For Immediate Release 

Contact: 
Arian L. Tyler  
Director, External Communications & Marketing 
NeighborWorks America | [email protected] | [email protected]

NeighborWorks® America, Oweesta Corporation and National American Indian Housing Council to host Housing Our Relatives: Collaborative Solutions for Native Communities 

ANCHORAGE, AK (May 6, 2026) — Three organizations with national reach, NeighborWorks® America, Oweesta Corporation and National American Indian Housing Council, have joined together to host a summit to cover the spectrum of Native housing, digging into challenges and, most of all, solutions. The summit, to be held May 7-8 at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska, brings together Tribes and Tribal housing programs, Urban Indian housing programs, lenders, community development financial institutions, funders, federal and state government agencies, nonprofits and more to strategically leverage and align resources to support the self-determined, collective housing visions created by Native communities. 

“This work is so important,” said Marietta Rodriguez, president & CEO of NeighborWorks. “We will continue to work to center Native voices and build respectful partnerships as we tackle the housing crisis, harvesting wisdom on how to best strengthen communities from the people who live there.” 

“Housing is a spectrum,” explained Mel Willie, senior director of Native American Partnerships and Strategies at NeighborWorks. “This is about working across diverse housing needs and delivering solutions informed by those we serve.” 

Rudy Soto, executive director of NAIHC, said, “What we’re doing with this summit is connecting the full ecosystem of partners and practitioners so we can move from isolated successes to scalable solutions.” 

The summit will feature speakers, including Abigail Echohawk, CEO, Urban Indian Health Institute, along with learning labs, work sessions and more. 

“It’s critical that indigenous, community-embedded voices are leading these conversations and determining solutions,” said Oweesta’s Heather Rademacher Taylor, chief operating officer. 

Alaska is home to one of the country’s largest Indigenous populations; the state has 229 federally recognized tribes. 

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About NeighborWorks America  

For nearly 50 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp., a Congressionally chartered national nonprofit known as NeighborWorks® America, has strived to make every community safer and more prosperous. Our network of excellence includes nearly 250 nonprofits in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and on Native lands. NeighborWorks network organizations build homes and apartments, expanding the supply of affordable housing in every community; provide financial counseling and coaching that increases self-sufficiency; encourage resident leadership, and collaborate with local stakeholders in the areas of health, economic development, employment and education. 

For more information, visit neighborworks.org.  

About NAIHC 

The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC), established in 1974, is the only national nonprofit organization representing Tribal housing programs and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) across Indian Country. NAIHC provides training, technical assistance, advocacy, and resources to support safe, affordable, and culturally appropriate housing for Native people. 

For more information, visit naihc.net 

About Oweesta Corporation 

Oweesta Corporation provides opportunities for Native people to develop assets and create wealth by assisting in the establishment of strong, permanent institutions and programs, leading to economic independence, and strengthening sovereignty for all Native communities. As the longest standing Native CDFI intermediary, Oweesta offers financial products and development services exclusively to Native CDFIs and Native communities. These services include training, technical assistance, investments, research, and policy advocacy to help Native communities build an integrated range of asset-building tools. 

For more information, visit Oweesta.org.