Adrienne R. Smith
Adrienne R. Smith is Founder, President and CEO of the New Mexico Caregivers Coalition, a statewide organization that advocates for and advances the professional development and workforce issues of New Mexico’s direct caregivers.
Ms. Smith has owned and operated a consulting firm since 2001, Education and Workforce Consultants, LLC, for which she worked for international, national, and state clients in the areas of youth development, youth employment, workforce development, resource development and advocacy. Her work includes development of national strategies to serve in-school and out-of-school youth in Honduras, Brazil and Indonesia through U.S. Agency for International Development.
Prior to 2001, Ms. Smith served as founding director of a national academy for training youth workers for executive positions, assisting a Board and the National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) in development, recruitment, selection and curriculum design of that academy. She developed a first academy for training Youth Opportunity (YO!) directors, grantees of $4-$12 million community-wide programs funded by the US Department of Labor. Adrienne’s work also includes four years as Vice President of the national Jobs for America’s Graduates, building program capacity within affiliated states and initiating programs in eight new states over a four-year period.
Adrienne served as a lead planner for data gathered to equalize school finance funding in Texas in the landmark state Supreme Court education finance lawsuit. She served Governor Ray Mabus of Mississippi from 1989-91 as advisory on literacy, education and the state’s first Commission on Workforce Excellence.
She has served on the Board of the Latin American Youth Center; the New Mexico Forum on Youth in Community; the National Youth Employment Coalition; and as Committee Chair for the American Association of University Women.
Adrienne has a Bachelor’s in Biology and a Masters in Public Policy and International Administration. She seeks opportunities for work and play with like-minded organizations and people.
Dana Howarth
Dana Howarth has been a member of the New Mexico Caregivers Coalition (NMCC) team since early 2015. She is a native New Mexican who received her Bachelor’s degree in Family Studies from the University of New Mexico in 2013 and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Dana is young at heart. She enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and watching movies.
As the Deputy Director for NMCC, Dana is a busy bee, always working on multiple coalition projects, including developing, organizing, scheduling, and facilitating training programs. She has always enjoyed being involved with organizations that were created to help others and continues to be thankful to have the opportunity to make a difference in the state of New Mexico through her position with NMCC.
Bridget Cobb
Bridget Cobb joined the New Mexico Caregivers Coalition (NMCC) team in June 2020. Bridget uses her years of office experience to be an active and friendly receptionist. On many occasions, Bridget is the first contact that caregivers have with NMCC. She assists Dana Howarth, NMCC Program Director, with data entry and training preparation and organization. However, she is always ready to jump in and assistant with any task.
Bridget is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, but has lived in New Mexico for many years. She has earned caregiving experience by caring for her mother after moving her to New Mexico to live with her and her young son.
Laurence Nguyen
Since 2015, Laurence Nguyen is New Mexico Caregivers Coalition’s resident data entry expert. He uses his strong organizational skills and attention to detail to help NMCC keep track of training-related data. He holds an associate’s degree in Integrated Studies and a certificate in Computer Information Systems from Central New Mexico Community College.
Niki Sebastian
Niki Sebastian is a consulting Outreach Manager and Trainer for New Mexico Caregivers Coalition (NMCC). She holds a High Honors B.A. in psychology, and an M.A. in Language Pathology/Developmental Psychology, and has had a varied career ranging across law, research, education, government service, consulting, counseling, writing and health care. Now in her late seventies, she recently retired from full-time employment and has chosen to devote her energies to NMCC as a trainer and facilitator, continuing her career emphasis on helping others make decisions, learn, communicate effectively, and access the supports which enable them to progress toward their life goals. In her spare time, she maintains a blog as 1eclecticwriter@wordpress.com, designs jewelry, and maintains her garden and flock of hens at her home in rural northern New Mexico.
Valerie Tsosie
Valerie Tsosie is a consulting Outreach Manager for New Mexico Caregivers Coalition. She leads the So’ Tsoh Foundation, an organization that aims to create pathways to better health by offering innovative solutions for Diné caregivers to have access to behavioral and physical wellness, and quality care to the caregiver and their families. The So’ Tsoh Foundation offers comprehensive programs, specialty services, resources, and support to address general wellness concerns. So’ Tsoh utilizes an integrated Diné approach that takes into consideration the body, mind, and spirit connection.
As well as her role at the So’ Tsoh Foundation, Valerie is a volunteer outreach coordinator with Protect Native Elders—a diverse, indigenous-founded, intertribal, 100% volunteer charitable organization working to provide rapid relief support to indigenous communities struggling with COVID-19.