Transition At NACF

After over five years of dedicated service to NACF, Director of Programs Francene Blythe is returning to her home town of Lincoln, Nebraska, at the end of June, and will be taking on the role of Executive Director of Vision Maker Media. We are grateful for Francene’s leadership and wholeheartedly wish her the best in this new endeavor.

Dear friends and colleagues,

I am returning home to Lincoln, Nebraska come June 30, 2020. My elderly parents live there as do most of my immediate family and some of my adult children. Most importantly, my parents are reaching the age that they will need my help more. So, home is calling me back.

I have so proudly served for the advancement and benefit of Native artists, languages and narratives for these past five years. Working directly in communities has been one of the most rewarding components of my job at NACF. Working directly with artists is always so inspirational to me. The foundation has made great strides in educating, impacting and supporting the field and I am fortunate to have been a part of that journey. Many of us do not have a word for good-bye in our languages. And so, I do not say an actual good-bye. Instead, I say that I look forward to remaining in touch and hopefully working with some of you again in film and media as I move to my next position as Executive Director at Vision Maker Media in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Thank you everyone for your engagement, contributions, and encouragement to the work of NACF and my role here. Many well wishes to everyone!

 

Hózhó,

Francene J. Blythe

(Diné, Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota, Eastern Band Cherokee)

NACF Director of Programs

I will miss Francene and her contributions to NACF and leadership of Programs, and support her desire to move back to her homelands and be closer to her loved ones.

― Lulani Arquette, NACF President/CEO