MARY LAGARDE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MINNEAPOLIS AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER HONORED BY THE AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENT CULTURAL CENTER

Minneapolis, MN – The American Indian Student Cultural Center at the University of Minnesota recently selected Mary LaGarde, Executive Director of the Minneapolis American Indian Center to be one of the three women recognized at the Honoring American Indian Women Luncheon held on Friday, November 21 at Coffman Union at the University of Minnesota. The Luncheon honors outstanding Native women who have demonstrated strong leadership in their work or daily life, and have been positively engaged in their Native community.

Mary LaGarde is an enrolled member of the White Earth Nation of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. Mary was honored for her work at the Minneapolis American Indian Center where she has been a key driver of process to engage the community, the board and the staff in developing and implementing a new vision for the social, cultural, arts and economic revitalization of the Center. Mary was also recognized for over twenty years of work in and for the American Indian community to promote the health and well being of children and families. Mary has volunteered with the Greater Minneapolis Daycare Association, Hennepin County Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council, Little Earth, The Greater Twin Cities United Way and Indigenous Peoples Green Jobs Alliance, Youthcare and the Minneapolis American Indian Health and Wellness Fair Planning Committee.

Also honored were Laverne Goodthunder, Youth Worker with Dakota Wicohan a nonprofit serving youth in the Lower Sioux Community in Morton, MN and Lorraine White, Program Director with the Family Stabilization Program at the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center from in Minneapolis, MN.

Incorporated as nonprofit in 1974, the Minneapolis American Indian Center has a rich history as one of the first urban American Indian Centers in the country providing services otherwise unavailable for urban American Indians. The Minneapolis American Indian Center was initially formed by community members, and continues its roots today with majority American Indian leadership and staffing. The Minneapolis American Indian Center is focused on serving a large, tribally diverse urban American Indian population. The mission of Minneapolis American Indian Center is to provide excellent services that help meet the needs of the American Indian -community within a foundation of cultural values. Our mission is lived through programs providing important services relevant to urban American Indian adults, youth, elders, and community.