2008 Annual Report Executive Summary

Oglala Sioux-Pine Ridge Empowerment Zone

The beginning of the Year 2008 has been slow for the Oglala Oyate Woitancan Empowerment Zone. Financial Audits have been a top priority for the OOW EZ to be in compliance with USDA. In early April, the OOW EZ was joined by a new Executive Director, George Wilson. Mr. Wilson started his first week with a plan in mind that encompassed the Board of Directors to see a bigger picture of what the Empowerment Zone could accomplish as its last funding year approaches. Mr. Wilson and staff have been running full-force to help the OOW EZ gain momentum to accomplish the many visions and goals that the Board of Directors have, as well as the District Task Force Members. He brought back the idea of “empowering” the people to become sustainable entities which in turn would benefit the overall communities of the OOW Empowerment Zone. With the “empowering” of the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation and those in the Empowerment Zone area, it brought a sense of hope of what could be done to help in the communities to help alleviate poverty, even when strained in a tougher economic time.

Most Significant Accomplishment
With the revision of budgets, and a placement of a Sustainability Model for the organization, we hired a position in each of the 9 Districts titled “Community Development Specialist.” This new position will be responsible for creating a sustainable entity within their District that would continue to support the original stance of the OOW Empowerment Zone after the funding year has ended, plus leveraging additional funding from other outside sources, and plus many other duties as assigned.

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