The Phoenix Indian Center is offering a wide range of spring opportunities for Native youth, families, elders and community members. Upcoming programs include cultural art workshops, Indigenous cooking demonstrations, family activities, suicide prevention training, career development services and ongoing community support.
Pee-Posh Clay and Bead-Making Workshop Series
Community members of all ages are invited to join Pee-Posh and Kwatson cultural educator Yolanda Hart Stevens for a three-part workshop exploring Pee-Posh history, cultural teachings and traditional art forms.
Throughout the hands-on series, participants will learn foundational pottery and clay-sculpting techniques, including hand-building, shaping, refining and glazing. The workshops will also introduce participants to the properties of clay, the firing process and traditional Pee-Posh designs and artistic practices.
Participants will create their own clay beads and, during the final session, design and string a necklace that combines handmade clay beads with glass beads. Each class builds upon the lessons and projects from the previous session, so participants are encouraged to attend all three workshops for the full experience.
The first workshop will be held Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The second session will take place Saturday, March 28, from 1 to 5 p.m., followed by the final workshop on Saturday, April 11, from 1 to 5 p.m.
All three sessions will be held at the Phoenix Indian Center, located at 4041 N. Central Avenue, Building B, in Phoenix.
For more information, contact the Language and Culture Team at 602-264-6768 or languageculture@phxindcenter.org.
Cooking with Chef Pyet DeSpain
The Phoenix Indian Center is welcoming Chef Pyet DeSpain for a live cooking experience rooted in Indigenous traditions, storytelling and community.
Indigenous young elders are invited to learn how ancestral ingredients and cooking techniques can nourish both the body and spirit. During the demonstration, Chef Pyet will prepare Indigenous-inspired dishes while sharing the cultural significance of the ingredients, the stories carried through food and the ways Native culinary traditions continue to grow and thrive.
Participants can expect a live cooking demonstration, cultural teachings, Indigenous ingredients and food stories. Attendees will also receive a copy of Chef Pyet’s debut cookbook, Rooted in Fire. The cookbook celebrates Indigenous fusion cuisine by bringing together Native American and Mexican food traditions through recipes, stories and teachings that honor ancestral knowledge, land and generational cooking practices.
Chef Pyet is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and an award-winning traveling private chef. She was the first winner of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef, competed on Tournament of Champions and has served as a judge on Supermarket Stakeout. She is also the executive producer and host of the PBS series Spirit Plate, which visits Indigenous communities to highlight ancestral foodways, living traditions and the people working to preserve them.
The event will be held Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Phoenix Indian Center.
For more information, contact the Language and Culture Team at 602-264-6768 or languageculture@phxindcenter.org.
Spring Grab-and-Go Luncheon for Families
Parents and caregivers of children ages 5 and younger are invited to celebrate the spring season with a Grab-and-Go Luncheon at the Phoenix Indian Center.
Registered families will receive a seasonal basket and a quick lunch while supplies last. The gathering is intended to support families with young children while providing an opportunity to connect with the Phoenix Indian Center and learn more about available programs and resources.
Registration is required, and the event is open to families with children under the age of 5.
The luncheon will be held Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Phoenix Indian Center.
For more information, contact the Language and Culture Team at 602-264-6768 or languageculture@phxindcenter.org.
American Indian Suicide Prevention Convening
The Phoenix Indian Center and the Urban Indian Coalition of Arizona will host the annual American Indian Suicide Prevention Convening on April 23 and 24, 2026.
The convening brings together behavioral health professionals, service providers, school support staff, youth-serving organizations, cultural leaders and community members to address suicide prevention within urban Native communities.
Participants will have opportunities to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships and develop strategies that support the emotional, cultural and mental well-being of Native youth, adults and families. This year’s breakout sessions will focus on three tracks: Clinical, Cultural, and Youth and Families.
Attendees can expect culturally relevant and educational workshops designed to strengthen prevention efforts, support healing and uplift community-based solutions. The gathering also creates space for professionals and community members to learn from one another and build stronger networks of care.
The first day will be held Thursday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The second day will take place Friday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Both days will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix-Mesa, located at 1011 W. Holmes Avenue in Mesa.
For questions, contact Cante Zephier at 602-264-6768, extension 141, or czephier@phxindcenter.org.
Upcoming Phoenix Indian Center Events
Several additional programs and events are scheduled for April.
A QPR Suicide Prevention Training will be held April 11 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The Phoenix Indian Center will also host a Spring Career Fair from April 12 through April 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A Parenting in Two Worlds session will be held April 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Community members can visit the Phoenix Indian Center’s online events calendar for registration information and the latest program updates.
Indigenous Fashion Showcase Celebrates Resilience and Creativity
The Phoenix Indian Center recently hosted its fifth annual Indigenous Community Fashion Showcase on March 7, 2026, at Creighton University’s Doris S. Norton Ballroom.
