Carol Derrick Colmenero

I am originally from Arizona. I was born at the Phoenix Indian Hospital. My mother told me that the day I was born, there were no rooms available, so my mother and I were put in a supply closet! I grew up in Tucson, Arizona. My grandparents, who were great mentors and leaders in Indian Country, were a great inspiration to me. I grew up in a single parent household and my mother sacrificed everything, provided me unconditional love, and believed in me when I doubted myself. My mom is the spark
in my fire; all the love and passion I have for my people came from my mother.

Attending the Brown School and completing my MSW were life changing for me. I am so grateful that I had an opportunity to receive an education. My career in Indian Country has grown as a result of my education and allowed me to more fully experience life. Meeting people from all over the world helped me to become open-minded to change and how to become an agent of change. I also was able to make friends with other Buder students, who, like me, are passionate, loving, and fierce. These friends remain very dear to my heart and like family to me. They are amazing leaders, and continue to inspire and challenge me today. We will all become elders together.

I remember that being away from home was difficult for me at first. I remember being homesick for two weeks before the Buder Center became my family. I spent my first Thanksgiving away from home with my Buder Family, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I would tell incoming Buder students to cope with homesickness by remembering where you came from—your grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, brothers, and sisters–and what impact you will have in your community when you return. I would also tell new students to make connections to others by just being yourself–let people see who you are and what you have to offer because what you have to offer and who you are is valuable.

Although I always thought that I wanted to be a nurse when I grew up, I took a different path after completing my MSW. I currently work for a tribal community in Arizona as a Behavioral Health Services Manager. I am responsible for managing behavioral health and mental health services for adults, children, and families, and I also manage 22 behavioral staff, including counselors, case managers, and mental health technicians. I love my job, and it has taught me to stay humble. I would like to pursue higher education and continue to help people heal their hearts, breaking the cycle of generational trauma, one heart at time. If I could, my dream would be to become Director of SAMSHA because I want to move mountains for change. Although I will retire from my job one day, I will never retire from healing our people and communities. My dream for my baby girl is that she will grow up in a community where American Indians’ rights matter and communities have healed full circle.