Listening First: Creating Digital Health Resources for Indigenous Communities with NPAIHB

Health organizations can struggle to bridge the gap between intention and impact when creating resources for diverse communities. In this episode, host Spencer Brooks interviews Alicia Edwards, Jerico Cummings, and Jane Manthei from the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) about their approach to developing digital resources that respond directly to community needs. This conversation is perfect for nonprofit leaders and digital marketers looking to build trust, ensure cultural relevance, and make a meaningful difference through inclusive digital strategies.

About the guests

Alicia Edwards, MPH, CHES (she/her), is the Syndemics Communications Manager at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. She is dedicated to creating culturally relevant health materials for American Indians and Alaskan Natives, honoring her Okanogan Band of the Colville Tribe heritage and upbringing in Okanogan County, WA.

Jerico Cummings (they/them) is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and serves as the 2SLGBTQ+ Training & Community Engagement Specialist for the Paths (Re)Membered Project at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. Personally and professionally, they feel called to spaces where they can exist and support community at the points where indigeneity, sexual orientation, and gender identity all intersect. 

Jane Manthei is the Text Messaging Communications Specialist at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. She focuses on projects within adolescent health and suicide prevention. Her work explores different forms of storytelling across multiple media formats and promoting cultural protective factors for Native youth.

Resources

• Them: https://www.them.us/
• Erin in the Morning: https://www.erininthemorning.com/
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/index.html
• HIV.gov: https://www.hiv.gov/
• National Coalition of STD Directors: https://www.ncsddc.org/
• Illuminative: https://illuminative.org/
• NDN Collective: https://ndncollective.org/
• Native Health Resources: https://www.nativehealthresources.org/
• We R Native: www.wernative.org
• Paths Remembered: https://www.pathsremembered.org/
• Text NATIVE to 94449 to sign up for We R Native text messages
• Text 2SLGBTQ to 94449 for Two Spirit & Indigiqueer Health Info & Resources

Contact Alicia, Jane and Jerico

• www.npaihb.org 
• @2slgbtq (Paths (Re)Membered account): https://www.instagram.com/2slgbtq/
• @wernative (adolescent health insta): https://www.instagram.com/wernative/
• @npaihb (Board’s primary insta): https://www.instagram.com/npaihb/