This year’s theme, “After the Storm, In Full Bloom,” explored resilience, renewal and growth through Tribal floral designs and Indigenous relationships with the seasons. Featured designers presented eight new looks celebrating imagination, culture and Native creativity.
Featured designers included Lynn Traylor of Auntie Creations, AJ Nequatewa of Tuve’hongnöm, Rebekah Jarvey of Rebekah Jarvey Designs and Rose McFadden of Isabella Rose Designs.
The Phoenix Indian Center also recognized the community designers who shared their work and creativity on the runway. Adrienne Begaye received first place, Esther Nystrom earned second place and Tawny Koiyaquaptewa received third place.
The event was supported by community designers, models, hair and makeup artists, staff and volunteers. Co-emcees Allison Rodriguez and Jason Coochwytewa guided attendees through the evening, while DJ Audrey provided music and helped create the atmosphere for the celebration.
Indigenous fashion carries generations of storytelling, craftsmanship, cultural knowledge and resilience. The annual showcase provides a space to honor these traditions while uplifting new generations of Native artists and designers.
Young Elders Gather for Music and Community
Young Elder relatives recently gathered for a special luncheon filled with food, laughter, karaoke and community connection.
Participants sang songs by artists including Patsy Cline, Tracy Chapman, Brooks & Dunn and Vincent Craig. The gathering created a welcoming space for Indigenous elders to connect with one another, share memories and enjoy an afternoon of music.
The Phoenix Indian Center will host its next Young Elder Gathering on April 17.
For more information about Young Elder programming, contact the Language and Culture Team at 602-264-6768 or languageculture@phxindcenter.org.
Community Resources and Referrals
The Phoenix Indian Center’s Community Support Team is available to connect Native relatives and community members with important resources and services.
Support may include educational resources, assistance with Arizona Department of Economic Security applications, Missing and Murdered Indigenous People efforts, document interpretation, agency referrals and direct assistance for individuals who meet program eligibility requirements.
Community members can contact the team to ask questions, receive referrals or schedule an appointment.
For more information, call 602-264-6768 or email communitysupport@phxindcenter.org.
Support the Phoenix Indian Center’s Mission
Since 1947, the Phoenix Indian Center has served as a place for community connection, support and engagement.
The organization continues to provide programs, outreach, cultural activities and services for Indigenous children, youth, adults, elders and families living throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Community members and supporters are invited to contribute financially to help sustain programming, events and outreach efforts. Donations support the Phoenix Indian Center’s work to strengthen Native families and create meaningful opportunities for community members.
For more information about donation opportunities, contact the Phoenix Indian Center at 602-264-6768.
Navajo Nation Voter Registration
Navajo Nation citizens can register to vote in Navajo Nation elections at the Phoenix Indian Center.
Voter registration is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registrants must be at least 18 years old and should bring an official Certificate of Indian Blood and a valid state identification card or driver’s license.
Individuals registering should also know their Social Security number, mailing address and Navajo Nation Chapter affiliation.
Navajo Nation citizens may also register or update their voter information at an agency office or one of the Navajo Nation’s 110 Chapter Houses. Voters can contact their regional agency office to confirm their registration status.
For additional questions, contact the Phoenix Indian Center’s Civic Engagement Team at 602-264-6768 or the Window Rock Election Office at 1-800-775-8683 or navajoelections@navajo-nsn.gov.
Paid Work Experience and Career Coaching
The Phoenix Indian Center’s Workforce Development Team can help community members gain experience, develop workplace skills and prepare for long-term career opportunities.
Through the Work Experience Pathway, participants may receive assistance creating résumés targeted to specific job opportunities, strengthening interview skills and developing an individualized career plan.
Workforce specialists can also help participants identify their interests, strengths and professional goals. The program is designed for individuals who are looking for work, changing careers or exploring employment options but may not yet know which field is right for them.
For more information about work experience opportunities and employment services, call 602-264-6768 or email WorkforceSolutions@PhxIndCenter.org.
Commercial Driver’s License Training Assistance
Community members interested in obtaining a commercial driver’s license may be eligible for training assistance through the Phoenix Indian Center’s Workforce Development Program.
A CDL can open pathways to several occupations, including bus driver, dispatcher, terminal manager, truck driver and construction equipment operator. Workforce staff can help participants explore training requirements, career options and available assistance.
Applications for the Workforce Development Program are currently being accepted.
For more information, call 602-264-6768 or email WorkforceSolutions@PhxIndCenter.org.
Free Virtual Job-Readiness Workshops
The Phoenix Indian Center also offers free virtual job-readiness workshops throughout the month.
Workforce Development staff can assist participants with résumé development, cover-letter reviews, interview preparation and job-search strategies. The workshops are designed to help job seekers strengthen their confidence, improve their application materials and prepare to communicate their skills effectively to potential employers.
For more information or help registering, call 602-264-6768 or email WorkforceSolutions@PhxIndCenter.org.
