I was honored to receive a James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award in 2023. This recognition came at a pivotal moment, as I was stepping into my role as co-executive director of California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC). The award helped elevate my profile as a leader and raised awareness and credibility for our mission to support tribes and tribal families across California.
Not only did the Leadership Award provide financial support, but CTFC also received assistance in telling our story in new and creative ways. For example, with support from the Leadership Awards team, we produced a short documentary about a young person’s incredible journey from foster care to tribal mentor. As the challenges to tribal sovereignty continue to mount, changing people’s hearts and minds by elevating stories like these will be invaluable for our work. Additionally, the Leadership Awards team enhanced our organizational capacity to expand our work by assisting us with strategic planning.
I am deeply grateful for the support we’ve received, and I wholeheartedly believe in its potential to uplift and amplify the voices of other California leaders. If you know someone who is making a difference in any field, I urge you to nominate them for a 2025 Leadership Award. There are countless grassroots leaders and organizations doing incredible work, often behind the scenes, who deserve to be recognized and supported.
Nominations for the 2025 Leadership Awards are open until April 26. I encourage you to learn more about the Awards and the nomination process by visiting the Leadership Awards website.
Thank you for considering this important opportunity to honor and celebrate changemakers in your community.
Sincerely,
Blair Kreuzer
Co-Executive Director, California Tribal Families Coalition
2023 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award Recipient