LINCOLN, NE – Nebraska Tribes Addressing Violence Coalition (NETAV) is pleased to announce the selection of Kirby Williams as the organization’s Executive Director. Williams, a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, is an accomplished and visionary leader who has extensive knowledge as a violence prevention specialist addressing violence against Native American people and tribal communities. Williams has been instrumental in this newly formed coalition’s recognition from the Office on Violence Against Women as one of twenty tribal domestic violence/sexual assault coalitions across the nation.
Williams holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Missouri State University and is a Class 5 graduate fellow of the National Human Trafficking Leadership Academy (HTLA), in which she and 11 other Indigenous fellows addressed how culture can be used as a protective factor in the trafficking of all Indigenous youth. Since 2014, Williams has worked in her professional and personal life to raise awareness and promote prevention of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking. She has conducted numerous trainings nationwide on serving Native American survivors of these crimes.
“We are thrilled to have Kirby Williams take the lead in building a strong foundation for our organization. She has continuously demonstrated the commitment and passion needed to create positive changes in tribal communities here in Nebraska” said Alexis Zendejas, Board of Directors for NETAV. “Kirby is an amazing advocate for the safety of survivors of domestic and sexual violence and we are excited to continue working with her to further our mission.”
For her work in violence prevention, Williams was named an inaugural recipient of the Cherokee Phoenix’s Seven Feathers Award and the Nebraska recipient of the 2022 National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s (NSVRC) Visionary Voice Award.
In addition to her understanding of violence against Native Americans, she has a background of knowledge and training in psychological diagnostics, statistical analysis, the impact of trauma from a physical and psychological perspective, and healing from a culturally relevant perspective. She currently serves on the board of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs and is the tribal representative for the Nebraska Domestic Abuse Death Review Team.
Williams helped establish NETAV as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2022 and has been serving as the interim executive director for NETAV since March 2023. She is looking forward to continuing leading the organization. Williams said, “I am excited for NETAV as we enter this next chapter and I greatly appreciate the continued support and encouragement from NETAV’s board of directors, coalition members, and partner organizations.”
NETAV is a statewide tribal domestic violence/sexual assault coalition working to raise awareness and promote prevention of intimate partner violence against Native Americans and tribal communities in Nebraska through education, training, technical assistance, and support.
November 15, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Kirby Williams
Nebraska Tribes Addressing Violence Coalition
info@netav.org
