Randella Bluehouse

Mesa

Profession: Program Development Coordinator of the Indian Tribal Council of Arizona.

Fellowship Track:  Future Candidate

Motivation: I know that the power to change the condition of our lives is in our control – if we could organize ourselves at the grassroots level, at the community level.  American Indian communities as I know them have allowed the government to speak for them – be it Tribal, State or Federal – because they choose not to participate in the political process by voting or running for positions of leadership.  I believe that American Indians can become a dominant force in the way this country is run, but the process has to be strategic and deliberate.

Volunteer Highlights: Member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging Committee; Committee Member of the Native American Community
Health Center; Member fo the Mesa Human Relations Advisory Board; Elder Committee, Indian Health Services; Board Member of the Arizona Advocacy Network.

Leadership Interests: I would like to aspire to a legislative seat in the Arizona House or Senate, running as either a representative from my reservation district, where I lived most of my life, or from the urban area where I live now.  I am also interested in helping to create a non-profit organization that will work to build leadership and political participation of American Indians.

CPL-AZ Mentor: Rebekah Friend; President of the Arizona AFL-CIO.