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ONAC Newsletter, September 2015

ONAC Constituent Mini Grant Projects Completed 

ONAC is pleased to note that the four 2014-2015 ONAC mini grantees have completed their projects.  Each grantee implemented innovative asset building projects.  To read the final report about the mini grant outcomes, click here.  ONAC thanks the project administrators for all their work!

ONAC to Release Request for Proposals for Second Round of Mini Grants

Later this year, ONAC will release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a second round of ONAC mini grants.  Two of the grants that will be awarded will be for family emergency savings accounts.  The remaining mini grants will be available to support other asset building programs such as credit builder/credit repair, financial education, matched savings accounts, foreclosure prevention, homebuyer education, Children’s Savings Accounts, etc.

ONAC Board Member, Mary Elizabeth Ricketts, Selected as an Honoree for the 2015 AARP Oklahoma Indian Elder Honors

ONAC nominated Mary Elizabeth Ricketts, ONAC Board Member and retired Executive Director of Osage Financial Resources, Inc., for the AARP Oklahoma Indian Elder Honors.  Ms. Ricketts was selected as an honoree.  According to AARP Oklahoma, “this is one of AARP Oklahoma’s most prestigious and visible awards, given to recognize outstanding Native American Elders who are making a powerful difference in their communities, and Indian Country, in ways that are consistent with AARP’s mission and vision, and who inspire others to service.”  Ms. Ricketts will be recognized, along with other Native American elders, on October 6^th, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.  ONAC thanks Ms. Ricketts for her service on the ONAC board.

2015 ONAC Conference

The 2015 ONAC Conference was held on July 14^th, at the Oklahoma History Center, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The conference sessions included an opening welcome by Osage elder, Mr. Eddy Red Eagle, and information about the work of the coalition over the past year, presented by Christy Finsel; acknowledgement of the ONAC leadership committee and board members as well as First Nations Development Institute colleagues; state legislative updates in relation to tribes, as offered by Representatives Dan Kirby and Seneca Scott; an update about the National Asset Scorecard for Communities of Color Project; financial education resources/information from First Nations Development Institute and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; an update about the Chickasaw Nation’s use of a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant to expand their VITA program; information about four Native Community Development Financial Institutions in the state; project reports from ONAC mini grantees; a session on asset building and elders; information about asset building and food sovereignty/food systems; and a round-robin sharing with information from the Oklahoma Arts Council, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Invest Ed STARS Project. 

ONAC wishes to thank those who had attended earlier ONAC conferences including representatives from the Oklahoma State Service Learning program, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, Small Business Administration, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, First Nations Development Institute, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Chickasaw Nation: Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation, HUD, The New School, Arvest Bank, Oklahoma Native Caucus, Cherokee Nation Commerce Group, Absentee Shawnee Development Corporation, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, FDIC, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, OK Farm and Food Alliance, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (Oklahoma City Branch), AARP Oklahoma, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and the Buder Center for American Indian Studies at Washington University in Saint Louis.  ONAC also wishes to thank those who attended our annual conference for the first time.  Those participants included those from the American Indian Institute at The University of Oklahoma, Mvskoke Creek Loan Fund, Oklahoma Policy Institute, the Osage Nation, Oklahoma City YWCA, Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at The University of Oklahoma, OKDHS Office of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Oklahoma Department of Securities, Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, Apache Tribe, The MICAH Foundation, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, TBI Raiders, Oklahoma Arts Council, and the Housing Authority of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. 

Following the conference, constituents have told us about the connections they made with other conference attendees.  ONAC holds our conferences in an effort to foster such relationships.

ONAC wishes to thank First Nations Development Institute and AARP Oklahoma for their financial support of the conference. 

Next summer, we will hold our 2016 ONAC Conference.  More information to follow.

ONAC to Share Information at Upcoming First Nations Development Institute LEAD Conference

This week,  ONAC Executive Director, Christy Finsel, will present information about ONAC’s work at the First Nations Development Institute LEAD Conference.   She will speak about ONAC’s Children’s Savings Account efforts, as well as, ONAC’s community engagement work.    For more information about this conference, click here.  In the future, this conference may be of interest to you in your asset building efforts.

Children’s Savings Account Pilot Updates

ONAC has been preparing materials for our Children’s Savings Account pilot.  With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and First Nations Development Institute, our coalition will provide the $100.00 initial deposit, as well as a piggy bank, Native-specific financial education activity booklet, and certificate of participation for the child.  We anticipate that the first of our six confirmed partners on the project will start opening accounts with their clients in October.  The other five partners will launch their Children’s Savings Accounts pilots throughout the next year.  We are excited to get the 270 plus savings accounts opened!  More information to follow.

ONAC Partner Wins a National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Gold Star Award

The University of Oklahoma Enrollment and Student Financial Services Office was awarded a National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Gold Star Award for their work on “The Nine Things Every College Student Should Know About Money” course.  According to the award notice, the course provides “students with an understanding of personal finance and how financial decisions will impact their lives going forward.” To read more, click on this news release. 

Judi Voeller, Associate Director, Grants and Special Projects, OU Financial Aid Services, has attended several ONAC conferences and is a cheerleader for the coalition’s work.  Occasionally, she sends us journal articles about Children’s Savings Account research.  ONAC knows that for tribes and Native nonprofits to successfully implement asset building programs in the state, we need reciprocal partnerships with a variety of partners, including tribal colleges and universities.   ONAC congratulates the University of Oklahoma on their financial education efforts with their students.

ONAC Welcomes Donations and Memberships

As part of our efforts to sustain and grow the coalition, ONAC welcomes donations and memberships.  For more information about donations, please click here.  For information about ONAC memberships, click here.  ONAC appreciates your support!

