Dr. Corrine Sanchez, Tewa Women United’s Executive Director since 2010, is embarking on a well-deserved year of sabbatical starting July 1, 2024. During this period of time, the organization will be guided by a circle comprised of Nathana Bird as interim Executive Director, Bernadette Trujillo (Finance Director), Whitney Jones (Grants and Compliance Director), and Kevin Moeller.
This sabbatical has been made possible thanks to generous donations to our 30th anniversary capital campaign a few years ago, along with more recent support. TWU is committed to creating a healthy workplace for all employees, and this includes offering opportunities for rest and renewal. Given her long history of leading with the organization, it’s been very clear that the person to launch this sabbatical project would be Corrine. This decision was made with the full support of TWU’s Board of Directors.
It’s no exaggeration to say Corrine grew up with Tewa Women United. She remembers,
“I have been with TWU since I was just out of high school and college. I was a youth environmental justice organizer. For a while I worked at the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center as a forensic interviewer and ran their Children’s Advocacy Center. I started the Brave Voices Forensic Interviewing Program in Espanola, and then in 2004 I brought this program under the VOICES program at TWU. I was the VOICES Program Manager from 2006 until I became co-director with my mom.“
Corrine and Elder Kathy Sanchez co-directed the Tewa Women United from 2008 to 2010, and then Corrine stepped into the role of Executive Director in 2010.
There has been a great deal of internal preparation for this sabbatical and to envision leadership in the interim. Corrine shared,
“We have worked hard over this past year to ensure a strong support for the Leaders’ Circle. Nathana has a strong circle to support her with the year ahead. I have full confidence in the heart-full and compassionate leading of Nathana and Bernadette, along with the most recent addition of Whitney as Grants and Compliance Director. They have a number of others here to offer support.“
We wish Corrine all the best during this year of rest and renewal, and we are grateful for the guidance of the Leaders’ Circle.