As the annual Potawatomi Leadership Program drew to its close, the participants reflected on what they learned throughout their six weeks with Citizen Potawatomi Nation and encouraged other Potawatomi youth to apply for next year’s program.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation welcomes seven students pursuing higher education to the Tribal grounds for six weeks for the Potawatomi Leadership Program. Meet the class of 2023.
During this episode, we’ll hear from a marathon runner who donated to a Tribal scholarship fund, celebrate 20 years of the Potawatomi Leadership Program, and look at one-way CPN is making an opioid overdose reversal tactic more available.
This month 20 years ago, Citizen Potawatomi Nation welcomed the first group of students to participate in the Potawatomi Leadership Program. Brittany Destree Dek was 17 years old in 2003 and participated in the PLP between her junior and senior years of high school. The Bertrand family descendant reflects on her experience as one of the first students to benefit from the program.
During this episode, we’ll hear from the 2022 Potawatomi Leadership Program class about their experience and ideas for the Tribe’s future, celebrate International Podcast Day and talk to an Oklahoma City musician about his upcoming album.
One of the most anticipated parts of the Potawatomi Leadership Program is a reception at which the participants present the special projects they created that include programs, services or enterprises they envision for the Nation’s future. Read about this year’s projects and participant reflections.
The 2022 Potawatomi Leadership Program class traveled from across the country to the Citizen Potawatomi Nation this summer to live on property owned by the Tribe for six weeks and learn about CPN, its culture, government and services. This year’s class consists of 10 members — meet them now!
With her attention always on the needs of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and its members, Margaret Zientek has already hit the ground running as the new Workforce and Social Services department director. She spoke with the Hownikan about her work with Workforce programs and advocacy at the federal level to improve them, as well as her involvement with the Potawatomi Leadership Program.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation awarded the first Michael John Kennedy Scholarship to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse junior Jozie Arenz in fall 2021. Open to college juniors and seniors, the scholarship welcomes children and grandchildren of veterans to apply.
As an anthropology major, Tribal member Katie Simpson loves museums and teaching others about underrepresented cultures. This summer, she worked as an intern for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in NYC.