Minneapolis, MN, December 11, 2012 — The Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI) announces the hiring of Jay Bad Heart Bull as President & CEO. Jay has been serving as the Vice President of Little Earth of United Tribes in Minneapolis, MN since 2009. Mr. Bad Heart Bull brings a wealth of experience and leadership to NACDI having worked at a number of organizations in the Twin Cities American Indian Community.

"It’s with great enthusiasm and dedication to the advancement of our community that I assume my role as President/CEO of the Native American Community Development Institute. I’m grateful to the Board of Directors, Hiring Committee, and my colleagues for affording me with this exciting opportunity to build upon the solid foundation NACDI has created. I look forward to joining a stellar team that will help transform our community into a model for innovation and development." – Jay Bad Heart Bull

Jay replaces founding President & CEO, Justin Huenemann. NACDI was formed in 2007 and has grown to play an important in the urban American Indian community. The NACDI Board of Directors has led the hiring process. The Board is excited to begin a new chapter of NACDI’s work in the community.

“To build on our successes of the last five years, it’s important that NACDI have a strong, dynamic leader. Jay Bad Heart Bull is just the person for the job. He is a young, positive member of our community who has the skills and experience to take NACDI to the next level.” – Robert Lilligren, Vice-President Minneapolis City Council and NACDI Board Chair

NACDI is an American Indian community development intermediary organization - the first of its kind in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. NACDI believes all American Indian people have a place, purpose, and a future strengthened by sustainable community development. NACDI’s key projects include the development of the American Indian Cultural Corridor, management of All My Relations Gallery, and catalyzing the implementation of the American Indian Community Blueprint.

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Over the next year NACDI will be planning and implementing a visitor gateway and public arts market for the American Indian Cultural Corridor at the Hiawatha LRT Franklin Light Rail Station area. Funded by a grant from Artplace, the Anpetu Was'te Cultural Arts Market project will reconnect two historic neighborhoods, Seward and Ventura Village, that have been cutoff from each other by a series of large underpasses, highways and railroads— locally referred to as “no mans land.” NACDI’s plan is to transform the area around the Franklin Light Rail Station area into a unique cultural and community experience utilizing public theater, plaza markets, living art installations, cultural food trucks, and public art. This catalytic project will create opportunities for local entrepreneurs, develop needed active community space, improve pedestrian safety, reverse decades of high-crime activity in this area, and strengthen Indigenous geographic identity.

Please join us for an upcoming workshop designed to build community, strengthen relationships and provide an opportunity for a community conversation about the upcoming Anpetu Was'te Cultural Arts Market project.

Anpetu Was'te Cultural Arts Market Community Workshop
(Dinner provided)
Tuesday, December 4th, 2012, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
NACDI/All My Relations Gallery
1414 East Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN, 55404

Please RSVP your attendance to dyang@nacdi.org or 612-235-4969

NACDI is participating in GiveMN's 2012 Give to the Max Day!

Give to the Max Day is an exciting way to support great work going on across Minnesota. NACDI is fundraising for two projects, the American Indian Cultural Corridor, and all My Relations Gallery. Please consider a contribution to this great work to build a stronger American Indian community in the Twin Cities.

Click Here to donate to NACDI on GiveMN