The National Native Network is eager to provide resources, training, and technical assistance to state tobacco departments.  In the recent round of funding, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention required State tobacco departments to identify equity goals and partners.  Ten states across the US chose to develop plans to enhance their relationships and work with American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people in their state and identified the National Native Network as a training and technical assistance partner.

NNN will offer:

• Individual meetings with States to learn about their AI/AN goals and objectives.  The NNN will draft a technical assistance and training plan that includes individual sessions, links to resources, and additional ways to support the States in achieving successful AI/AN outcomes.
• Host monthly virtual office hours to engage multiple State programs to participate in a regular and brief collaborative and interactive learning session.
• Create connections between States and Tribes and AI/AN organizations within their area to foster local and regional collaborations.
• Develop a webpage to host information, links to resources developed and shared through this initiative.

The ten states partnering with the NNN on the technical assistance and training initiative are:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Idaho
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

NNN is thrilled to announce that Kris Rhodes will be leading this exciting new NNN initiative.  Kris has extensive experience and understanding in the two tobacco ways.  She has been very involved in the NNN over the years as a partner, an advisor, a webinar presenter, and created some of the resources shared on the NNN website.

Kris is a public health leader with decades of strategic and collaborative experience working to elevate the health of Indigenous people with a focus on community-centered policy, systems, research, and evaluation.  She has the proven capacity to successfully bring ideas into reality.  She is skilled in building successful partnerships with and across tribal, federal, and state governments, academic, philanthropic, and corporate sectors for innovative sustainable and culturally grounded initiatives.

Asemaake, LLC (Anishinaabe word for tobacco offering) is Kris’ consulting firm where she offers her skills, expertise, and networks on a variety of Indigenous public health issues.

Kris will be the main point of contact.

Contact info:

Kris Rhodes, MPH (Anishinaabe, Bad River & Fond du Lac Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa)
Founder & CEO, Asemaake, LLC
kris@asemaake.com | 651-210-5004