My name is Colin Cash and a person in long term recovery, what that means to me is that I haven’t used drugs since Dec 18th of 2015. It also means I didn’t get here alone, I had the help of many individuals, professional and nonprofessionals, who both look like me and those who don’t. These individuals formed a supportive inclusive community for me to thrive and grow and to be afforded the opportunity to stand here today.So today I want to talk about community. Community is what carried me out the darkness of substance use and mental health challenges. Community is what carried me when I couldn’t carry myself. We all belong to multiple communities whether it’s the recovery community, mental health community, political community or for people like me, the Native Community.Communities allow us to be authentic and connect!Now how do we build and help these diverse communities? With the modern age and the incorporation of technology, how do we decolonize these spaces and be intentional about building and supporting these communities without colonization and assimilation?One of the things we work hard at with pathfinder is building and supporting these communities most besieged by disparities and we are holding space that looks and feels like us.I want to tell a story about the first time I seen my ojibwe language in the check in process:But first I want to say I understand marginalization, historical trauma, racism, and exclusion just for being Native American. For me or my people to not be represented in any community outside our own is something I am continuously conscious of. Native clothing brands are scarce, and TV shows or movies that represent someone who looks like me are very few and far between. So, finding anything that represents me or anyone who looks like me is unexpected. I live with the constant thought that I am somehow an “outsider” and do not belong to the larger community.
When I first opened the app and saw my people’s language in a piece of technology, I was stunned. It reminded me of the centuries our people have endured colonization and assimilation. “Kill the indian to save the man”!
So seeing the language, MY language, being represented was like a generational hug. It means so much more than just the code in place to represent it. It symbolizes reconciliation, acceptance, holding space, forgiveness, and respect. It signifies that I belong, WE belong,in this technological community.This is why I am thrilled to be working at Pathfinder Solutions because this isn’t just talk. We all know the statistics—the devastating impact addiction and mental health challenges have had on my community and others like it.But instead of just focusing on the numbers, I’m here to talk about an answer. We at Pathfinder Solutions are offering something real, something that works, and I’m excited to share it with you today.We’ve developed tools that reflect the community we serve, starting with my community. We’ve partnered with clients like White Earth Nation, Red Lake, Leech Lake, Grand Portage, AIFC, and Jules Fairbanks. And the results are extraordinary.When our culturally tailored tools were introduced, there was a 168% increase in staff usage.
We also know that when staff connect with clients twice a week, attendance at groups increases by 26%, and negative check-ins drop by 25%. That’s real measurable impact.The tools we’ve built at Pathfinder are designed with cultural respect and relevance.
They include language features, connections to community resources, and habits that reflect traditions and customs of the communities we serve.They help people track their journey in a way that feels personal and empowering, like a community.We’re also launching The Recovery Collective, an initiative to ensure people from all communities can access these resources. Whether you’re Native, Karen, East African, Spanish-speaking, or part of a human trafficking recovery group, Pathfinder’s tools can be customized to meet your unique needs.This is about connection, empowerment, and giving people the tools to thrive and build their community.But we can’t do it aloneWe need Partnerships for Sustainable Change
- Building Meaningful Collaborations
- Engaging Native leaders, elders, and community organizers (Either you have a seat at the table or your on someones menu)
- Partnering with Indigenous-led organizations for authentic impact Red Lake, Leech Lake, White Earth, Jules Fairbanks).
- Co-Creation, Not Just Inclusion
- Moving from inclusion to empowerment—letting these communities lead.
- Ensuring representation is at decision-making tables.
V. Working Together for a More Equitable Future
- Actionable Steps for Organizations and Individuals
- Invest in Cultural tech initiatives.
- Advocate for policy changes that promote digital equity.
- Be intentional in amplifying diverse voices.
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- We must walk this journey together, honoring the past while shaping the future
So, yes, the need is huge, but the solution is here, and it’s working. I’m proud to be part of this journey with Pathfinder Solutions, and I’m excited to continue making a difference in partnership with all of you to keep building our communities!So how do we work together to keep building a larger, more vibrant communities that involves all of us, not just the privileged.I want to remind you guys that we stand on the shoulders of giants, whether its my ancestors who fought to keep my culture and language alive when it was illegal or the recovery champions who paved the way for me to stand here today, or the people who fought for legislation to help the quietest voices among us because like the late great senator wellstone said.“We all do better when we ALL do better”Now let’s work together and keep building our communities!Thank youI cant wait to work with you