2009 Annual Report
Rez Refuge Ministries, Inc. is a Not-for-Profit 501(c)3 charity recognized by the IRS and is 100% tax deductible. Rez Refuge Ministries, Inc has operated on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Fort Defiance, Arizona since 2007. Rez Refuge Ministries, Inc. strives to assist Native Americans living on the Navajo Indian Reservation in crisis through various programs. The following are the programs we use to accomplish our mission and purpose:
1. Community Education and Youth Center: Rez Refuge is currently building a center in a low income, high crime neighborhood in Fort Defiance, Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. Once completed, the center will house a computer lab, fitness/game room, kitchen, classroom, lodging space for mission and volunteer groups, and an apartment. The center will host cultural meetings, continuing education, tutoring, GED classes, wellness and fitness programs, and other positive programs to benefit the community. Rez Refuge especially hopes to focus on providing programs that will serve as alternatives to drugs,
alcohol, and gangs. The center will serve a community of at least 1000. In 2009, the center hosted community clean-ups, concerts, skate and BMX bike competitions, and community games for youth. Rez Refuge has made it a priority to use carpenters from the community (when possible) when construction required non-volunteer labor, thus keeping economic resources in the community. Rez Refuge also plans to use the center as a "skater" church to provide for the spiritual needs of those who wish to participate. The cost to renovate the center accounted for the greatest proportion of our expenses in 2009. Additionally, the majority of our grants and private donations were given specifically to the building fund. Rez Refuge had dozens of volunteer and mission groups work on the center, accounting for several thousand volunteer man hours.
2. Community Development and Crisis Assistance: This program serves Native Americans in crisis and at-risk Native American youth on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Rez Refuge offers tuition assistance, community development/improvement grants, Native American artist grants/assistance, firewood/gas/heating assistance, crisis resource management, and food and meal assistance. However, the assistance can vary on the circumstances and need. Rez Refuge also provides resource management to help place Navajo in existing programs with various other organizations. Rez Refuge serves a very large community, but typically can only assist 40-50 people per year in this area. Grants and assistance offered are usually small and people are selected based on the emergency circumstances they face. In some cases, such as addictions, selection is based on the individual's willingness and desire to pursue a sustained life changing course. For the tuition assistance program, Rez Refuge partners with Pathways to Success, a national organization dedicated to providing quality education to students from low income communities. Scholarship recipients are given the opportunity to attend boarding and private schools that participate in the Pathways program. Pathways to Success provides the primary scholarship, while Rez refuge covers what Pathways and the parents do not. This year, Rez Refuge sponsored one student. In 2009 Rez Refuge provided one community development grant to Summit Training Post for a summer camp program. Rez Refuge provided propane fill-up for an elderly Navajo grandma and provided wood to multiple families. Additionally, Rez Refuge provided food, gasoline, and other assistance to Navajo families in emergency situations. Other forms of assistance included funeral assistance and artist development assistance and summer camp tuition scholarships.
3. Wilderness and Youth Programs: Rez Refuge strives to provide alternatives to drugs,
alcohol, and gangs by building self-esteem, leadership, and teamwork skills to at risk Navajo youth through backpacking, camping, fishing, and hiking or other outdoor activities. Rez Refuge also sponsors fitness/wellness activities such a BMX bike and skate board competitions, outdoor concerts, movies, anti-drug and alcohol "block type" parties and games for youth. Rez Refuge depends heavily on working with other volunteer groups to
put on the events. The wilderness program serves 20-30 youth per year and the youth program, because of its work in communities typically serves about 300 or more youth. There is some overflow between this program and the community education and youth center program. Participants in the wilderness program are provided with food and transportation to the outings. The clothes and equipment are loaned to them to ensure safe and appropriate gear. In 2009 Rez Refuge sponsored two backpacking trips and numerous hiking trips. Typically, Rez Refuge also sponsors camping trips on the Navajo Reservation. In 2009 the building schedule did not allow for additional trips. The Wilderness Program currently operates during the warmer months of year, as winters are typically severe in the high desert of the Navajo Indian Reservation.
