Winds of Change National Conference Wrap-Up 2021Conference Buzz

Conference BuzzAll through the Phoenix Convention Center conference attendees found plenty to be enthusiastic about and ample opportunities to share their thoughts with old and new friends. Here are some things we heard and saw at the 2021 National Conference.img1A ribbon-cutting ceremony opened the 2021 College and Career Fair.Black Rule► QUOTABLE AISES“It’s important to educate people that we are the first Americans and we do count. We are still here.”—Sarah EchoHawk, AISES CEO“It’s really rewarding to see the difference you can make.”—Celeste Groux, Senior Canadian National RepresentativeBlue Ruleimg2At the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Bret Benally Thompson remembered AISES members who walked on in the past two years.Black Rule-1635459830► Conference App All-Starsimg3JENNIFER WOLFOGIMAAKWE/PRESIDENT, PROJECT MOSAIC INC.Tell me you’re at the AISES National Conference without saying you’re at the AISES National Conference…img4“Oh, people walking around with medals on their necks and it’s not the Olympics, nbd.”img5“Oh, just sitting at a random table to eat my veggie wrap and the people next to me include a Native woman PhD chemist and a nuclear physicist, nbd.”img6“Oh, just a Native walking down the street with a gigantic rocket, nbd.”img7“Oh, just a Native walking down the street with a #SKObot friend on his shoulder, nbd.”Thicker Black RuleBlack Rule-1635460218► QUOTABLE AISESimg8“Be on the lookout for this special flag in tomorrow’s opening. AISES is a safe space for all our LGBTQ2S AISES family members.”—Sheila Lopez, IntelBlue Rule-1635460331► As Seen in Winds of Changewinds1winds2winds3winds4winds5winds6Thicker Black Rule-1635460433Black Rule-1635460438► QUOTABLE AISESimg21“The diversity of the workshops was great and appreciated. This conference served the needs of our organization.”—Meredith Lam, with Hunter Warren, both of American Indian Services“If you are a language geek, working with the intelligence community is where you want to be.”—Everette Jordan, NSA linguistBlue Rule-1635460441img22Attendees soaked up some knowledge at one of the conference’s many sessions.Thicker Black Rule-1635460541Black Rule-1635460547► QUOTABLE AISES“Congratulations to the AISES leadership and staff for getting the conference back in person and providing some streaming. I know you all have worked hard to get to this week. Continued blessings to the AISES family.”—Wiley Jones, Department of DefenseBlue Rule-1635460550img23Hardworking members of the AISES staff (from left) Amy Weinstein, Kellie Jewett-Fernandez, Shayna Gutierrez, and Sarah EchoHawkThicker Black Rule-1635460602► Conference App All-Starsimg24MONTOYA WHITEMANAISES/SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETINGimg25Fireworks over Phoenix — for the Conference of course!img26Stunning centerpieces for the closing banquet.img27Danielle Boyer and her robot friend were matchy-matchy.img28Checking out the cool car at the Department of State booth.Thicker Black Rule-1635460721Black Rule-1635460726► QUOTABLE AISES“Don’t forget … just say ‘thank you’ to the volunteers at the registration booth. Just say it.”—Ira Alaniz, student at Fort Lewis CollegeBlue Rule-1635460729chartCoverWelcome from AISESMastheadCeremonies and CelebrationsCeremonies and CelebrationsMeet the Award WinnersCollege and Career FairCollege and Career Fair continuedCollege and Career Fair continuedCollege and Career Fair continuedCollege and Career Fair continuedCollege and Career Fair continuedKnowledge and Insight Were Easy to Find at the National ConferenceSessions continuedConference BuzzConference Buzz continuedConference Buzz continuedSee You in Palm SpringsGemstone SponsorsAdvertiser IndexArchives