Kara Bobroff (Navajo/Lakota), SYS Board President; Kara is the Founding Principal of Albuquerque’s Native American Community Academy (NACA). In 2006, she was identified as one of the “Best Emerging Social Entrepreneurs†in the United States and was awarded a national Echoing Green Fellowship to establish NACA as one of the first urban American Indian academies to support language, culture, health, and college preparation for youth.
Lora Davis, Secretary, Office Manager, Lora is the office manager for not only SYS but also Hart Properties LLC. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Duke City BMX, a 501 c(3) organization and 505 Racing, Inc., a 501 c(3) corporation. Both of these organizations support amateur athletics, with the focus of 505 Racing, Inc. being National level competition. She is also involved with the Cub Scouts where she serves as an assistant den leader for Pack 12.
Kerry Green, Gallery Manager/Co-Director, Glenn Green Galleries in Tesuque, NM and Scottsdale, AZ, ; The gallery exhibits work by international artists as well as arranging museum exhibits. Kerry was raised both in Arizona and New Mexico with strong connections to the art world and Native people in the Southwest. Most of her personal and professional activities have involved community service & fundraising with an emphasis in Education. Currently consulting with the Hopi Foundation to raise funds for community based initiatives on the Hopi Reservation. She has served as a board member of Native Future, whose mission is to consult with the Wounaan and Embera Tribes in Panama to establish stronger ties with the Government and to find a market for their art. Kerry volunteered for many years with Futures for Children raising funds for Native American Education programs.
Gidget McCook (Pueblo of Sandia); Gidget has worked with families for 20 years, most recently as Field Office Manager at the Albuquerque branch of the National Indian Youth Council. She is currently working as a Family Assistance Analyst for the State of NM. She is also an assessor for the NM Pre-K Evaluation Project.
Edward McKenzie, MD (Navajo Nation); Edward is an Albuquerque physician at Presbyterian Hospital and community leader. He serves on numerous boards of non-profit organizations, including those of SYS, First Nations Community Health Source, and The Native American Charter Academy. Edward is a strong advocate for positive youth development programs and is a passionate soccer enthusiast.
Pandora Mike (Dine’); Principal, Mesa Elementary School, Shiprock, New Mexico. Pandora’s background in Education is extensive; she has also served as Principal at Naschitti Elementary School, was an Elementary School Teacher and Instructor in Culture and Elementary core subjects. Pandora has a B.S. in Elementary Education and M.A. in Educational Leadership. She has served on Indian Education and Task Force committees throughout her career. She enjoys working with Native youth, families and communities. She also volunteers in her community to further youth initiatives.
Mekko M. Miller (Tesuque Pueblo), Esq./Executive Director of New Mexico Indian Gaming Association; Mekko has also served the Pueblo of Tesuque Development Corporation as its President and Chief Executive Officer. His executive leadership of the corporation yielded him invaluable experience and the skills to aide him with the creation of successful business models throughout Indian Country. He has also served as the Pueblo of Tesuque’s General Counsel. Mekko received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from New Mexico State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming College of Law. Mekko enjoys volunteering as a mentor for Junior Achievement of NM in addition to continuing to offer his legal services pro bono for select clients. Mekko and his wife remain committed to community service and generously donate their time to local charitable organizations that provide Native American and non-native youth educational and overall capacity and leadership building opportunities.
Clayton Small, E.D. (Northern Cheyenne); Clayton is a leadership consultant and community trainer for Native American communities and youth across the country. A former elementary school principal, Clayton is a longtime proponent of Native leadership and health & wellness programs. He was a designer of The Native American Sports Council, a non-profit organization created to promote and train Native athletes for international-level competition. An elite athlete himself, Clayton has competed in numerous U.S. marathons and as a professional basketball player in international competition.
Alec Rekow, Executive Director; founding director of SYS, Alec is a former English teacher (M.A., English) and owner of a custom design company, Rekow Designs LLC. He is nationally certified as a youth soccer coach and program director by the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) and was the founding director of the New Mexico Pueblo Soccer Project (NMPSP). Alec served as Soccer Commissioner for The North American Indigenous Games, held in 2006 in Denver, CO, and as tournament director for the 2007 Indigenous Soccer Cup.
Sharral Yepa (Jemez); Sharral is one of the founders of Southwest Youth Services, and has worked as a part-time staff member since the summer of 2004. A senior in nursing at the University of New Mexico, Sharral is an SYS program coordinator, directs the 2008 Youth Conservation Corps project at the Native American Community Academy (NACA), and coaches the NACA high school girls soccer team.
