UAII visits the Community

May 6, 2016

Thomas R. Throssell

Gila River Indian News

Members of the United American Indian Involvement, Inc. (UAII) stopped by the Gila River Indian Community, April 14, to learn about the Community, its people, and meet with GRIC leadership.

The group, made up of individuals representing several different tribes, sat down with Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis who talked with the group about important issues facing the Community. Cheryl Jackson and Omerlene Thompson, both Community members living in the L.A. area, were part of the group that visited GRIC. Other members of the group included Omar Montana (Tohono O’odham), Joseph Quintana (Kewa Pueblo) and UAII CEO Jerimy Billy (Navajo).

During the Community tour, UAII members talked with tribal leadership about the possibility of extending certain tribal services to GRIC members living in the L.A. area.

UAII, established in 1974, is a non-profit organization that offers health and human services to Natives living in the Los Angeles County area. The organization has since grown into a multidisciplinary service center and currently provides services to Natives within these four departments: Health services, Substance Abuse/Social services, Mental Health/Prevention & Aftercare services/Violence Prevention, and Youth services.