- Our Mission
- Our Vision
To provide opportunities of growth and success for Native American individuals and families through education and employment.
To provide Native American individuals with greater opportunities and experiences in a variety of life circumstances.
We look to instill the following core values of NAJS, while inspiring and driving our donors, partners, prospective employees and students.
We look to instill the following core values of NAJS, while inspiring and driving our donors, partners, prospective employees and students.
Wisdom
Wisdom gives us perspective and guidance in all that we are and all that we do.
Fortitude
Fortitude is the inner strength that enables us to encounter adversity while not wavering from our objective.
Integrity
Integrity will guide a person's actions, decisions and behavior. It causes us to do the right things.
Cultural Awareness
Appreciating and honoring your culture allows you to recognize and appreciate your and others beliefs, customs and values.
How It All Began...
Scott and Pam Evans and Cal and Beverly Medhaug have been long time friends and relatives through Native American pow wow circles. Throughout their friendship, they have traveled together to rodeos, pow wows, and even vacationed all across the Northern Plains. During their times together, the couples often found their conversations leading back to one topic – how sad it was to watch young Native people from great families choose the wrong path in life because they didn’t have the tools or resources to know there was another direction.
Late one night, while visiting Yellowstone National Park at the Old Faithful Inn, that same conversation came up, but this time the group decided to change their narrative. They brainstormed the idea that summer internships for Native college students would open doors for different paths, and perhaps new beginnings. That night, the group agreed to act by trying to help a few Native college students earn summer internships and Native American Jump Start was born.
The founders believed that creating stronger relationships through the cultural exchange between the interns and their employers, colleagues, and customers would be one of the greatest strengths of the program. During that first year, they used their personal contacts to secure internships for four interns from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. Now, twenty-five-plus years later, Native American Jump Start has placed hundreds of students, interns and employees, and provided over $750,000 in funding to support young Native people.
How It All Began...
Since the mid-90’s we have been “Jump Starting” the journey of young Native peoples as they pursue employment and educational opportunities. Year one, we provided support to four Native interns from the Rosebud Reservation working for a landscaping partner in Michigan. Today, we are supporting close to 100 students annually from more than 40 tribal nations across the country.
As we continue to grow as an organization, our team at NAJS is committed to creating a tangible impact to support education and employment pursuits. We have exceptional partnerships with educational institutions, and other nonprofits to help us create a true impact. As we continue our work, we hope that you will join us on this journey as a supporter, a student or a prospective employer. We know that together, we can make a difference.
Thank you,
The Strength of Our Team
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” Phil Jackson
- Founders
- Leadership
- Board
- Advisory Board
- Staff
Scott Evans
Co-FounderYsleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas
Scott Evans
Co-FounderYsleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas
Pam Evans
Co-FounderPam Evans
Co-FounderBeverly Medhaug
Co-Founder & Advisory BoardSicangu Lakota
Beverly Medhaug
Co-Founder & Advisory BoardSicangu Lakota
Cal Medhaug
Co-FounderCal Medhaug
Co-FounderRay Southworth
Board ChairRay Southworth
Board ChairRay has been a long time volunteer and Board member of NAJS. He has led several nonprofit organizations focused on a wide range of social and cultural issues. Native American Jump Start supports both educational and employment opportunities that will have an impact for individuals and native communities.
Susan Yeldell
Director of FinanceSusan Yeldell
Director of FinanceScott Evans
Co-FounderYsleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas
Scott Evans
Co-FounderYsleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas
Pam Evans
Co-FounderPam Evans
Co-FounderDave Deschenes
Chief Advancement OfficerDave Deschenes
Chief Advancement OfficerDave has been involved with NAJS for more than 20 years in a variety of capacities. He has over 15 years of professional experience in nonprofit leadership. He is involved with and supports NAJS because he believes that by providing access and breaking down barriers, positive educational and employment experiences can positively impact a community.
Ray Southworth
Board ChairRay Southworth
Board ChairRay has been a long time volunteer and Board member of NAJS. He has led several nonprofit organizations focused on a wide range of social and cultural issues. Native American Jump Start supports both educational and employment opportunities that will have an impact for individuals and native communities.
Susan Yeldell
Director of FinanceSusan Yeldell
Director of FinanceScott Evans
Co-FounderYsleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas
Scott Evans
Co-FounderYsleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas
Pam Evans
Co-FounderPam Evans
Co-FounderDecember Ariwite (Arrow White)
DirectorShoshone-Bannock Tribes
December Ariwite (Arrow White)
DirectorShoshone-Bannock Tribes
Jim Charlton
DirectorJim Charlton
DirectorJim is a retired project manager with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (36 yrs of service). He has been involved with the Native American community for most of his life. As a board member with NAJS, he is looking forward to helping provide a means of education and future employment of Native American individuals.
Col. Monica Foley
DirectorCol. Monica Foley
DirectorDr. Jason Skinner
DirectorDr. Jason Skinner
DirectorDr. David Thrasher
DirectorDr. David Thrasher
DirectorRay Torgerson Esq.
DirectorRay Torgerson Esq.
DirectorBeverly Medhaug
Co-Founder & Advisory BoardSicangu Lakota
Beverly Medhaug
Co-Founder & Advisory BoardSicangu Lakota
Gary Begay
Advisory BoardDine' Nation
Gary Begay
Advisory BoardDine' Nation
Claudia Bonnist
Advisory BoardClaudia Bonnist
Advisory BoardJohn Butler
Advisory BoardSac & Fox Nation
John Butler
Advisory BoardSac & Fox Nation
Craig Jones
Advisory BoardCraig Jones
Advisory BoardTerry Winchell
Advisory BoardTerry Winchell
Advisory BoardDave Deschenes
Chief Advancement OfficerDave Deschenes
Chief Advancement OfficerDave has been involved with NAJS for more than 20 years in a variety of capacities. He has over 15 years of professional experience in nonprofit leadership. He is involved with and supports NAJS because he believes that by providing access and breaking down barriers, positive educational and employment experiences can positively impact a community.
Caroline Gearing
Development and Marketing CoordinatorCaroline Gearing
Development and Marketing CoordinatorOpen Position
Grants and Administrative CoordinatorOpen Position
Grants and Administrative CoordinatorWant to get involved?
Our Impact
Our Impact
As an organization we strive to create a tangible impact in supporting young Native people. Please feel free to review our annual impact statements.
Our Financials
Our Financials
Stewardship of our programs and donation dollars is important to us. We are proud to share that we have received a Gold Seal of Transparency from Guidestar.org, an organization providing information on nonprofit organizations. We make our annual IRS Form 990 Returns available to you for transparency purposes. Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.