Student Freedom Initiative now includes Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), with the goal of assisting Native American students who are underserved

With the help of the agreement, Native American and Indigenous students will have access to resources and employment prospects.

The Tribal Colleges and Universities portfolio is proud to announce the historic agreement of understanding with Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, situated in Hayward, Wisconsin. (Photo: Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University)

Igniting creative financial resources curated for the Indigenous and Native American communities

In an article from The Good Man Project, the Tribal Colleges and Universities portfolio is proud to announce the historic agreement of understanding with Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, situated in Hayward, Wisconsin. This collaboration ignites creative financial resources curated for the Indigenous and Native American communities and provides Ojibwe University with a contemporary funding alternative. Additionally, this cooperation builds on upcoming program investments and continues a long-standing commitment to support minority-serving institutions (MSIs).

With the help of the agreement, Native American and Indigenous students will have access to resources and employment prospects. Through the Student Freedom Initiative, Ojibwe University students will also gain access to venture capital education, internship possibilities, tutoring, mentoring, and capacity building. The partnership’s objective is to serve students’ financial requirements beyond helping them pay for college by giving them access to new technology and instructing them on how to invest their money, expand their networks, and value interpersonal relationships. Every student deserves a high-quality education, and SFI is dedicated to creating a prosperous future through this relationship.

For the Indigenous community and SFI, this accord represents a major victory.

The success of our students has always been our top focus at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, according to President Russell Swagger. The cooperation with SFI is important for not only our students but also for all tribal schools and institutions. With the help of this creative fundraising strategy, we can improve our present initiatives and assist more Native American students in gaining sovereignty for themselves and future generations. The relationship between SFI and LCOOU gives students another chance to develop their abilities, assisting them through graduation and preparing our newest alumni for the workforce. The agreement, which is the first of its type for all Tribal Colleges and Universities, is crucial for LCOOU and SFI. Thank you to SFI’s Toney Begay and Dr. Mark A. Brown for the chance to create this partner.

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Educating the Indigenous and Native American communities

The agreement promotes the use of non-financial support methods including internships and certificates as well as focused capacity building methods like having access to reasonably priced broadband. The alliance wants to concentrate on educating the Indigenous and Native American communities about a future with cutting-edge technologies.

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University has joined the Student Freedom Initiative cohort, and board chair Robert F. Smith of that organization expressed her delight. It is a privilege to collaborate with tribal colleges and institutions to provide their students with the financial independence they need to succeed in their careers. I am eager to see what these students will be able to accomplish.

This cooperation demonstrates the substantial efforts the Student Freedom Initiative is making in the education of Indigenous and Native American communities to strengthen the bridge of hope for the future.

In a report from Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, the executive director of SFI, Mark A. Brown, stated that SFI is dedicated to diversity and inclusion across all minority demographics. We appreciate Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University joining forces with us in this brave new venture. Every kid deserves a high-quality education, and we are dedicated to establishing a prosperous future through this cooperation. This collaboration intends to close the gender gap and serve as a model for other Tribal Colleges and Universities.

According to Scott McGregor, Director of Cisco’s Social Justice Action Office, Cisco is pleased to provide Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University with cyber security. Our main aim is to power a safe and connected world, therefore we’re excited to help with this vital endeavor.

The inclusion of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University brings the total number of minority-serving institutions (MSIs) involved in the Student Freedom Initiative program to 57, with participants spread throughout 22 states and U.S. territories.

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