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Return to the Heart Foundation

Learn more about us.

Return to the Heart Foundation (R2HF) was founded in March of 2020 to empower visionary Indigenous Womxn-led initiatives invested in healing through narrative change, civic engagement, restorative development, and climate justice.

R2HF is a unique nonprofit foundation, in that all aspects of the organization are grounded in an Indigenous worldview. As such, we prioritize community, collaboration, flexibility, and integration.

We look ahead strategically not only for the next ten years, but also for the next Seven Generations.

We work to achieve our vision and impact through a multifaceted approach that addresses the varied, but interrelated issues resulting from colonization and generational trauma impacting Indigenous Womxn, Girls, and communities: civic disenfranchisement, climate injustice, harmful cultural narratives, and poverty/ economic injustice.

Team

The co-founders are visionary Native women experienced in community bridge building, called to bring healing and action to native communities through their ancestral wisdom. They believe impact and cultural shifts come from a diversity of perspective and skill. This team holds unique expertise in advocacy, civic engagement, community development, healing, narrative change, philanthropy, strategic planning and leadership development.

Advisory Board

Anita Fineday

Coming soon

Bio coming soon

Kelley Drummer

Coming soon

Bio coming soon

Tenzin Seldon

Coming soon

Bio coming soon

R2HF Team

Avril Cordova

Consultant, Taos Pueblo & Oglala Lakota

Avril Cordova is an Entrepreneur and the Owner/Operator of AC & Associates. Connecting - Educating and Empowering communities and Future Generations. Avril uses traditional lived experience to support, encourage and uplift wellness for herself, her grandchildren, community and those around Indian Country. Avril is the proud Honoree of the 2021 Community Spirit Award given by Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and featured in “Community Champions" through California Indian Rural Health Board. Avril is a NICWA Community Tribal Trainer and is currently facilitating ICWA training to the Los Angeles social worker’s core academy. Avril is a past grantee of the Traditional Helpers/Healers funding through the Return to Heart Foundation and has had the pleasure to help with R2H’s Annual Summer Solstice.

Dayla Cogley

Communications Specialist, Mandan - Three Affiliated Tribes

Dayla was born and raised in San Francisco, California, and currently resides in San Diego. Her family is from the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, with most of her family now residing in their home state. She is a Communications Specialist who has worked with a variety of nonprofits and government organizations, to help make a positive impact in the lives of others and move the world forward. She has worked in community outreach, marketing and public relations for the City of San Diego, San Diego Zoo, San Diego American Indian Health Center, San Diego Women’s Foundation, Native Americans in Higher Education & Mentorship and many more. Dayla has specific goals to help women and children through education and she spent one year living in Madrid, Spain, as a teaching assistant to primary school students. Dayla has worked with Return to the Heart Foundation since it’s early stages in 2021 and continues to help spread R2HF’s messaging across digital platforms.

Cassandra Palmier

Consultant, Oglala Lakota

Cassandra Palmier, CSW, is the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Wakanyeja na Tiwahe Commissioner. She was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She uses her Indigenous worldview to advance social justice and incorporates her lived experience to create meaningful, macro-level changes for all her relatives. While completing a graduate program through the University of Oklahoma’s Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work Cassandra interned with Return to the Heart Foundation and is now a Consultant.