A Lasting Legacy: NAYA's New Preschool and Our Shared Journey

The recent grand opening of chaku kumtuks haws (“learning house”) marks a significant milestone for the community and a moment of pride for SVP Portland. Co-led with the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), this new affordable housing community brings together housing, education, workforce training, and on-site early learning. The 84-unit development, which includes an early child learning center called chaku kumtucks illahee (“learning place”) with three classrooms serving 38 children, reflects NAYA’s vision and persistence, supported by partners including Home Forward, Portland Community College (PCC), and Metro. While SVP was not a partner in creating this new center, our earlier work with NAYA helped strengthen the foundation that made such an ambitious project possible.

Years ago, SVP Portland partnered with NAYA to build organizational capacity and expand culturally specific early childhood education. Together, we worked on developing sustainable business models, growing leadership capacity, creating new home visiting and Early Head Start programs, and helping NAYA attract investments to fuel growth. Though our formal engagement eventually concluded, the impact of that work lives on, and the opening of chaku kumtuks haws stands as a powerful example of what long-term investment in organizational strength can enable.

For longtime Investor Partner Larry Fox, who co-led SVP’s second engagement with NAYA, this moment carries special meaning. He remembers when NAYA faced leadership transitions, financial strain, and difficult choices about whether to continue its housing program. What made the difference, he reflects, was the trust and respect that created space for frank and honest dialogue - a relationship that went hand in hand with expanding early childhood services and building the foundation for future growth.

“Learning about the opening of this new housing complex and preschool fills me with joy. It’s incredibly gratifying to know that the work we did years ago - helping to strengthen NAYA’s capacity, supporting their preschool expansion, and creating space for values-driven decisions - has blossomed into something that will benefit families for generations. That’s the real reward of being an Investor Partner: seeing how early investments in capacity can ripple forward into profound community change.”

— Larry Fox, SVP Investor Partner

The success of chaku kumtuks haws is NAYA’s achievement - a testament to their vision, leadership, and persistence. Yet it also illustrates the power of building strong foundations through capacity building and partnership. SVP Portland is honored to have played a role in NAYA’s journey years ago, and we extend our warmest congratulations to NAYA on this outstanding accomplishment.

“NAYA realized this great opportunity to include an early child learning center within an affordable housing property that focuses on higher education. This fits so nicely along with NAYA’s broader goals to establish an Indigenous culture corridor in the Cully neighborhood. We are grateful for the many community partners who stepped forward to support our efforts.” 

— Oscar Arana, CEO Native American Youth and Family Center

You can find out more about NAYA's new space and the grand opening event here.