NIWRC Specialty Institute 2026: Full Schedule

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7:00am EDT

Morning Offering

Wednesday July 29, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am EDT

Greet the day with the NIWRC staff. During this time, we will meet in the hotel lobby at 6:45 am to begin a wellness walk/run to begin our day. Come join us. Please dress comfortably in appropriate walking/running shoes, gear, and a water bottle.

Wednesday July 29, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am EDT

Wellness

9:00am EDT

Engaging Tribal Leadership through Advocacy and Strategic Communication

Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT

Camellia Room

This highly interactive workshop is designed to strengthen program staff's capacity to navigate leadership spaces with confidence and intention. Frequently, domestic violence program staff operate at the intersection of community responsibility, advocacy, and policy engagement. Within tribal communities, advocates are often called to communicate directly with tribal leadership, federal partners, and other partner organizations about the realities facing survivors and the systems aimed to support them. These conversations require the ability to communicate community needs clearly, strategically, and responsibly while promoting survivor confidentiality.

This session will provide participants with the opportunity to explore how lived experiences, storytelling, and data can work together to communicate their communities' needs and inform policy decisions. Through a series of guided exercises, attendees will practice framing their experiences, articulating community challenges, and identifying clear requests that can be carried into briefings, tribal leadership meetings, consultations, legislative visitations, and other formal engagements. Additionally, it will introduce practical communication frameworks and grounding strategies to help advocates remain prepared, centered, and effective as they navigate high-stakes environments while continuing to uphold survivor-centered advocacy.

Speakers

Jantzen Hale, MPH

Program Specialist, NIWRC

Jantzen Hale, Diné, currently serves as a Program Specialist with the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. Previously, she worked with the National Congress of American Indians, supporting the development of communication strategies and sharing stories of impact and need about Tribal communities... Read More →

Paloma Sánchez, MA, MSW

Director of National Training and Resources, NIWRC

Paloma Hąąpnąąžįwiiga Sánchez, MSW, MA (Ho-Chunk/Xicana Indígena), currently serves as the Director of National Training and Resources at the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. Paloma holds a Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley, where their studies focused on... Read More →

Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Camellia Room

Breakout Session

9:00am EDT

Sustaining Safety: Funding Strategies to Strengthen Domestic Violence Response in Tribal Communities

Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT

Oak Room

Participants will explore practical and sustainable funding strategies that strengthen domestic violence response in Tribal communities. This session will focus on how to build long-term support for survivor services, prevention, and community-based response efforts. Attendees will gain insight into aligning funding with program priorities, strengthening partnerships, and creating diversified revenue strategies that support stability, safety, and long-term impact.

Speakers

Cory Johnson

Development & Strategic Impact Officer, NIWRC

Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Oak Room

Breakout Session

11:00am EDT

Break

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:00am - 11:30am EDT

Break

11:30am EDT

Community-based Participatory Research and Tribal Leadership Engagement

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:30am - 11:45am EDT

Camellia Room

This session explores how community-based participatory research (CBPR) can provide a transformative framework for building effective partnerships between Tribal domestic violence programs and Tribal leaders. CBPR is a community centered research approach that builds the skills and capacities of community members through equitable long-term relationships built on a foundation of respect and autonomy. Participants will leave with practical tools and strategies to integrate CBPR into their work and utilize the data collected to address domestic violence in their communities.

Speakers

Olivia Anderson

Research Associate, NIWRC

Olivia Anderson currently serves as a Research Associate for the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. Olivia is also pursuing a Masters of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, where she is studying women’s health and interdisciplinary research methods. As a Research Associate... Read More →

Paloma Sánchez, MA, MSW

Director of National Training and Resources, NIWRC

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:30am - 11:45am EDT
Camellia Room

Breakout Session

11:30am EDT

Making Your Work Make Sense: Communicating with Tribal Leadership Using Everyday Tools

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT

Oak Room

In this session, participants will learn how to clearly communicate program needs to Tribal leadership using tools they already use every day. Rather than simply sharing information, we will focus on how to communicate what’s happening, why it matters, and what support is needed. Attendees will leave with practical, easy-to-use approaches and a simple framework they can immediately apply in emails, conversations, and program updates. No communications background is required.

Speakers

Miranda Raney

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Oak Room

Breakout Session

1:00pm EDT

Lunch

Wednesday July 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

On your own

Wednesday July 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Break

2:00pm EDT

Conversations with Community: Advocate Storytelling

Wednesday July 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Camellia Room

We invite Tribal domestic violence advocates, Tribal leaders, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) victim survivors to join us for an engaging session. This space is designed for open discussions where participants can share their personal stories and experiences. We will hold small group discussions to explore valuable lessons, challenges, successes, and the realities of victim survivors in Indian Country.

These discussions will help us develop important recommendations, identify key resource needs, and support the growth of Tribal domestic violence programs. By highlighting the voices of those who have experienced these challenges, this session aims to enhance understanding of the needs and successes of AI/AN victim survivors. Your participation will strengthen our commitment to addressing the needs of our communities.

Speakers

Paloma Sánchez, MA, MSW

Director of National Training and Resources, NIWRC

Wednesday July 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Camellia Room

Breakout Session

2:00pm EDT

Legislative Update

Wednesday July 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Oak Room

Speakers

Kerri Colfer

Director of Research and Policy, NIWRC

Wednesday July 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Oak Room

Breakout Session

3:30pm EDT

Break

Wednesday July 29, 2026 3:30pm - 3:45pm EDT

Break

3:45pm EDT

Networking Mixer

Wednesday July 29, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT

Plenary Session

7:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

11:30am EDT

11:30am EDT

1:00pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

3:30pm EDT

3:45pm EDT

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