MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hello everyone and Happy Fall! I hope this message finds you, your family, and community in good health. Here at the Chamiza Foundation, we have been busy with a variety of things. First and foremost, we have been busy preparing for the upcoming Grant Writing & Learning Outcomes Workshop. The workshop will be taking place at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center on October 9, 2025, from 9 am to 4 pm. This training is targeted at Pueblo grant writers, Pueblo program staff, and Pueblo Tribal Program Administrators. Participants will learn how to complete the Chamiza Foundation application, hear from a past grantee on program implementation, learn about our reporting requirements and learn how to write learning outcomes. Our goal is to help our Pueblo people become better grant writers and to encourage Pueblos to continue applying to the Chamiza Foundation for support for their cultural preservation projects. This is a free workshop, but space is limited and attendance will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to attend, please contact me ASAP. The deadline has been extended to October 3, 2025.
We have also been busy preparing for our upcoming 2025 Grantee Gathering. this event will be taking place at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in November. This event will bring together representatives from 16 projects/programs that received awards for this year. We are very excited for this event, as we have not had a grantee gathering since 2018!
Lastly, I would like to wish all my Taos Pueblo people a Happy San Geronimo Feast Day, September 30th!
Sincerely,
Dr. Amanda J. Montoya
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center 2025 Gala
On September 20, 2025, two of staff members and one board member attended the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Gala. They had an phenomenal night at this year’s Gala, the purpose of the gala was to raise funds to support the mission of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. This year, the Chamiza Foundation purchased an extra table so we could invite Chamiza grantees to attend. Here is a list of our attendees and the organizations that they represented:
Dawn Romero, Taos Pueblo-Across the America’s-Cultural Exchange Program
Aspen Mirabal, Taos Pueblo-Across the America’s-Cultural Exchange Program
Kona Mirabal, Taos Pueblo-Across the America’s-Cultural Exchange Program
Masa Mirabala, Taos Pueblo-Across the America’s-Cultural Exchange Program
Doug & Yvette McKenna, Santa Ana Pueblo-Santa Ana Youth Hydrology Program
Colleen Jimmie, Santa Clara Pueblo- Senior Citizen Well-Being and Identity Initiative
Joanne Lefrak, National Ghost Ranch Foundation- Northern Tribes Estudio Corazon Residency
Kenneth Maes, Ohkay Owingeh Senior Center- Our Way of Life Program
