MARIN AMERICAN INDIAN ALLIANCE

In Honor of All Tribes

Our New Vice-President

On May20, 2008, Richard Williams (Yurok/Karuk) was voted in as Vice-President of this organization. We are pleased that he accepted this position on the board.

Richard was in the Army during the Vietnam era. During the last 15 years he has worked for the California State prison system at 3 different prisons as the Native American Chaplain. His last position with the prison system was as the Spiritual Advisor to the San Quentin prisoners (1987-2002). He retired because of on-going health problems.

Richard has also worked as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor for 9 years at the Friendship House in San Francisco and also as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor at the Santa Rosa Indian Health Project.

Marty's Award

On June 15th, as part of the 15th Annual Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival, Marty Meade received the first Pamela Levine Award for Leadership in Arts Education. the award was created to honor the former director, who died of cancer a year and a half ago.

For more than 25 years, Marty has taught art to young people with severe emotional disabilities or behavior problems. Miko Lee, Youth in Arts executive director, says "She teaches kids who are at great risk, students who are incarcerated or in Juvenile Hall. She brings a graciousness and calmness to her work, especially with kids who are under-served and from difficult circumstances. She exemplifies what a mentor artist should be.

Marty also teaches glass art and painting at the College of Marin where she received "Teacher of the Year" in 2006.

Congratulations Marty!