Preparing Native American Youth for Success: Rotary, Knight Moves, and BrainWise

Posted On: February 17, 2025

Linc Kroeger, the founder of a company called Knight Moves, developed a 36-month hybrid technical training program designed to help high school Native American youth transition from the classroom to well-paying remote jobs in their communities. Because he agrees with Google and Microsoft leaders that teaching technical skills and social-emotional skills are equally important, he was looking to add this element to his program. The SEL Skills Google, Microsoft, and Other Top Companies Want Schools to Teach

Fortunately, Linc met Debra Flick, a technical consultant, Rotarian, and BrainWise Board Member, at a work webinar and she invited him to present his program virtually to Denver Mile High Rotary, where Dr. Pat is also a member. When Linc found out that BrainWise not only taught critical thinking skills but also had been recognized by Indian Health Services as benefiting Native Americans and Alaska Natives (BrainWise and Indigenous Populations article), he met with Dr. Pat and formed a partnership with BrainWise. Immediately, Linc and Dr. Pat began seeking funding for a combined project, with Linc approaching his contacts and Dr. Pat contacting Rotarians who had connections with tribal leaders.

This background sets the stage for how Rotary International, and the Rotary Club of Limavady (Ireland) became funding and project partners to prepare Native American youth for success in technology and service.

Creating a Connection

The Navajo Nation homeland is the largest of the 574 federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States exceeding the size of 10 U.S. states.  Linc had contacted Navajo education leaders at Arizona’s Window Rock High School about participating in a project funded by a grant from Wells Fargo.  Unfortunately, the project stalled when the grant was pulled because of corporate restructuring.

Working to revive the proposed project, Dr. Pat realized because reservations are sovereign nations that they were eligible for Rotary International Global Grant (GG) funds. These grants are designated for countries outside the U.S. and require that the U.S. sponsoring club, DMHR, co-sponsor the grant with an international club. The Rotary club of Limavady, Ireland was recruited as the grant’s DMHR’s co-sponsor.

Navajo Nation and Ireland.

This unlikely Irish connection arose from a little-known historical event in 1847 that Dr. Pat’s mother had learned as a child at school in Ireland. Several years following theTrail of Tears and suffering their own displacement, poverty and starvation, the Choctaw Nation donated $170 ($6500 today) to Ireland to help its people during the Potato Famine. The Irish never forgot this act of kindness and taught the story in its schools. The relationship between the Choctaw Nation and Ireland continues, commemorated with the installment of the Kindred Spirits sculpture in Ireland  (Kindred Spirits sculpture in Ireland. – YouTube).

During Covid, when the Irish learned that the Navajo and Hopi tribes were hit hard by deaths, especially among their elders and aid was nonexistent or slow, Ireland initiated GoFundMe campaigns and raised millions of dollars for Navajo/Hopi COVID relief. Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Bratton expressed his gratitude to the Irish: “We hope the Navajo and Hopi peoples develop lasting friendships, as we have.”  To further understand this connection watch this You Tube video from the Navajo Attorney General sending greetings to the Irish:  You Tube video from the Navajo Attorney General:

Read the full story of how BrainWise, Knight Moves and Rotary are working to help prepare Native American Youth for Success in the BrainWise February newsletter:  https://conta.cc/3Q9bpND