Her Story
About Teresa
Teresa Dameron serves as the sole proprietor of a company dedicated to tribal communities nationwide. She has been self-employed in this role since 2012 and has collaborated with more than 32 tribes over the past 14 years. Her expertise encompasses grant development, program development, and community planning, which she distinguishes from business-oriented strategic planning by its focus on serving community needs. Teresa also provides workforce training using a trauma-informed approach to prepare chronically unemployed individuals, primarily tribal members, for stable employment and community contribution. She developed her own curriculum infused with trauma awareness to promote healing and commitment to work. Her professional achievements include recognition through National Achievers for her community planning efforts. Throughout her career, Teresa has maintained a strong commitment to causes such as writing grants for domestic violence protection in tribal communities and partnering on projects to promote healing, drawing from personal experiences that foster compassion in these areas. Her path includes diverse experiences from education roles spanning preschool to post-secondary levels to substance use disorder counseling, all of which inform her current work serving Indian Country.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Teresa
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
As many experiences in as many diverse areas so that you're able to draw on all those experiences to build programs. Encourage them also to not limit their experience. I thought I was going to be in elementary education teacher, and I've done education from preschool to Post-secondary in my lifetime. And had no idea that's where I would be going. Had no idea I was going to be a grant writer until I was. There was a lot of guidance from mentors, but it was also this belief I have in honoring those individuals who have taken the time to teach me that I honor that by sharing that with others. And growing that knowledge. I grew up around a very influential grandma and mom that were strong Lapota women that showed me the value and the richness of learning about not just our own culture, but other cultures.
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