Jennifer Beving, Chair- Jennifer is an attorney who grew up in eastern South Dakota and graduated from Drake Law School in Des Moines, IA. She began her practice working under the Violence Against Women Act Federal Grant through Dakota Plains Legal Services headquartered on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Mission, SD. There she provided divorce, custody and restraining order counsel to victims of domestic violence. Jennifer has in-depth knowledge of the complex legal issues facing Native American women and youth, and continues to serve many Native clients in her current legal practice located in Sturgis, SD.
Chas Jewett, Vice Chair- Chas is currently a consultant for the South Dakota Dental Association working to improve access to quality oral health care on the nine reservations in South Dakota. She has previously worked for the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Chas is also currently on the board of the South Dakota Advocacy Network for Women, and co-produced the documentary "Young Lakota", a film that focuses on the challenges faced by twin sisters growing up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Chas is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and grew up on the reservation, a part of her family’s ranch that has been operating on the same land since 1832.
Tara Hixson, Secretary- Having grown up in Rapid City, SD, Tara's lifelong friendships with Lakota classmates provided an insight into the inspiring traditions and significant challenges facing Native American youth and their families. Tara graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A in Secondary Education and History where she worked with diverse populations of at-risk youth and families facing a range of social and economic challenges. She served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Thailand where she worked with impoverished communities and indigenous populations as a teacher trainer, curriculum advisor and youth development organizer. She recently began working as a Program Manager with Just Like My Child Foundation; a small grassroots organization in Uganda committed to utilizing participatory approaches that encourage community members and leaders to develop and invest in lasting solutions to socio economic challenges that lift individuals out of poverty through health, education and micro-enterprise. Tara recently earned her Masters Degree in Education, Health Promotion and International Development from the Institute of Education, University of London.
Tessa Davis- Tessa Davis grew up in downtown Rapid City, SD and will always consider the lovely Black Hills her home. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with a Middle School Minor from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. Undergraduate studies, student teaching experiences and close, childhood Lakota friendships have made her acutely aware of the unique and challenging issues facing Native populations in the area, particularly those of women and girls. She served with the Peace Corps in Uganda as a Community Development and Education volunteer where she focused on teacher training, curriculum development, literacy promotion and the building of a library with her Ugandan counterparts. Since finishing Peace Corps, Tessa has continued to work in Uganda, initially as the Country Director and now as the current Program Director for Just Like My Child Foundation, and recently completed her Masters Degree in Education, Health Promotion and International Development from the Institute of Education, University of London.
David "Mike" Red Cloud- Mike is a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and grew up in Mission, SD and Rapid City. He is nearing the completion of his B.S.W from Oglala Lakota College, and currently works as an investigator at Abourezk Law Firm in Rapid City. He is also a facilitator of the Health Education and Promotion Council’s Takoja Niwiciyapi Program and served as Counselor Trainee for the Oglala Sioux Tribe's Native Healing Program. Mike is active in several community organizations, including the Urban American Indian Youth Coalition, and is actively involved in working to address the high drop-out rate of Native American high school students in Rapid City.
Holly Sortland, Founder/Executive Director- Holly was raised in western South Dakota. She graduated from St. Olaf College in 2001 with a degree in Political Science and a concentration in Women’s Studies. She was a staffer for former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle where she worked complex Native American and immigration constituent issues, and became very aware of the challenges facing South Dakota's indigenous populations. She is a former child advocate for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and served as a sexual assault advocate for Working Against Violence, Inc. in Rapid City. She was also a public policy fellow for the Population Institute in Washington, DC where she monitored international family planning legislation in the US House of Representatives.
Holly has worked as a Career Transition Advisor for the Department of Labor’s Job Corps program since 2007, allowing her the privilege of working with Native youth and young adults in urban and reservations settings. She was inspired to found Project Respect.Org after working with a high number of students affected by sexual assaults, unplanned pregnancies, domestic violence and digital dating abuse. Despite these challenges, she is inspired by the amazing spirit and drive of the youth she has encountered, and strongly believes that Project Respect.Org can incite social change through confidence building, education and cultural awareness.
Chas Jewett, Vice Chair- Chas is currently a consultant for the South Dakota Dental Association working to improve access to quality oral health care on the nine reservations in South Dakota. She has previously worked for the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Chas is also currently on the board of the South Dakota Advocacy Network for Women, and co-produced the documentary "Young Lakota", a film that focuses on the challenges faced by twin sisters growing up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Chas is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and grew up on the reservation, a part of her family’s ranch that has been operating on the same land since 1832.
Tara Hixson, Secretary- Having grown up in Rapid City, SD, Tara's lifelong friendships with Lakota classmates provided an insight into the inspiring traditions and significant challenges facing Native American youth and their families. Tara graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A in Secondary Education and History where she worked with diverse populations of at-risk youth and families facing a range of social and economic challenges. She served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Thailand where she worked with impoverished communities and indigenous populations as a teacher trainer, curriculum advisor and youth development organizer. She recently began working as a Program Manager with Just Like My Child Foundation; a small grassroots organization in Uganda committed to utilizing participatory approaches that encourage community members and leaders to develop and invest in lasting solutions to socio economic challenges that lift individuals out of poverty through health, education and micro-enterprise. Tara recently earned her Masters Degree in Education, Health Promotion and International Development from the Institute of Education, University of London.
Tessa Davis- Tessa Davis grew up in downtown Rapid City, SD and will always consider the lovely Black Hills her home. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with a Middle School Minor from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. Undergraduate studies, student teaching experiences and close, childhood Lakota friendships have made her acutely aware of the unique and challenging issues facing Native populations in the area, particularly those of women and girls. She served with the Peace Corps in Uganda as a Community Development and Education volunteer where she focused on teacher training, curriculum development, literacy promotion and the building of a library with her Ugandan counterparts. Since finishing Peace Corps, Tessa has continued to work in Uganda, initially as the Country Director and now as the current Program Director for Just Like My Child Foundation, and recently completed her Masters Degree in Education, Health Promotion and International Development from the Institute of Education, University of London.
David "Mike" Red Cloud- Mike is a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and grew up in Mission, SD and Rapid City. He is nearing the completion of his B.S.W from Oglala Lakota College, and currently works as an investigator at Abourezk Law Firm in Rapid City. He is also a facilitator of the Health Education and Promotion Council’s Takoja Niwiciyapi Program and served as Counselor Trainee for the Oglala Sioux Tribe's Native Healing Program. Mike is active in several community organizations, including the Urban American Indian Youth Coalition, and is actively involved in working to address the high drop-out rate of Native American high school students in Rapid City.
Holly Sortland, Founder/Executive Director- Holly was raised in western South Dakota. She graduated from St. Olaf College in 2001 with a degree in Political Science and a concentration in Women’s Studies. She was a staffer for former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle where she worked complex Native American and immigration constituent issues, and became very aware of the challenges facing South Dakota's indigenous populations. She is a former child advocate for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and served as a sexual assault advocate for Working Against Violence, Inc. in Rapid City. She was also a public policy fellow for the Population Institute in Washington, DC where she monitored international family planning legislation in the US House of Representatives.
Holly has worked as a Career Transition Advisor for the Department of Labor’s Job Corps program since 2007, allowing her the privilege of working with Native youth and young adults in urban and reservations settings. She was inspired to found Project Respect.Org after working with a high number of students affected by sexual assaults, unplanned pregnancies, domestic violence and digital dating abuse. Despite these challenges, she is inspired by the amazing spirit and drive of the youth she has encountered, and strongly believes that Project Respect.Org can incite social change through confidence building, education and cultural awareness.