purpose statement

Executive Director | Diné

yolanda@restoringawcoalition.org

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Yolanda Francisco-Nez is from the Navajo/Dine’ tribe. Her clan is Edgewater (Tabaaha) born for the Basque People. She was born and raised in Tsehootsoi (Fort Defiance), Arizona. Yolanda is the granddaughter of a Navajo Code Talker Vincent Yazza. Ms. Francisco-Nez is the Executive D

Executive Director | Diné

yolanda@restoringawcoalition.org

​

Yolanda Francisco-Nez is from the Navajo/Dine’ tribe. Her clan is Edgewater (Tabaaha) born for the Basque People. She was born and raised in Tsehootsoi (Fort Defiance), Arizona. Yolanda is the granddaughter of a Navajo Code Talker Vincent Yazza. Ms. Francisco-Nez is the Executive Director of Restoring Ancestral Winds, Inc. Yolanda is a strong advocate of the Native people especially women and children. She uses her expertise to help inform policy. She served four years as board chair of the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA). In 2017, under the leadership of Navajo Nation Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, she helped establish a Navajo Nation Council Sexual Assault Prevention Work Group to address child abduction, sexual violence and human trafficking. In this role she facilitated a policy brief on child abduction and sexual assault, a chapter resolution to install the Amber Alert on the Navajo Nation, and hosts community dialogues on sexual assault throughout the Navajo Nation. In 2018, she received special recognition for her achievements from the Navajo Nation Council.

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She has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She is trained in Anti-discrimination Response Training from the University of British Columbia and received advocacy training from UCASA and Utah Domestic Violence Coalition (UDVC).

For 17 years, Francisco-Nez served three mayors at the executive level of Salt Lake City government. Among the highlights of her career is the opportunity to address the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland about her award-winning program the Human Rights Education Project. She has co-authored reports on discrimination, women’s rights and excessive use of force. Among other achievements, “The Status of Women in Salt Lake City” was published and used to help guide a resolution to establish a Commission to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and Law Enforcement Excessive Use of Force.

Ms. Francisco-Nez played a significant role in being the first city in Utah to pass legislation to protect the LGBTQI2S from employment discrimination which led to a statewide law. Prior to working city government, she was the president of the Native American Celebration in the Park and vice president and founding partner at Cal Nez Design advertising agency. In 2017, Francisco-Nez was named top 30 Women to Watch in Utah by the Utah Business Magazine.

Office Assistant/ Bookkeeper l Diné

hope@restoringawcoalition.org

Ya'at'eeh! (hello) is what Hope would say because she is Diné (Navajo). Hope was raised part time on the Navajo reservation in Monument Valley, UT and full time in Salt Lake City. Her clans are Kinyaa'áanii (The Towering House clan) which is her mother’s clan, Tachii'nii (Red

Office Assistant/ Bookkeeper l Diné

hope@restoringawcoalition.org

Ya'at'eeh! (hello) is what Hope would say because she is Diné (Navajo). Hope was raised part time on the Navajo reservation in Monument Valley, UT and full time in Salt Lake City. Her clans are Kinyaa'áanii (The Towering House clan) which is her mother’s clan, Tachii'nii (Red Running into water clan) which is her father’s clan, Kinłichíi'nii (Red House Clan) from her maternal father, and Bit'ahnii (Within his cover clan) from her Paternal father’s side.

She has been on a career exploration journey as well as attending school full time. During that time, she helped run a Youth program for at-risk youth, she was a public health intern for Seattle Indian Health board, and she spent a year working as a lab technician.

Before pursuing a pathway into Political Science Hope's plan was to go into medicine and become a doctor. At a young age she got her medical assistant certification as well as phlebotomy. She also did research for cancer and Alzheimer's because of familial history. Going out of state for college is when she realized how often her family back home was being affected in other forms. She watched as her reservation was being impacted by covid and the lack of advocacy happening for her people in the judicial aspect. After losing family members due to unfairness and inequality, she wondered what the best way would be to prevent these events from happening. This is why she chose to get work towards her bachelor’s in political science and Minor in American Indian Studies. She hopes to be a voice as well as a bridge from western culture and indigenous culture. 

Helpline Coordinator l Diné

alexis@restoringawcoalition.org

Alexis Blackmountain is Dine’. Her mother is from the Towering House people clan. Born for the One Who Walks Around clan, her maternal grandparents are part of the Red House clan, and her paternal grandparents are the Near the Water People. 

She graduated from Salt Lake Community Co

Helpline Coordinator l Diné

alexis@restoringawcoalition.org

Alexis Blackmountain is Dine’. Her mother is from the Towering House people clan. Born for the One Who Walks Around clan, her maternal grandparents are part of the Red House clan, and her paternal grandparents are the Near the Water People. 

She graduated from Salt Lake Community College with an associate degree. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Weber State University in Business Management and a minor in Professional Sales.

Alexis enjoys volunteering & working with various non-profits in the valley and has helped coordinate events in the community. She has served as Vic President and mentor for Granite School District Title Seven Lil’ Feathers, to educate the youth and support them with culture classes and traditional powwow dancing. 

Alexis formally served on the Board of Directors for the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake and was appointed head chair of the Growth & Development Committee and the Nominating Committee.

