?

By designing asset-building programs, such as an Individual Development Account, IDA, program for high school students, that help our youth pay for dance regalia items (assets that can be used now and handed down) our citizens can more easily afford to participate in community events. It can be expensive to pay for such materials (blouses, shirts, beaded feather fans, shawls, moccasins, etc.-regalia varies by tribe). While we support Native IDA participants having options to purchase dance regalia materials (as an example of a culturally-relevant asset purchase), we also continue to promote Native youth saving for post secondary education, small business development, etc.