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2015 Diamond Alum: Barbara Gladue: Parent Involvement Advocate, Native American Youth and Family Center

Photos and story by James Hill

Gladue, a mother of three, obtained her GED and associate degree in philosophy from С��è��ý. While at the college, she was a student coordinator in the Multicultural Center and Native American Student Association at the Sylvania Campus, providing scholarship, job and tutoring information for other Native students. She went on to get her philosophy degree from Portland State University and now works at NAYA, where she is a parent involvement advocate who helps Native families. Her personal and professional work has impacted hundreds of Native people in the region, and she has accomplished all of this as a single mother.

“The opportunities I was given at С��è��ý changed me in every way; academically, spiritually, mentally, physically, and socially,” Gladue said. “I owe all my educational aspiration to the strong foundation I was able to build at С��è��ý.”

Gladue grew up on a small ranch in Montana’s Ulm Pishkun on the four mile creek (krick) near the buffalo jumps. An addiction to alcohol and drugs prompted her to move to the Northwest for a fresh start. Since completing treatment, Gladue has been sober for the past decade.

She not only earned a two-year degree at С��è��ý, but also a Women’s Leadership Program Certificate, two certificates of leadership and completed Sylvania’s Transitions Program. Her role with the Sylvania Women’s Resource and Multicultural centers included educating students on issues of social justice, sexual and domestic violence, women reproductive health and Native American culture and ceremonies.

“Having been named С��è��ý’s Diamond Alumni proves that dreams really can come true, mine did, and С��è��ý and its staff helped make that happen for me,” Gladue said.