Page 28 - May JSF Report

UPDATE ON INDIGENOUS CONVENING
May 17, 2023
TO: JSF Board Members
RE: Update on Indigenous Convening FR: Sherry Salway Black
Sharon and I had a meeting with Kellie Jewett-Fernandez (VP at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and Gonzaga MBA-AIE alum) earlier this week about the Indigenous Convening. As you know, it will be conducted to coincide with the AISES Annual Conference to be held in Spokane, WA on October 19-21. Because their conference is so huge – as Sharon shared, more than 3,000 attendees -- the planning is in full gear now. This means we have to be prepared within the next few weeks to coordinate with their meeting planners to set aside our meeting, event and hotel rooms.
Here is information you need to assess your ability, time and desire to attend the convening. Our convening will be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 from 9:00 am to 3 pm. We would expect that people would arrive in Spokane on Tuesday, October 17. We are also planning a reception the evening of Wednesday, October 18.
I’ve included the link for the AISES conference so you can get more information on that. JSF is one of the conference sponsors funding the sessions on STEM and Business. You can see the conference agenda at the link. The conference opening is on Thursday morning in case any of you would like to attend on that day. It is one of the largest conferences in Indian Country. This conference brings together large and small corporations and businesses with AISES members from around the country. It is an opportunity to not only see and meet many Native students but to glimpse into the future of Indian Country.
As a reminder, my plan for the convening is to invite about 5 MBA-AIE alums to participate. The convening will also include any JSF Board members who want to attend and JSF staff. Kellie shared that there are a few MBA-AIE alums who regularly attend the AISES conferences. In addition, the Gonzaga folks said they would schedule the current 11 member cohort in person for that same week (we will confirm this next week after a call with Gonzaga). The reception JSF will host (most likely from 5 to 6:30 pm on Wednesday) will be a private event to include any MBA-AIE alums in attendance at AISES, the MBA-AIE alums invited to our convening, members of the current cohort, maybe a few invitees from Gonzaga, and 2 or 3 invitees from AISES to stop by (i.e. Sarah Echo hawk and maybe their board chair or something like that.)
I will most likely arrive on Tuesday and leave on Friday so I am able to attend at least one full day of the conference. I’m available most all of next week if you have any questions.
Page 26 May Report