In this part of the interview with Tom Davis, he focuses on learning by doing and how some faculty members are resistant to using this teaching method. Tom also discusses the miracles that happen to students as they progress through tribal colleges.

Groups from universities such as Harvard and Stanford have been visiting tribal colleges for a long time, so Tom explains the effect that this collaboration has had even outside of the Indian community. These groups often observe the use of experiential learning at tribal colleges, and we learn about the interactions they have with students who are exposed to this learning method.

Tom moves on to talk about his belief that the tribal college movement has not only influenced education, but American society itself. Though we may sometimes lose sight of that because of the chaos embedded in the society, Tom thinks that the resulting activities will make the world a better place in the long term. We then hear about small things that some parties have been concerned about within the tribal college movement that Tom states do not matter. This leads to Tom revealing one comment that does get on his nerves sometimes.

Some students enter tribal colleges seemingly lost and without knowing why they are there, but Tom has witnessed so much growth beyond this point. Before being treated to a poem from Tom about this evolution to end the episode, he speaks about a specific example of growth that he has recently seen from a student who was lost at first but is now entering graduate school.

Continuing on with Tom Davis’ interview, we begin this segment by listening to a poem that he wrote about Helen Scheirbeck. It gives us an idea of who she was, where she came from, and the importance she had in the Tribal College and Indian-Controlled school movements.

Tom credits Helen with allowing him to visit the White House and teaching Indians how to craft legislation and influence policy. He says that she knew how to build upon small accomplishments so that they became big accomplishments, and as a result, Tom believes that all of American society owes Helen a huge debt of gratitude.

Tom reflects on the fact that Tribal Colleges had no funding when they were first established, and that Helen challenged the Department of Education’s view of not being able toprovide any funding. We hear about how this led to partnerships with community colleges which enabled Tribal Colleges to receive enough money to get started. Not long after this happened, Helen went to an organizational meeting in Seattle with the purpose of drafting legislation to directly fund Tribal Colleges. She began working with a friend of hers to do this, the memory of which causes Tom to talk about how he often used to receive calls in the middle of the night from Helen.

Though the legislation changed several times as it progressed through congress, it did eventually become law. Tom expresses that this moment was when the Tribal College Movement became real. He recalls that Helen had generosity that showed no bounds, helping and connecting with people no matter where they were from.

According to Tom, even after securing funding, it was often difficult to start Tribal Colleges and still is. He shares his estimation of how much publishable material is required to start one today and recalls that because there was such little money at the beginning, people had to work many hours to get anything done. Tom discusses current Tribal Colleges teachers who say they are overworked and then shares a story about the amount of work that Helen, Tom, and others did back in the day.

We listen to Tom’s insight on people who criticized the process that Tribal Colleges had in place, saying that they were right because there were no processes. He explains that the successful colleges which exist today began with sheer guts, determination, and an ability to not listen to the establishment. Tom says that mainstream colleges did not provide much support and in some cases were hostile to the idea of Tribal Colleges. He then talks about how this has formed the way he thinks about people in general today.

Tom shares a quote about the Tribal College Movement being a social service agency with a higher education mission and declares his love for the spirit it encompasses. He wishes that Tribal Colleges could hold on to this spirit forever because of his belief that students should be taught by doing. Tom encourages creating something that is going to last. He hopes that we don’t let process shield the drives, dreams, and willingness to do service out of ourselves.

Christine Reidhead is with Bill Bright discussing Gallup Solar Nonprofit Organization.

gallupsolar.org is a 501c3.  Bill loves those things and always volunteers for those when he see great things!  It was started about 8-10 years ago.  Bill was blessed and honored to be with the beginning group of women who formed it.

They challenged Gallup to put in solar for McKinley County. But it wasn’t the right time, but now after all these years it might happen.

Gallup is one of three cities in New Mexico that own their own utilities.  We pressured them a bit to allow people to use solar.

Last year of 30% off your taxes if you do solar.

15,000 homes on the Navajo Nation will never get powered in Bill’s lifetime.

Holding classes, then installing systems into homes for the elderly, or those on medications.  After the class people will know how to install them and fix it.

Grants are funding the classes.

Gallup Solar does not advertise, but get a lot of people coming to their meetings on Wednesday once a week.

It’s a hand up not a hand out.  Have to have some sweat equity if you want the equipment.  They have to meet us halfway.

Bill shared the biggest challenge is to get access to these small solar systems because they are all being sent to Africa.  It’s a good starter kit for those wanting to get started.  The whole market is going to millions of people in Africa without power so we are competing with them.  We also have a need here at the Navajo Nation who is also a third world country.

Bill’s most proud of working with the Navajo people.  The barriers between white and Native American people are broken at these meetings.  A Navajo elder opens up the meeting.  There is a bridge there of culture and races.  It’s wonderful.

Everyone knows somebody that doesn’t have power.  We want referrals like that so we can reach those people.

Cornerstone out of Santa Fe likes what we’re doing and the last two classes they have funded Gallup Solar.

For more information visit: gallupsolar.org

Christine Reidhead speaks with Debbie from Hope for Communities Nonprofit Organization.

Debbie and her husband just started this organization. Her husband has been going to Africa for 20 years and felt it was time to start this New Mexico nonprofit.  Their 501c3 is at the IRS and they are waiting for approval.

They have an orphanage in southern Kenya.  This town has 200 children with no parents.  They have local staff there already in place.  Twenty-eight of the 200 children are already in an orphanage.  Debbie is working on a second building.  The orphanage has full custody of these children.

Hope for Communities needs monthly support to pay for the children’s food, home, electricity and schooling.

The other orphaned children are just sleeping in holes and places around the town.  It is heartbreaking how these children live.  It’s not good for them at all.

Debbie shared that this town is so far away from the government and capital city that the town doesn’t get a lot of help.

If someone wanted to help they could sponsor one of these orphaned children for $100 a month.

Debbie and her group takes a team of about eight-ten one time a year to Africa.  Volunteers pay about $3,600, which provides the volunteers about a ten day trip.  Volunteers work with the village and then includes a safari.  The main cost is the flight to Africa.

Literally a brand new organization and they are excited about their future!