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.
Gina Jackson
Co-Founder, Co-CEO
Gina Jackson, MSW is Western Shoshone and Oglala Lakota. She is a dreamer and a doer. She worked on groundbreaking Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Guidelines and Regulations then joined the Obama White House Community Solutions Team. She recently worked for Native Americans in Philanthropy bringing the Truth and Healing Movement to the philanthropic sector. She has 20 years experience encompassing state/tribal justice, collaboration, policy, and philanthropy. She is a connector, igniter, innovator, and equity builder to bring healing for our nation. You can reach Gina at gina@return2heart.org.
Sarah Eagle Heart
Co-Founder, Senior Philanthropic Advisor
Sarah is an Emmy-award winning social justice storyteller, non-profit leader, consultant, activist, author, media strategist, and producer focused on advocacy on behalf of Indigenous Peoples rooted worldview as an Oglala Lakota raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She is an internationally accomplished executive with a diverse background in tribal, corporate, and non-profit organizations. Ms. Eagle Heart is the former CEO of Native Americans in Philanthropy. She has raised over $20M for native people. You can reach Sarah at sarah@return2heart.org.
Red Dawn Foster
Co-Founder, Senior Consultant
Red Dawn is currently the South Dakota State Senator with over ten years of experience working with Tribal communities in economic development fields. Red Dawn is passionate about utilizing her education and experience to promote positive planning, design, and construction for the future growth and development of Tribal Nations. Red Dawn received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado and received her Master of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. You can reach Red Dawn at reddawn@return2heart.org.
Advisory Board
Coming soon
Bio coming soon
Coming soon
Bio coming soon
Coming soon
Bio coming soon
R2HF Team
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.
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.
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.