Alexis is coordinating the helpline at RAWI. She is motivated by her culture and traditional teachings from her family, friends, and mentors in the Native community.

Sexual Assault Response Team Coordinator l Northern Pomo

tyrell@restoringawcoalition.org

Tyrell Forrest is Northern Pomo and grew up in Sonoma County, California. 

Tyrell’s formal education was in pre-med and his passion for social work came from a family history of helping and servicing underrepresented communities. His grandparents were LG

Sexual Assault Response Team Coordinator l Northern Pomo

tyrell@restoringawcoalition.org

Tyrell Forrest is Northern Pomo and grew up in Sonoma County, California. 

Tyrell’s formal education was in pre-med and his passion for social work came from a family history of helping and servicing underrepresented communities. His grandparents were LGBTQIA2S+ advocates in San Francisco during the AIDS epidemic of the 80’s and worked with immigrant communities all over the Bay Area. His parents always emphasized the importance of helping and supporting others, which is why much of his family has and does work in medicine and as first responders.

After working in medicine himself, Tyrell began his social work career as a Case Manager in a Housing First pilot program. Since then, he has worked at multiple non-profits in homeless services, and finally as a Director for a DV/SA shelter. He is certified in Core Advocacy Training from the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the UDVC and is trained as an on-scene sexual assault responder. 

Tyrell is excited to use his passion for helping others and apply it to our relatives in the Great Basin Native communities.

Community Training & Education Specialist l Northern Arapaho

nicoletta@restoringawcoalition.org

Nicoletta Brown is a proud member of the Northern Arapaho tribe from the Wind River Reservation in Central Wyoming.

As a trailblazer and first-generation college student, Nicoletta earned an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice from Ce

Community Training & Education Specialist l Northern Arapaho

nicoletta@restoringawcoalition.org

Nicoletta Brown is a proud member of the Northern Arapaho tribe from the Wind River Reservation in Central Wyoming.

As a trailblazer and first-generation college student, Nicoletta earned an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice from Central Wyoming College, where she distinguished herself as an awardee of the Student Ambassador Scholarship. Building on this foundation, Nicoletta earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Criminology from Utah Tech University. Her commitment to excellence led her to achieve a Masters of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma in May of 2023.

Nicoletta relocated to Utah to further her educational pursuits and has since been an integral part of the community. With a passion for advocacy, she is deeply dedicated to supporting Native American and Tribal communities. Nicoletta utilizes her extensive education to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of these communities and embodies a commitment to positive change.

Domestic Violence Tribal Advocacy Outreach Specialist l Diné

audrey@restoringawcoalition.org

Casuse is Navajo from Southern Utah. Her mother is from Page, AZ and father is from Gallup, NM. 

Casuse is relentlessly helpful with a mixture of life experiences that cultivated a solid foundation of purpose. The specific ingredients that make up Ca

Domestic Violence Tribal Advocacy Outreach Specialist l Diné

audrey@restoringawcoalition.org

Casuse is Navajo from Southern Utah. Her mother is from Page, AZ and father is from Gallup, NM. 

Casuse is relentlessly helpful with a mixture of life experiences that cultivated a solid foundation of purpose. The specific ingredients that make up Casuse can be divided as 1 part neurodivergent, 1 part survivor, 2 parts analytical, 3 parts cultural integrity, and 4 parts momager (mother who manages everything).

Casuse comes to RAW, Inc. with a strong computer technology background from UVU, experience working with tribal outreach efforts for healthcare, and provides valuable knowledge in emerging market trends. She is committed to professional development in the field of data analytics and cultural development. She is a veteran advocate of multiple non-profit organizations who provided outreach, awareness, and prevention efforts to the American Indian demographic in Utah. Some of those organizations include Peace Corps, Phoenix Alliance, Cultural Alliance, Winfield Kids, and COPE Diabetic outreach. She hopes her experience will help with RAWI’s mission to support and heal the tribal community.  

Sexual Assault Tribal Advocacy Outreach Specialist l Diné

savanna@restoringawcoalition.org

Savanna Silversmith is Dine (Navajo) from Blanding Utah. Her mother is from Thoreau NM and her father is from Sanders AZ. Her clans are Sage Brush Hill people (Ts’ah Yisk’idnii), and Big Water people (Totsohnii). Her pronouns are she/her.

Savanna Silve

Sexual Assault Tribal Advocacy Outreach Specialist l Diné

savanna@restoringawcoalition.org

Savanna Silversmith is Dine (Navajo) from Blanding Utah. Her mother is from Thoreau NM and her father is from Sanders AZ. Her clans are Sage Brush Hill people (Ts’ah Yisk’idnii), and Big Water people (Totsohnii). Her pronouns are she/her.

Savanna Silversmith received her Bachelor’s Degree of Science in psychology with a minor in American Indian Studies from Brigham Young University. She plans to attend graduate school in the future to pursue her goal to help decolonize psychology and bring mental health and spiritual well-being back into an indigenously centered perspective.

With parents who work within the education system in border towns next to the Navajo nation, she has seen the impact her parents have had in working with Native youth and that has inspired her to do the same. Her biggest passion is to serve her Native American communities, that continues to lead her to use her education and cultural background to serve those around her.