Native Americans in Philanthropy and NCEL Learning Series: Policy Essentials for Strong State/Tribal Relations

As a co-owner of The Whitener Group, Jenn serves as COO of The Whitener Group and provides strategic facilitation and economic development support for Tribes and Tribal enterprises.

As the former Business Development Director for Island Enterprises (IEI), the economic development corporation for Squaxin Island Tribe, Jennifer was in charge of marketing and advertising for IEI’s eight diverse businesses. She was also responsible for researching, writing, and implementing business plans for many of the Tribally-owned corporations. Jennifer holds an MBA in Sustainable Business from Pinchot University.

Jenn’s expertise lies in economic development, strategic planning, nonprofit organizational development, entrepreneurial systems, marketing, and financial analysis.

When not in the office (which isn’t as often as it should be!) you will find Jenn spending time with her two daughters, beading on her loom (AKA learning the next hobby that has caught her fancy this month), or scouring thrift stores for lost treasures. You might also notice a countdown in her zoom background because she is forever waiting for November 1 when she is finally “allowed” to turn on her Christmas music.

Senator Jeff Irwin is serving his second term in the Michigan Senate, representing Michigan’s 15th Senate district which includes constituents in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Tecumseh, Saline, Milan, Manchester, and surrounding townships. He represented the City of Ann Arbor in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017 and served on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners from 1999 to 2010. Irwin has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan and lives in Washtenaw County. Senator Irwin is the Chair of the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee as well as the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Appropriations Subcommittee. His legislative actions range from polluter and drug manufacturer accountability to improving our public education system, as well as criminal justice reform for juvenile offenders, improving Tribal-state relations, public health, and more.

Dr. Chuck Striplen is of Mutsun descent and serves as Program Officer for Indigenous Stewardship at the Resources Legacy Fund. He also serves on the California Coastal Commission, appointed by the California Assembly Speaker in June 2023, and previously on the Planning Commission for the City of Rohnert Park. For the last decade Chuck worked in California State government, serving as the first Tribal Advisor and Liaison for the California Fish and Game Commission, and managing large-scale restoration projects and Tribal Relations for the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. He has conducted primary research in the areas of historical ecology, cultural landscapes, wetlands and watersheds, and fire history at the San Francisco Estuary Institute and UC Berkeley; served on the founding staff of California State University, Monterey Bay; served on the Board of the California Indian Basketweavers Association; and worked in and for Tribal governments throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.

Chuck is the founder of the Mutsun Tribal Land Trust and occupies one of the three Tribal seats on the Science Advisory Team for California’s Ocean Protection Council, dedicated to the study and protection of California’s coastal waters. He’s also engaged with a number of New Zealand and Australia-based Indigenous communities focused on pursuits related to climate adaptation and Indigenous sovereignty.

Chuck received his MS and PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, and his bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz.

Brittany Schulman is an enrolled citizen of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe and grew up in rural North Carolina. As a traditional storyteller, Brittany’s perspective is grounded in her experience growing up with her mother, siblings, and grandparents on their family farm and her Waccamaw Siouan community. Brittany is a lifelong learner and educator and integrates her Indigenous values into everyday life.  She is a results-driven educator and public speaker with a track record of maximizing efforts through relationships. As an advocate, Brittany has served in many leadership roles to ensure that Native Americans and Indigenous values are not only included but also at the forefront in every conversation. Recognized for providing practical, sustainable solutions to business challenges with exceptional communication skills and project management with a passion for Indigenous peoples, Brittany is currently the Senior Vice President of Programs, where she continues her work as an organizer and educator. Brittany is married to a wonderfully supportive husband, Joseph (Leech Lake Ojibwe) and they have two children.