Ahtza Dawn Chavez (she/her/Asdzą́ą́) is a two-spirit member of the Diné Nation, born for Kewa Pueblo, and the Executive Director of Naeva, a 501c(3) and NM Native Vote, a 501c(4). Mrs. Chavez brings over 10 years of professional fiduciary and investment experience. She oversees organizations tasked with creating power and educating an Indigenous voting bloc in New Mexico by working with key organizations and governance within NM but has grown to organize regionally and nationally.

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Bernadette Hardy is from Albuquerque and is a member of the Navajo Nation and Jemez Pueblo, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of New Mexico. Being an urban Native herself, she has experienced and witnessed the disenfranchisement and inequities of urban Natives striving to achieve and live a good healthy life in Albuquerque and across the United States, leading her to dedicate her time to public service and working in mutual aid.

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Joseph Hernandez grew up in Pueblo, Colorado in the Bessemer Community and graduated from Shiprock High School in 2006. Joseph worked as support staff for the Youth Opportunity Program with the Navajo Nation Office of Youth Development, Shiprock Agency.  He was a field organizer for Anthony Allison’s campaign for the New Mexico House of Representatives as well as the former Committee President of Gadii’ahi-To’koi Chapter Community Land Use Planning Committee.

Aaron Lee is a Navajo, Cochiti Pueblo, and Oglala Lakota person from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is a recent graduate from Dartmouth College with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Native American Studies. Prior to joining Naeva and NM Native Vote, Aaron served as a K-8 th grade horticulturalist teacher for Bernalillo Public Schools, a forest conservationist for Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, and program site manager for Story Riders.

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