Our Staff

Interim Executive Director

As the Interim Executive Director of Yee Ha’ólníi Doo DBA Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund, Mary brings 20 years of community work, advocacy, and leadership. She has served as the Hozho Haza Heritage Cultural Director at Ken's Tours. She's a member of the Coppermine Chapter and is the Community Land Use Planning Committee Secretary. She also serves on the Steer Committee for Arizona Foundation to allocate grant monies in Page, Arizona and surrounding areas. Mary co-founded a public charter school, Glen Canyon Outdoor Academy, and now serves on the Board of directors at GCOA. At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mary successfully led the Kinship Care Package Program in Arizona and Utah with 27 devoted volunteer teams across Navajo and Hopi Nations. She also launched life-saving emergency assistance to covid positive individuals with seven distribution teams through the Delta Relief Program, Clean Hands Project, and Elderly Heating Program.

Mary's matriarchal roots are from Dine Bikeyah (Navajo Nation) Inscription House, Arizona, and Coppermine, Arizona. Her clans are Tachii'nii Dine'e (Red Running Into the Water), born for Tabaaha Dine'e (Edge Water). Her Cheiis are Lok'aa' Dine'e (maternal grandfathers are of the Reed People Clan) and Tlizilani dabi nali (paternal grandfathers are of the Manygoats clan).

“I'm growing professionally as a student at ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation-Nonprofit Management Institute. I want to bring the most intentional and effective services to our rural communities.”

Deputy Director

Cassandra Begay is Tsi’naajinii (Black Streak Wood People clan) born for Naakai (Mexican People).  Her maternal grandfather is Tódich’ii’nii (Bitter Water clan) and her paternal grandfather is Naakai. She engages in transformational organizing with Native communities in Utah and across the country to protect ancestral lands and elevate Native voices and issues. She is the Founder of Defend the Sacred Consulting, which seeks to close the gap of social inequality by building relationships with each other and our environment. Cassandra is also Co-Founder and former Tribal Liaison for the Native Advocacy organization, PANDOS, a Native-led nonprofit that advocates for basic human rights and the protection of our shared home. She is a graduate of Utah State and currently pursuing her MBA at Western Governors University.

Tooh Haltsooi Community Center Director

Roberta Roberts is Kin Ya’àanii, born for To’dích’íi’nii, and is from Naschitti, N.M. She has served as Executive Director for the Southern Ute Indian Housing Authority, Interim Chief Executive Officer for Navajo Housing Authority, and Human Resource Director for Navajo Times Publishing Company, Inc. Roberta said the Tooh Haltsooi Community Center will strengthen the community by providing much needed resources to stimulate and support entrepreneurship and youth leadership, and address issues like food insecurity and language and culture loss to boost long-term resiliency. 

“I view this Center as an innovation hub where we can foster and enhance the natural creativity and business savvy that already exists within our people."

 Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgai Community Center Director

Samantha Holiday is Tł'ízí łání (many goats), born for Bit'ahnii (folded arms). She was born and raised in Tse'Bii'Nidzisgai (Monument Valley, Utah). Samantha enjoys outdoor recreation, tending to her sheep, reading books, and spending time playing board games with my two sons. She is an alumnus of Southern Utah University and Utah State University and has over 10 years of experience working with various non-profit organizations under healthcare, education, and agriculture. She is a co-founder of MVCC Ranch, a Navajo heritage resource for traditional agriculture and animal farming. Samantha is grateful for the opportunity to help strengthen my community by serving as the director of TBNCC. 

“I believe that with the community center serving as an innovation hub we can successfully build upon our mission to empower our Navajo people through traditional principles and self-reliance. Ahéhee.”