Building Community Through Culture (with Jennifer Drake-Croft, Kim Kee, and Charnielle Desiderio)

🎧 Building Community Through Culture: A Conversation with the Navajo Nation
In this special extended episode of Thrive Dispatches, we explore how culturally grounded partnerships can drive sustainable change in early childhood mental health. Host Matt is joined by Thrive Center’s Jen Drake-Croft, who introduces a powerful conversation with Kim Kee and Charnielle Desiderio—two inspiring leaders from the Navajo Nation who helped guide the transformative work of Project I-LAUNCH.

Together, they reflect on building trust with Indigenous communities, adapting evidence-based practices through cultural lenses (including Positive Diné Parenting), and how traditional practices like cradleboarding support infant wellness. You’ll also hear how these efforts continue today through community collaboration, storytelling, and systems change—long after the original grant ended.

🧠 Themes include:

• Indigenous-led approaches to mental health

• Culturally adapted parenting programs

• Cradleboard practices and early development

• Long-term sustainability through relationships and respect

Whether you're a parent, educator, or advocate for culturally responsive care, this episode offers deep insight into the power of partnership and cultural humility.