Jackie Edwards

As an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, I grew up in Mt. Shasta, California.  I did my undergraduate work at Portland State University, earning a B.S. in Social Science. My desire to further my education led me to the Brown School, where I received my MSW in 2012 with a concentration in Mental Health and Gerontology with American Indian Elders.

After I settled into the Brown School, I became familiar with the mission of the Buder Center. My conversations with Dr. Molly Tovar encouraged me to learn more about my Cherokee background and become part of the Buder Scholar community.

At the beginning, I was nervous about sharing my Cherokee heritage but learned through peers and Center staff that Native peoples differ in their characteristics, cultures, and life journeys. I especially became more aware about my grandmother’s culture and had more appreciation for her background.

As a graduate student, I completed practicum appointments at St. Louis OASIS, Pathways for Aging, and at the University of Queensland in Australia, where I worked on a needs assessment project evaluating indigenous elders’ access to mainstream aged-care facilities in Brisbane, Australia. My field placements allowed me to gain professional
experience and provide direct services to clients.

Currently, I reside in Mesa, Arizona, and work as the Caregiver Program Coordinator for the Family Caregiver Support Program at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. In this position, I coordinate activities and trainings, and facilitate support groups for the program. In addition, I provide case management for caregivers and link them with services located on and off tribal lands.

The MSW degree and the well-rounded education I received at the Brown School has allowed me to grow professionally. The work that I do now builds upon the education that I received at the Brown School. The Buder Center has also provided networking benefits since my graduation from the Brown School.

I am very grateful to Dr. Amy Hertel and Jessica Black for the guidance they provided during my time at the Brown School. I would also like to thank Dr. Tovar for encouraging me to look more introspectively into who I am, as it has helped shape who I have become.