ONAC Chosen as One of Seven Native Nonprofits to Participate in NativeGiving.org

ONAC announced on September 16^th 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 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 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.  ONAC is thankful to be included in this initiative.

Thank you for your support of ONAC!

ONAC 2014-2015 Mini Grant Final Report

Prepared by Christy Finsel, ONAC Executive Director

August 2015

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.    

In January 2014, ONAC released our first-ever request for proposals (RFP) to fund Native asset building projects in Oklahoma.  We received seven excellent applications from tribal governments and tribal programs based in Oklahoma.  When ONAC released the RFP we had a total of $10,500 to award to recipients (an average of $3,500 each for three grantees).  After receiving seven applications in February, First Nations Development Institute, a national Native nonprofit, and the fiscal sponsor for ONAC at the time, was able to secure $3,500 more to fund a fourth grantee.  Thus, ONAC, in collaboration with First Nations, awarded a total of $14,000 in mini grants to four ONAC constituents.  During the past year, ONAC was excited to work with the awardees as they continued to offer Native asset building projects to their tribal members.   ONAC was available to provide free training and technical assistance to the grantees as they rolled out their projects. 

As of August 2015, the four grantees have completed their mini grant projects.  With the use of their grant funds, each grantee grew their own capacity to continue providing asset building programs for their citizens.  Through their projects, the grantees reached a minimum of 179 tribal citizens.  While this impact was immediate and impressive, ONAC anticipates that the positive effects of these initiatives will continue into the future.  In the case of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Housing Division and the Housing Authority of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, their efforts to further educate tribal members about foreclosure prevention or credit and budgeting will likely continue to ripple out into their communities as family members share their learning with each other and know how to access the varied services of their housing authorities.  The longer-term impacts of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes’ work to teach youth about their culture, history, and good health practices, as well as to open savings accounts with them, will likely help the youth and their families to be more comfortable connecting to mainstream financial services, save for their future, and continue to develop a strong tribal identity. The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians’ project also helped youth to connect to mainstream financial services through the opening of a bank account, as well as, provided youth with the opportunity to develop their employment skills and increase their financial literacy.   We believe these investments in tribal citizens will strengthen these nations.

Grantee Projects and Outcomes

·      The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Housing Division held three foreclosure prevention classes for twenty-four citizens.  Ms. Laura Frossard, of Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, was the featured speaker.  One of the classes was videotaped, with permission, and will be used as a training tool for Housing Services staff to become more aware of the resources available to their citizens.  A computer and supplies were purchased for credit checks and a printer was provided by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Housing.  The computer has been a great resource for applicants, those considering the mortgage assistance program, and those learning to read their credit report.  The Department of Housing set up an informational booth at a March Madness basketball tournament for high school students.  Foreclosure prevention information was distributed to 40 individuals, over 18 years of age.  These efforts helped citizens to be more aware of the resources available to them so that they do not wait too long before they seek help to prevent foreclosure on their homes (awarded $3,500).

·      Wichita and Affiliated Tribes administered a Wichita SummerSmart Youth Program where, in addition to building tribal pride through teaching Wichita history and culture and promoting good health practices, they offered savings accounts for the interns and youth participants as well as financial education classes.  During the program, with the grant funds, they opened 27 Children’s Savings Accounts (including four accounts for their youth interns).   During the program, the children learned about tribal presidents, aboriginal homelands of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, traditional foods such as corn, and some language.  They were introduced to a wide variety of physical activities such as dodgeball, kickball, and other sports.  They were also provided nutrition classes by their Food Distribution staff.  A banker came and discussed with them  the importance of saving money and the children noted the things they would like to save for in the future.  The President of the Tribe also held a discussion with the youth to reemphasize the importance of saving for things that they wanted and needed (awarded $3,500).

·      The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians offered a youth employment and financial education program where they required that the participants save earnings in a savings account.  During this program, eight participants received information about ONAC, completed online financial education training, and developed an action plan for saving.   Students learned about savings, interest, credit scores, and the importance of saving and budgeting.  Students were placed at work sites, in their community, and paid to complete 20 hours of service.  The students then deposited their earnings into a savings account established through this program.  The participants completed their work hours at the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Library and the Cherokee Nation Heritage Center.  They also worked as helpers during community events and as elder assistants.  The year-long program ended with a ceremony held in honor of the participants at the George Wickliffe Education Center (awarded $3,500).

·      The Housing Authority of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma continued to build internal staff capacity by sending a staff member to participate in the Native American Credit Counseling Program, provided by Rural Dynamics, Inc., in Great Falls, Montana.  They also worked with a colleague, Kyra Childress, from the Chickasaw Nation Housing Authority, to hold five credit counseling and budgeting classes for their clients during the year.  Eighty clients attended their classes (awarded $3.500).

ONAC Mini Grant Lessons Learned and Future Plans

Through this pilot round of mini grants, given the interest in the grants, ONAC has learned that there is need for flexible sources of funding for asset building projects among constituents in Oklahoma.   Additionally, the coalition has learned of, and been impressed by, the considerable reach of these initiatives in tribal communities.  Thus, going forward, ONAC will strive to continue to offer such grants to our constituents.   In the last year, ONAC received IRS approval of tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and has fundraised to be able to offer additional mini grants.  Later this year, ONAC will release a RFP for the next round of mini grants.  

ONAC thanks each of these constituents for their willingness to engage with the coalition and for all their work to design and implement these projects.   The coalition looks forward to working with these constituents, and others, to offer additional asset building projects in the future.  

For more information about ONAC mini grants, please contact Christy Finsel, Executive Director, at (405) 401-7873 or cfinsel@oknativeassets.org.

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

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

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.

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.            

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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 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.

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!

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.