4. Non-denominational Bible Study: Rez Refuge holds a bible study 2-3 times per month for those who wish to participate. Rez Refuge does not require participation in the bible study to receive assistance from Rez Refuge. Rez Refuge strongly believes in compassion for the sake of compassion and doing so is following Christ's example of ministry. However, for some individuals in crisis, participation in a safe community of faith is important and Rez Refuge attempts to provide this. The bible study is open to all who wish to participate.
5. Cultural Leaning and Service: Rez Refuge works with schools, churches, and other organizations who are interested in coming to the Navajo Indian Reservation to volunteer. Rez Refuge facilitates the trip by working with local agencies to find real areas of need and then connecting the interested volunteer group with that need if their skill sets allow it. Rez Refuge does not charge for this service at this time. Rez Refuge does not pay for the services provided by the mission group either, rather we ensure that the volunteer groups have the finances, man power, and skill sets to successfully accomplish their project. Rez Refuge also typically requires that the Navajo family assisted gives back in some way, such as working along with the mission group in some way. Rez Refuge believes this enhances the experience for all groups involved. Rez Refuge does requires that all groups participating in this program take part in cultural experiences by having dancers, artists, or cultural educators come and speak with the group. The volunteer group is responsible for providing the honorarium, fee, or gratuity to the Native presenters. By doing so, we believe both groups benefit through cultural exchange, which improves relationships and the overall effectiveness of the trip. We believe it also shows respect to the Native people and the Navajo Nation.
6. Office and Support Expenses: This portion of the ministry is made up of expenses that directly support the various segments and operations of the ministry. Expenses in this category include banking fees, postage, tax fees, web site, news letters, office supplies and liability insurance.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Rez Refuge Ministries, Inc. Board of Directors is a volunteer position lasting two years, unless re-elected to the post. The Board is made up of 5-7 members, with the desire that a majority of the members are eventually Native American.
1. John Van Eyk MPT, Director: John has lived and worked on the Navajo Indian Reservation as a Physical Therapist and Lay Pastor for seven years. Founder of Rez Refuge Ministries, Inc.
2. Alex Froom, Assistant Director: Alex spent a year working on the Navajo Indian Reservation as a volunteer in 2005. During that time he fell in love with the Navajo and the Reservation. Alex has repeatedly returned to work with Navajo youth and is currently living in Boston Massachusetts where he is getting a double Masters in Divinity and Social Work. Alex hopes to return to the "Rez" when he finishes his post graduate work.
3. Dr. Randall Butler, Ph.D., Assistant Director: Randy did his Fellowship in Criminal Justice on the Navajo Indian Reservation. During this time, he too fell in love with the Reservation and its People. Randy teaches Criminal Justice as the University of Texas at Arlington and is also an auxiliary police officer in Texas. Randy has worked with the ministry since it was founded. Randy continues to work closely with the Navajo on various programs, especially the Office of Navajo Youth.
4. Elizabeth Kelly, SLP, Secretary: Elizabeth or "Liz" as she is known has been an energetic part of Rez Refuge for several years. For years, Liz lived near and then on the Navajo Indian Reservation where she worked with special needs Native children as a Speech and Language Pathologist. Liz also specializes in prison ministry. Liz is currently living near Fort Campbell, Kentucky where she recently took a new job with the US Government.
5. Mervin Yazzie: Mervin grew up on the "Rez". He knows the struggles and hardships that the Navajo, especially the youth can face. Mervin has been active for years working with Native Youth at his church and with other organizations, including Rez Refuge!. Mervin brings a lot of experience and cultural understanding to the Board. He has served less than one year with us, but we hope it is many more.
P.O. Box 2016
Fort Defiance, AZ 86504
928-729-2658
This page was last updated: May 26, 2010
