Meet Our Team

At Intertribal Friendship House (IFH), our team is dedicated to creating a welcoming space where Native culture, tradition, and community thrive. We work together to empower Native families, celebrate cultural resilience, and provide essential resources that strengthen our community.

Together, we are stronger.

Lorena Rivera, Executive Director

Enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and is of Mohawk and Mexican heritage.

I am an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, with Mohawk and Mexican heritage. I am also the proud mother of Anavey Smith, a freshman at the University of Oregon. Born and raised in Oakland, I grew up attending events and activities at IFH, which eventually led me to join the organization as the Elder & Youth Program Coordinator. I later served as the Board Chairperson before relocating to Grand Ronde, Oregon.

Since 2020, I have worked for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and for the past year, I have held the position of Youth Prevention Manager. I return to IFH with renewed passion to serve the Bay Area Native American community, bringing a proven track record of leadership and dedication to improving the lives of those I serve.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Holy Names University and a Master of Tribal Administration & Governance degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Kendra EverybodyTalksAbout, Executive Assistant

Amskapii Piikuni Blackfeet

Okii, I am a full-blooded enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation, born and raised in Browning, Montana. My parents, Gail Bearchild and Kenneth EverybodyTalksAbout, were deeply involved in our community and traditional ceremonies, shaping my commitment to service. Raised in a home centered on cultural beliefs, language, and leadership, I was influenced by my mother’s teachings from the Native community during the Relocation and AIM days and her 15 years as a teacher, as well as my father’s leadership as tribal chairman. The resilience and opportunity instilled by my grandmother, Doris Wells, who was part of the Relocation Act, allowed me to seek a life beyond the reservation. I began my career at NAHC as a program assistant before joining Intertribal Friendship House (IFH), where I transitioned from Administrative Assistant to Executive Assistant. I am passionate about serving the Native community and supporting IFH’s mission. Iikakiimaat.

Nevaeh Trevino, Cultural Program Coordinator

Duckwater Shoshone Tribe / Navajo Nation

I’m Nevaeh Treviño, born and raised in Oakland, California. I am Navajo and Mexican, an enrolled member of the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe. My family has been connected to the Intertribal Friendship House for generations, which makes working here especially meaningful. This space has always been part of my family’s story, and being able to contribute to it’s mission and legacy is deeply important to me.

I work as a Cultural Program Cultural Coordinator and am inspired everyday by our urban Native community. This work gives me a sense of purpose and allows me to show up for the community in ways that feel real and invaluable.

Kathy Garcia, Cultural Garden Coordinator

Comanche Nation

I am an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation, born and raised in Berkeley, California. I serve as the Cultural Garden Coordinator at Intertribal Friendship House, where I care for and help cultivate the Native community garden space.

Working with soil and seeds brings me a deep sense of peace and joy. There is something powerful and rewarding about growing medicine for our community, whether it’s vegetables that provide nourishment or flowers that offer beauty, balance, and healing. Through this work, I am grateful to support wellness, connection to the land, and the continuation of cultural practices that honor our responsibility to one another.

Suzanne Howard, Facilities Manager

Duckwater Shoshone Tribe / Navajo Nation