Welcoming Bree to Our Staff!
We started the new year welcoming Bree Herne to our staff. Bree serves as BNCLT’s Senior Operations and Project Manager. In her first month she has already added so much sanity and organization to our operation!
Bree did her undergraduate work at the University of Massachusetts and Cornell University. Bree’s Bachelor of Science is in American Studies, with her Honors Project being in Applications of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in land and governance. While working at NeighborWorks America, Bree earned her master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of Massachusetts Boston (2010). Her Capstone Project was on Urban Native American Housing. She has a graduate certificate from the University of New Hampshire’s Carlisle School of Public Policy in Community Development Finance (2013) and a graduate certificate from Harvard Business School in Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Indigenous Communities (2018). During her time with NeighborWorks America Organizational Assessment Division, she was a contributor for assessment and affiliation reports for the Northeast and Southern Regions, Green Champion of NeighborWorks America, and founding member of Akwe:kon (a working group focused on NeighborWorks America’s reach into Indian Country.) After leaving NeighborWorks, she was a lead organizer with Medicine Wheel Solidarity Network, a community group made up of Boston Native American community and Settler Allies, that was formed in response to calls for solidarity organizing. Notable actions have been for mutual aid, fundraising and political support for Red Warrior Camp and Camp of the Sacred Stones at Standing Rock, Mauna Kea ʻOhana, Wet’suwet’en Solidarity, and the Tyendinaga Mohawk. Through that work, she consulted on housing developments and community organizational efforts throughout Turtle Island.
Outside of work, Bree has served on the board of the North American Indian Center of Boston and Allston Brighton CDC. She was Chief Organizer for Boston’s Indigenous Women’s March and Indigenous March for Science. She currently has a side hustle of making jewelry that is reflective of Indigenous Stories and Legends and selling it at local markets and on the internet. She also spends her free time exploring odd roadside attractions, and reading far too much sci-fi.
Welcome, Bree!