Dine (Navajo Nation)
She/Her/Hers
Memarie Tsosie is a member of the Navajo Nation. Her clan is Salt Clan, born for the One-Who-Walks-Around Clan. She comes from a family of educators and mental health professionals. Memarie attended Northern Arizona University and graduated with dual bachelor’s degrees in psychology and political science. She is passionate about improving the lives of young children and their families, especially in services rooted in Indigenous practices.
Memarie is currently the Regional Director for the Navajo Nation Region at First Things First, an organization that partners with families and communities throughout Arizona to support the healthy development of young children. The Navajo Nation Region region covers nearly 16,000 square miles in the northeast corner of the state, stretching across Apache, Navajo and Coconino counties. In her current position, Memarie supports the Navajo Nation Regional Partnership Council in developing and implementing their multi-year strategic plan that meets the needs of families with children birth to five years old in the region. Her leadership, along with the Regional Council, tribe and community partners, has helped to increase access to quality early education, health and family support programs. She also worked for First Things First previously as the Community Outreach Coordinator and was responsible for executing targeted educational outreach and engagement strategies targeted toward civic-minded individuals, including tribal and community leaders.In her work with non-profit Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE), she served as a Project Manager for the Food Access team. She led her team in developing and implementing a culturally appropriate Healthy Stores Initiative Toolkit for small stores throughout Navajo Nation. The toolkit helped to increase the availability of fresh produce in areas designated as food deserts. Memarie also supported the implementation of the COPE Fruits and Vegetable Prescription program, an innovative initiative that partnered with healthcare providers and local retailers on the Navajo Nation to promote healthy eating for at-risk families, including prenatal mothers and young children.
Memarie is currently the Regional Director for the Navajo Nation Region at First Things First, an organization that partners with families and communities throughout Arizona to support the healthy development of young children. The Navajo Nation Region region covers nearly 16,000 square miles in the northeast corner of the state, stretching across Apache, Navajo and Coconino counties. In her current position, Memarie supports the Navajo Nation Regional Partnership Council in developing and implementing their multi-year strategic plan that meets the needs of families with children birth to five years old in the region. Her leadership, along with the Regional Council, tribe and community partners, has helped to increase access to quality early education, health and family support programs. She also worked for First Things First previously as the Community Outreach Coordinator and was responsible for executing targeted educational outreach and engagement strategies targeted toward civic-minded individuals, including tribal and community leaders.In her work with non-profit Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE), she served as a Project Manager for the Food Access team. She led her team in developing and implementing a culturally appropriate Healthy Stores Initiative Toolkit for small stores throughout Navajo Nation. The toolkit helped to increase the availability of fresh produce in areas designated as food deserts. Memarie also supported the implementation of the COPE Fruits and Vegetable Prescription program, an innovative initiative that partnered with healthcare providers and local retailers on the Navajo Nation to promote healthy eating for at-risk families, including prenatal mothers and young children.
Memarie also spent time in college as a Community Organizer to increase voter registration and participation for the Arizona Democratic Party and Organizing for America. After graduation she was immediately hired as the Tribal Field Coordinator for the Arizona Secretary of State candidate, who was the first Native American to win a statewide primary in the history of Arizona. Throughout her career, Memarie has always striven for equity and access for Indigenous people.