Meet The Team

Mackenzie (she/her) is a Junior at Colorado College majoring in Geology and Minoring in Chemistry. She has been volunteering on and off the Pine Ridge Reservation for over seven years. She decided to start a non-profit in 2019 while a senior in high school after learning that many people on the Reservation drop out of school due to a lack of affordable menstruation products. She began Project: Distributing Dignity to level the playing field, so everyone has the same opportunity that she had to finish high-school and seek higher education.

Kara (she/her) is a Michigan State University graduate. She has been a project manager for various non-profits. She has volunteered with the reservation for over eight years. Through Christmas present drives, clothing, water, and medical food drives, as well as prom attire drive (her favorite), she is passionate to help her brothers and sisters on the Reservation. She is also an advocate for the MMIW movement (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women). She is the mother of two amazing human beings, and the wife of a wonderful guy who endlessly supports her social activism activites.

Max (he/him) is a Junior at the Univerity of Norhtern Colorado. He is majoring in Psychology and minoring in both Business and Gender Studies. Max is transgender and grew up under tight finances. He understands what it can mean to not feel in control of your body or have the means necessary to deal with menstration. He's missed plenty of school due to menstrual problems but was lucky enough to have resources around to help him. Max understands just how important this movement is and when Mackenzie came to him in high school with the idea, he didn't hesitate to join the cause. Max is excited to see how much growth and good Project: Distributing Dignity can do for others!

Jessica (she/they) is a Junior at the University of Northern Colorado, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Gender Studies. She is deeply honored to have been invited to be a board member for Project: Distributing Dignity in Fall 2021. After learning more about the various inequalities that many individuals face on the reservation regarding menstration, they were inspired to help students have equal access to education regardless of menstral status. Jessica is excited for Project: Distributing Dignity to grow and help others!

Julia (she/her) has been a part of PDD since 2019 and has enjoyed her role as secretary. She is currently attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, and is part of the class of 2025. She is majoring in Global Security and Intelligence Studies and is minoring in Psychology. Julia is passionate about helping other students because of missing school due to menstrual migraines, so she knows how it feels to fall behind pruely because of natural bodily functions. She fortunately had a supportive family and access to health care, so she has sense found a better way to deal with her struggles but wants to pay it forward and provide as much help and compassion as possible through the efforts of Project: Distributing Dignity.

Santana Young Man Afraid of His Horses is an Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge Reservation. She is a graduate student at Oglala Lakota College and will be finishing her degree in Spring 2023. Along with being a student, she is a mother to her two-year old son. She has an amazing partner, four beautiful siblings, and supportive parents. Santana is working on her degree to gain knowledge on community development. She hopes to bring positive change to her community. She also hopes to help the four-legged community. Her goals for the future include starting an animal shelter. Currently, she is involved with Project: Distributing Dignity; hoping to help young students as much as possible. She full heartedly believes in the program and is excited to see it grow!

Emily is a sophomore at Auburn University studying Philanthropy and Nonprofit studies. Emily is from Chattanooga, TN. She belongs to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. She is currently co-directing a ministry focusing on the Hispanic community in Auburn. Now and in the future, she hopes to make an impact to fight against Reservation poverty!