We’re proud to honor Azariah Ozias as The Next Door Inc.’s (TNDI) 2024 Community Partner of the Year! As the Title VI Native American Home School Liaison for the Columbia Gorge Education School District, Azariah works with 17 schools across Hood River and Wasco Counties. In her role, she works tirelessly to connect Native youth and families to educational resources and culturally grounded programs, partnering closely with teams like TNDI's Native Supports team.
"It is clear to see how passionate Azariah is about this work,” says Kayla Berish, a Native American Youth Outreach Worker at TNDI. “She listens deeply to the community and makes a true difference. It is truly an honor to collaborate with her on all kinds of projects.”
Thanks to Azariah's leadership, participation in Eagle Quest, a cultural after-school club, has grown significantly, while a new program for elementary students called Eagle’s Nest is set to launch in the 2025–26 school year. Azariah also helped Dufur students host a school-wide powwow to educate their non-Native peers on their Native culture, and plays a major role in organizing the Eagle Quest Culture Camp each summer
alongside the Johnson O'Malley Indian Parent Committee and TNDI's Native Supports team.
In addition to her work with younger youth, Azariah leads the Columbia River Gorge Native American Youth Advisory Council (NAYAC), empowering high school students to grow as leaders. This past spring, she partnered with two of TNDI's Native American Youth Outreach Workers to organize a powerful trip to Washington, D.C., where 11 NAYAC youth participated in a national summit, visited historic sites, and presented policy ideas to legislators at Capitol Hill.
Azariah’s deep commitment to Native youth, families, and cultural preservation makes her an outstanding community partner and we are so grateful for her support of The Next Door and our mission!