ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
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Paige Jenkins, MSW, Navy Veteran
Founder, Director Paige formerly served as:
Paige has a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and is a graduate of Regenerative Design Institute’s 12 month permaculture program. She is a compassionate visionary, dedicated to trauma recovery and sustainable living through ancient practices and knowledge, as well as science and creative thinking. She is committed to addressing the intensifying and proliferating concerns of our generation and future generations, one woman veteran at a time. |
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Carol McClelland Fields, PhD, Board Certified Coach
Director Carol brings several strengths to Red Feather Ranch. She has 30 years experience supporting clients who are navigating significant transitions. Her book and model, The Seasons of Change: Using Nature's Wisdom to Grow Through Life's Inevitable Ups and Downs, bring hope, direction, and inspiration to those finding their way through dark times. Her extensive work in the area of career clarity and vision development gives her a nuanced understanding of what it takes to turn an idea with potential into a flourishing venture. As the host of the Change Catalysts at the Growing Edge podcast, Carol tracks and highlights emerging trends as the pace, scope, intensity, and the number of changes we face grow exponentially. She supports Change Catalysts are on the front lines of our time as they help clients find meaning in the chaos and create more of what they want in their lives. Carol is also an accomplished speaker, award-winning author, and trainer. |
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Melissa Bird, PhD, MSW
Director As a life coach, author, and fiery public speaker, Dr. Melissa Bird has given hundreds of speeches and workshops across the world, including speaking to audiences at universities, national conferences, and churches. Her combination of education, real life experience, and practical advice makes her a powerful force of change in the lives of the people she speaks to. Past audience members have described her as “fierce,” “revelatory,” “life-changing", “enthusiastic,” and “inspirational.” Dr. Bird creates the genesis for a new brand of leadership and graceful revolution. Her words. awaken revolutionaries, trailblazers and powerful innovators in the quest for justice. Melissa is proud to sit on the advisory council for the Native American Long House – Eena Haws at Oregon State University. |
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Linda M. Woods, MSW, USAF Veteran
Honorary Board Member A Tribal Member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa Chippewa Indians, Linda Woods came from an Ottawa Indian village in Leelanau County, Michigan. After serving in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era, she became a substance abuse counselor in the 1970’s then later earned her Master of Social Work from San Jose State University. Though she retired in 2008, with over 30 years of experience in social work, she continues to serve Native American communities who suffer with addiction by promoting recovery and healthy lifestyles. She also partners with nDigiDreams to create digital stories to promote education and healing through sharing of their personal stories in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Ms Woods is the first woman veteran to create and carry an Eagle Staff, an esteemed symbol in Native American culture generally carried by male veterans. She carries this healing Eagle Staff on behalf of all women, especially her fellow women veterans who have served our nation. She is an Elder of her tribe, a mother, a Nokomis ~ grandmother and recently a great-grandmother furthering her interest in promoting Mino Bimaadziwin ~ Good Life on behalf of the future Seven Generations. |
STAFF
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Gillian Chandler
MSW Intern Gillian Chandler currently works as the Programs and Services Manager at Protect Our Defenders. Gillian graduated with a B.A. from The George Washington University in 2019 with a major in International Affairs and a minor in Religion, and is currently working towards her Masters in Social Work at Arizona State University. As an undergraduate, Gillian worked as a Research Associate at Business Executives for National Security, where she helped to integrate modern business practices into the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Gillian also worked as an intern at the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office and on Capitol Hill. At GW, Gillian volunteered as a peer-educator, focusing on prevention and response efforts to sexual assault on campus. |