Just days before Tribal housing leaders gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona, flash floods had swept through parts of the Southwest—overwhelming roads, damaging homes, and underscoring the urgency of preparing for a changing climate. The images of washed-out infrastructure and flooding were fresh in everyone’s minds as 17 Tribal groups from Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah convened for the Southwest Tribal Resilience Academy.
The Southwest Tribal Resilience Academy, hosted by Enterprise in collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU)’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, brought together 26 Tribal housing professionals to strengthen local capacity, share knowledge, and develop strategies that promote affordable, climate-resilient, and culturally relevant homes across the region.
A Collaborative Effort for Stronger, Safer Communities
The academy was co-organized by our Native American Housing Programs and Building Resilient Futures teams. Nearly two years in the making, the gathering created space for Tribal housing providers and community developers to engage directly with content experts and peers—identifying critical vulnerabilities, exploring solutions, touring tribal supportive housing, and developing strategies to improve building and portfolio resilience.
Over the next three months, academy participants will continue their learning and collaboration through virtual convening strategy workshops and peer learning sessions. Participants will examine how to build resilience into every layer of community design—from infrastructure and construction standards to emergency preparedness and cultural continuity.
Highlights and Insights
Each session offered new perspectives and practical tools for strengthening housing, honoring culture, and preparing Tribal communities for a changing climate.
- Keynote Address: Jacob Moore, vice president and special advisor for Tribal Relations at ASU, offered an inspiring reflection on the power of Indigenous knowledge, education, and leadership.
- Remarks from Enterprise: Enterprise CEO Shaun Donovan praised participants for their leadership and dedication to resilient Tribal communities and pledged Enterprise’s long-term commitment to this work.
- Design Expertise: Facilitators from MASS Design Group, a mission-driven architectural firm, led sessions exploring how climate-responsive design can strengthen housing and community resilience for generations to come.
- Interactive Workshops: Participants worked collaboratively to define what resilience means within their communities, identify shared goals, and build intertribal partnerships to address housing and climate challenges across the region.
- Site Visit: Academy participants toured Osborn Pointe, a supportive housing development for residents 55 and older, created by Native American Connections. The site features a range of climate-resilient elements designed to protect against wildfires, flooding, extreme heat, and wind.
Building Momentum for the Future
The Southwest Tribal Resilience Academy reflects Enterprise’s commitment to elevating Tribal leadership in housing and climate resilience through shared learning, partnership, and hands-on support.
For more information, contact: Shivali Gowda.
