• 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.

NAJS Core Values

We look to instill the following core values of NAJS, while inspiring and driving our donors, partners, prospective employees and students.

core-values
NAJS Core Values

We look to instill the following core values of NAJS, while inspiring and driving our donors, partners, prospective employees and students.

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Wisdom

Wisdom gives us perspective and guidance in all that we are and all that we do.

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Fortitude

Fortitude is the inner strength that enables us to encounter adversity while not wavering from our objective.

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Integrity

Integrity will guide a person's actions, decisions and behavior. It causes us to do the right things.

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Cultural Awareness

Appreciating and honoring your culture allows you to recognize and appreciate your and others beliefs, customs and values.

OUR STORY

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.

OUR STORY

How It All Began...

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A Note From Our Founder

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,

SCOTT-SIGN-CUT-OUT

The Strength of Our Team

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” Phil Jackson

Select Category
  • Founders
  • Leadership
  • Board
  • Advisory Board
  • Staff
Scott Evans

Scott Evans

Co-Founder
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas

Scott Evans

Co-Founder
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas
Pam Evans

Pam Evans

Co-Founder

Pam Evans

Co-Founder
Bev

Beverly Medhaug

Co-Founder & Advisory Board
Sicangu Lakota

Beverly Medhaug

Co-Founder & Advisory Board
Sicangu Lakota

 

 

Cal Medhaug

Co-Founder

Cal Medhaug

Co-Founder
Southworth

Ray Southworth

Board Chair

Ray Southworth

Board Chair

Ray 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.

HOE

Hunter Old Elk

Board Vice Chair
Apsaalooke & Yakima Tribes

Hunter Old Elk

Board Vice Chair
Apsaalooke & Yakima Tribes
IMG 2512

Susan Yeldell

Director of Finance

Susan Yeldell

Director of Finance
Scott Evans

Scott Evans

Co-Founder
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas

Scott Evans

Co-Founder
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas
Pam Evans

Pam Evans

Co-Founder

Pam Evans

Co-Founder
Deschenes

Dave Deschenes

Chief Advancement Officer

Dave Deschenes

Chief Advancement Officer

Dave 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.

Southworth

Ray Southworth

Board Chair

Ray Southworth

Board Chair

Ray 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.

HOE

Hunter Old Elk

Board Vice Chair
Apsaalooke & Yakima Tribes

Hunter Old Elk

Board Vice Chair
Apsaalooke & Yakima Tribes
IMG 2512

Susan Yeldell

Director of Finance

Susan Yeldell

Director of Finance
Scott Evans

Scott Evans

Co-Founder
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas

Scott Evans

Co-Founder
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas
Pam Evans

Pam Evans

Co-Founder

Pam Evans

Co-Founder
December

December Ariwite (Arrow White)

Director
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

December Ariwite (Arrow White)

Director
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
Jim Charlton

Jim Charlton

Director

Jim Charlton

Director

Jim 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.

Monica

Col. Monica Foley

Director

Col. Monica Foley

Director
AJNB

Avanelle “AJ” No Braid

Director of the Board
Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation

Avanelle “AJ” No Braid

Director of the Board
Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation
Karen McKim

Karen McKim

Director

Karen McKim

Director

Dr. Jason Skinner

Director

Dr. Jason Skinner

Director
david thrasher

Dr. David Thrasher

Director

Dr. David Thrasher

Director
Ray T

Ray Torgerson Esq.

Director

Ray Torgerson Esq.

Director
Bev

Beverly Medhaug

Co-Founder & Advisory Board
Sicangu Lakota

Beverly Medhaug

Co-Founder & Advisory Board
Sicangu Lakota

 

 

Gary Begay

Advisory Board
Dine' Nation

Gary Begay

Advisory Board
Dine' Nation

Claudia Bonnist

Advisory Board

Claudia Bonnist

Advisory Board
John B

John Butler

Advisory Board
Sac & Fox Nation

John Butler

Advisory Board
Sac & Fox Nation

Craig Jones

Advisory Board

Craig Jones

Advisory Board

Terry Winchell

Advisory Board

Terry Winchell

Advisory Board
Deschenes

Dave Deschenes

Chief Advancement Officer

Dave Deschenes

Chief Advancement Officer

Dave 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 Coordinator

Caroline Gearing

Development and Marketing Coordinator

Open Position

Grants and Administrative Coordinator

Open Position

Grants and Administrative Coordinator

Our Impact

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.

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Our Financials

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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.