NIWRC Specialty Institute 2026: Full Schedule

arrow_back View All Dates

9:00am EDT

Engaging Tribal Leadership through Advocacy and Strategic Communication

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

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

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

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

NIWRC Specialty Institute 2026

9:00am EDT

Jantzen Hale, MPH

Paloma Sánchez, MA, MSW

11:30am EDT

Olivia Anderson

Paloma Sánchez, MA, MSW

2:00pm EDT

Paloma Sánchez, MA, MSW

Get help with the event