Change Labs

? The best moments of Create & Elevate 2024! We had an incredible two days at the Change Labs E-Ship Hub in Tuba City, filled with inspiring workshops, impactful networking, and unforgettable memories. A huge thank you to all the participants of the Business Incubator and the talented and dedicated Native graphic designers who made this event so special! ???? ????Swipe left to relive some of these unforgettable moments. We can’t wait to show you some of the creative work that came out of this collaboration! ??Photo credit: Racquel Black Holly Patterson Apryl Joe #ChangeLabs #TubaCity #NativeLeadership #ChangeMakers

Sending our thanks and gratitude for our Invest Native 2024 grant. We'll be using these funds to support the deployment of loan dollars and loan-readiness training to Navajo small business owners and nonprofit leaders. ????

?? This year's All Roads Lead to Chaco Canyon was a memorable gathering of community voices and leadership! We were thrilled to welcome a record number of Chapter leaders who brought invaluable insights and energy to each session. Together, we explored powerful topics that impact our communities, including the power of data sovereignty, business site lease reform, fundraising for community projects, and revitalizing international trade amongst Native nations. We'll be posting the video recordings of key sessions over the next couple of weeks. Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared ideas, and strengthened the path forward. ???? Photography and video by Wade Adakai #ChangeLabs #NativeLeaders #NativeEntrepreneurs #ChacoCanyon

Drum roll, please! ??We continue celebrating Native American Heritage Month with big news: Change Labs was featured in USA Today’s Native American special edition with an article titled “Indigenous Entrepreneurs Empowered.” ?? This piece shines a light on the challenges Native entrepreneurs face, like access to capital, infrastructure gaps, and limited business know-how. But it also spotlights the positive impact of Change Labs! From our E-Ship Hub coworking space to the Kinship Lending Program (offering loans up to $50,000) and our dedicated business incubator, we’re proud to support the growth of Native businesses. ? The article also shares the inspiring journeys of Change Makers Marco Arviso and Thomas Deel, who’ve successfully boosted their businesses through our programs! ? Read the full article in the digital edition here (see pages 35-37): https://lnkd.in/gMzX5fBD ??? Prefer a physical copy? You can purchase it here: https://lnkd.in/e3zm8vGv ?? Photo credit: Wade Adakai #ChangeLabs #NativeEntrepreneurs #USAToday #NativeOwned #NativeLeadership

As we kick off Native American Heritage Month, we’re thrilled to highlight the incredible milestones achieved by our Native entrepreneurs this year! From launching new ventures to expanding existing ones, these stories showcase the resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that inspire us all. ???? ??Head to our website to read their full stories and see how they’re making a difference in their communities. ?? https://lnkd.in/gjnStjBy - Delphina Begay - Albert Haskie - Sasha Begay - Marco Arviso - Duane Humeyestewa - Roddell Denetso ??Photo credit: Raymond Chee Alexander Simpson Leah Rose Wade Adakai #ChangeLabs #NativeOwnedBusiness #NativeLeadership #NativeEntrepreneurs #SuccessStories

?Huge News! We are beyond proud to share that Sasha Begay's beautiful Indigenous-designed mugs are now being featured and sold at the Grand Canyon National Park (National Park Service)! To our knowledge, Sasha is the first Native business to do business with the Grand Canyon Conservancy. Her journey is just the beginning of a broader movement. With each mug she sells, she’s not only preserving our Diné heritage but also paving the way for Native entrepreneurs to follow in her footsteps. Her success at the Grand Canyon is a victory for all Native businesses striving to make their mark. Read her full story and learn more about this exciting milestone on our website! ?? https://lnkd.in/gaDGFbUg Are you interested in doing business with our National Parks, like Sasha? Stay tuned to our YouTube channel next Monday for a video on how it’s done. ??Photo credit: Raymond Chee #NativeWomenLead #NativeEntrepreneurs #ChangeLabs #GrandCanyon

Break out the bubbly, folks. Change Labs was just featured in The New York Times! ???? ? The article highlights the discrepancies in economic development within reservation and off-reservation communities and how federal and tribal policies stifle entrepreneurship despite the clearly established role local, small businesses and entrepreneurs play in building generational wealth. The very challenge that inspired the founding of Change Labs ten years ago.???? (Shout out to the OG Change Labbers who attended our first event in Shiprock in March 2014!) The article also showcases the story of three Change Makers: Kelsey Lee, Algernon Sakiestewa Jr., and Laris Manuelito. All of whom have leveraged resources like our incubator and Kinship Lending to strengthen their ideas. ???? ? Click the link to read the full article and see how we’re working to empower Native Change Makers! ?? https://lnkd.in/dKJtCCXD #ChangeLabs #NYTimes #NYTFeature #NativeEntrepreneurs #NavajoNation Heather Fleming

?? #TB to this amazing article by ASU News ?? In June 2023, we celebrated the grand opening of our E-Ship Hub! Read about how ASU alum Jessica Stago and Heather Fleming co-founded Change Labs and have helped over 40 Native entrepreneurs grow their businesses. From navigating land deals to overcoming pandemic challenges, their journey led to the establishment of Change Labs' permanent home in Tuba City. Check out the full story here ?? https://bit.ly/47NM1F3 #ChangeLabs #NativeEntrepreneurs #TubaCity #NativeWomenLead #NativeBusiness

??Spoiler Alert: Today is the Netflix premiere of Rez Ball and there's a Change Maker debuting his designs in the movie! ??Check out the incredible designs by Navajo designer and entrepreneur Roddell Denetso, owner of Black Streak Apparel. Denetso is making history as one of the first Native American-owned companies to create an entire set of sports apparel for a movie! Read the full story here ?? https://lnkd.in/grFgWd-g ??Remember to watch Rez Ball this weekend, then come back to this post and let us know what you think of the uniform designs in the comments below! We can’t wait to hear your thoughts.?? Photo credit: Netflix & Wade Adakai #RezBall #ChangeMakers #NavajoDesign #NativeEntrepreneur #RezBallPremiere

On the Horizon is here! ?? Stay connected and inspired with the latest updates from Change Labs! Our monthly digest brings you upcoming events, hands-on workshops, and insightful stories of Native entrepreneurs who are making waves in their communities. Don’t miss out on exclusive recaps of past workshops, designed to help you build a thriving Native business. ??Ready to stay in the loop? Head to our website and sign up for all the updates! https://lnkd.in/gzxqNqn4 #ChangeLabs #OnTheHorizon #ChangeMakers #NativeEntrepreneurs #NativeLeaders