Scott Moore, Jo White, Nick Tilsen,Georgine Looks Twice and Dallas Nelson.
Nick Tilsen, Oyate Omniciye | Oglala Lakota Plan Project Director / Executive Director, Thunder Valley CDC
Tilsen is a fourth generation organizer who has been active in many organizing efforts – from human rights to environmental justice and community economic development, Nick founded Lakota Action Network, a youth organization working to protect sacred sites while promoting sustainable alternatives in renewable energy. Nick served as the Executive Director for Lakota Action Network for four years.
In the fall of 2006 Nick founded the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, an organization dedicated to empowering Lakota youth & families through cultural and spiritual awareness. Thunder Valley built on a foundation of spirituality now is engaging sustainable community development. Thunder Valley is planning to build a green sustainable community on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation which has sites for homes, a place to incubate businesses, youth shelter, community fitness center, community training facility and other facilities needed to create opportunity for the Oglala Lakota Nation.
Nick has served his people for 10 years doing community work, organizing, volunteering, training, community building, and work collaboratively with many families, organizations, schools and businesses on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Scott Moore, AIA NCARB, Project Coordinator
Scott Moore is an Architect, thinker and grant writer currently working on the development of the sustainable communities OYATE OMNICIYE | Oglala Lakota Plan. This is very unique planning project underway on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota.
Mr. Moore is a Project Coordinator, coordinating efforts between the two organizations he works with: BNIM Architectural firm in Kansas City, KS and the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation.
Throughout his 15-year career, Scott has always worked towards the idea that the beauty of the built environment should reflect the best of the human spirit and the depths of the culture surrounding that spirit. He also enjoys serving rural and disadvantaged populations reflective of his own multi-cultural family roots and agricultural upbringing. Aside from planning and grant writing, Scott has a variety of experiences in project management and construction administration of facilities that combine programs involving technology, sustainable practice, education, service, gathering and social spaces in one coherent effort. His attention to detail and ability to manage complex projects, often involving multiple funding sources, makes him a valuable asset to any project team. Scott currently lives off of BIA Highway 27 in the Porcupine District of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where he joyfully spends many long hours seeking better opportunity and solutions to promote a more sustainable future for the young and those yet to come. A Rez dog, named Fox, also adopted him.
Jo White, Operations Coordinator
Karlene “Jo” White; Operations Coordinator. Handles all the financial aspects of the organization plus… Jo White has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration which she received from Oglala Lakota College. Jo has 20 years of non-profit experience in many areas. Board Secretary on the Lakota Funds Board of Directors from 1989 – 2006, also the Board Vice-president for the Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce 2008 to present. Has experience in Small Business Development, Coached potential small business owners in business planning/ development in research, cash flow projections and written plan for loans. In addition to her skills and accomplishments, Jo is certified to train in the Core Four small business planning and Building Native Communities Financial Literacy courses. Jo was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation and has 4 children – 5 grandchildren all who currently reside on the reservation. I love my home; it has holds precious memories of my grandparents and my parents. I truly value the mission of the Thunder Valley CDC. We (means you and me) can make things better for the future of our children, putting aside all differences and working towards a common goal a “Sustainable Future”
Georgine Looks Twice, B.S. Human Services, Public Relations
I originally hail from Manderson, S.D. and come from the Looks Twice, Jumping Eagle family (Parents), the Looks Twice, Spider family (Grandfather) and the Black Elk, Brings White family on my Grandmothers side. I have been living in Oglala, S.D. for the last six years. I have been a part of many good things throughout my life but it has always been my passion to be a part of positive change for our people, so I feel especially blessed to be asked to be a part of this team. Since I received my Bachelor’s in Human Services in 1991 from Oglala Lakota College with an A.A. in Social Work in Counseling I have been learning all I can the different ways of being a part of positive change for my family and our Oyate.
Dallas Nelson, B.S. Sociology, Community Liaison
Hello! My name is Dallas Nelson and I am the Community Liaison for Thunder Valley CDC. I joined this great team this summer and I am very excited to work with them. I hail from the great town of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. I graduated high school at Red Cloud Indian School and from college at Black Hills State University. As a Gates Millennium Scholar, I will plan to attend graduate school and doctorate school in the future. As a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, I am very proud to help my people through Thunder Valley CDC and the project Oyate Omniciye | Oglala Lakota Plan. I look forward to work with all the communities and people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
