ResJobs: Reservation Workforce Empowerment Program

The lack of economic opportunities, cultural dislocation due to out-migration and inadequate digital infrastructure and training on reservations perpetuate unemployment challenges for Native Americans (NA) in the United States who face significant hardships when it comes to employment, with an unemployment rate of 8.1% which is higher than the national average. 

There are a number of factors that contribute to the challenges faced by NA when it comes to employment. One factor is the limited access to education and training opportunities. Many NA live in remote areas with limited access to education and resources, which can make it difficult to acquire the skills and qualifications needed to compete in the job market.

Unemployment challenges also lead to negative health outcomes, such as stress, depression, financial strain, substance abuse, and chronic disease. These negative health outcomes can be exacerbated by historical trauma and ongoing systemic issues related to colonialism, racism, and discrimination. Employment opportunities can impact the social determinants of health, such as income and education, which are linked to overall health outcomes for NA.

Economic migration from the reservations has had adverse effects on Native American communities, as it not only has economic impacts but also poses a threat to cultural well-being, making it more challenging for individuals to maintain ties to their culture and fellow citizens across generations, weakening the ability of Native nations to operate as sovereign political entities. For instance, the voluntary urban relocation program by the BIA resulted in American Indians moving from their rural tribes to metropolitan areas but struggling to adjust to life in cities, often facing unemployment, low-end jobs, discrimination, homesickness, and the loss of traditional cultural supports, leading to increased homelessness and cultural disconnection. A longitudinal study, showed such relocation had lasting intergenerational effects and directly related to substance-use problems.

The inadequate infrastructure and training in Indian Country pose significant challenges for accessing remote job opportunities. Broadband internet access is scarce and prohibitively expensive due to the low population density, exacerbating the digital divide and making it difficult for individuals to work remotely. While federal programs and new legislation aim to expand broadband access, the amount of investment needed is significant, and many households still lack a computer, further limiting their ability to access remote work opportunities. This lack of infrastructure and training is a significant barrier to employment for Native Americans and a hindrance to economic development on reservations.

Our proposed solution represents a new and significantly improved approach to addressing employment challenges faced by tribal communities. 

We aim to measurably reduce economic, social and healthcare disparities for Indigenous Communities by increasing jobs on Tribal Land through remote work training and novel hiring pathways. We have chosen to work on this problem because employment is a recognized social determinant of health that directly contributes to suicide. Televeda was awarded a first-place prize ($3M) by the US Veterans Affairs (VA) for the Mission Daybreak challenge to address veteran suicide. Our winning solution, Project Hozho, provides culturally-appropriate traditional healing practices to NA and digital-infrastructure for connectivity. During our focus groups with the veterans, we received overwhelming feedback that job-opportunities are an important resource they seek to access. We have secured interest from employers, nonprofits and governmental partners in solving this huge problem.

By improving broadband access and investing in hardware devices, we aim to enable remote work opportunities that could bring new economic opportunities to Native nations and help to stem the out-migration that threatens cultural well-being. By providing in-person Tech Training Bootcamps and a culturally appropriate AI-powered platform, our solution not only addresses the infrastructure shortcoming but also helps to build a network of employer partners and indigenous employment and training resources. Our ultimate goal is to provide Native American workers with the tools and resources they need to work remotely and build sustainable careers in their own communities, while preserving their cultural heritage and sovereignty as political entities.

Digital Connectivity: Televeda has begun the process of laying down digital infrastructure in tribal communities that would serve as the foundation on which remote training and employment opportunities can become accessible. We propose to deploy a community outreach program to efficiently connect indigenous veterans with high-speed internet and devices, provide training for available and accessible remote work opportunities, and support through a recruitment process to apply for and successfully interview for jobs.

AI Platform: The project’s Job Portal will use AI and ML to improve employment opportunities by providing personalized job recommendations, identifying career paths, recommending training programs, and removing biases. The job portal would use different algorithms, each with unique metrics for speed, accuracy, cost, and scalability. The job recommendation algorithm would analyze a job seeker's profile and recommend suitable jobs, with speed and accuracy determined by the complexity of the matching algorithm and the acceptance rate of recommended jobs. The bias detection algorithm would identify and remove bias from job postings, with speed and accuracy determined by the complexity of language processing and the algorithm's ability to handle increasing numbers of job postings. Similarly, the career path and training recommendation algorithms would identify suitable career paths and recommend relevant training programs, with speed, accuracy, cost, and scalability determined by the size of the database and computational resources required.

We propose to start the project for the Navajo & Lakota tribes in year 1, and expand across other tribes as we scale. 

American Indian & Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) constitute 2% of the US Population (7M self-identify). When compared to the general population, AI/AN are twice as likely to live in poverty, twice as likely to be unemployed, and are the highest demographic experiencing substance-abuse, addiction & suicide.

Our project seeks to address the persistent digital divide faced by Native American workers, who, due to a lack of reliable and affordable digital infrastructure, have had significantly lower remote work rates than their white counterparts (8 percentage points lower according to Census Bureau), even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment and poverty have been linked to a variety of negative health outcomes, including higher rates of chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and substance abuse. 

Several federal policies of the US government to move Native Americans off reservations and into urban areas under the promises of financial assistance and job training have failed and found that economic migration away from reservations significantly decreased the employment rate and increased the poverty rate on reservations. Providing employment opportunities on reservations can lead to a reduction in the number of Native Americans who leave their communities in search of work, which can help to mitigate the negative impacts of brain drain and cultural erosion.

If AI/AN could find meaningful employment opportunities on reservations, it could have several positive impacts: 

1. Reduce poverty and unemployment rates among Native American communities, which could lead to increased economic stability and social mobility for these communities. 

2. Additionally, having meaningful employment opportunities on reservations could help to preserve traditional Native American cultures and ways of life where natives would be able to continue practicing their cultures and traditions while also participating in the modern economy.

3. Finally, improving employment opportunities on reservations could help to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes, well-being and overall better quality of life for indigenous communities.

We will begin the project in Arizona to serve 22 tribes, specifically starting with the Native Veteran (NV) population in the Navajo Nation. 

Veterans from the Navajo Nation (NN) belong to a sovereign nation and one of the largest Tribes in the US.

Native Veterans have been historically underserved and lack basic infrastructure. They have the highest rates of PTSD and suicide compared to other demographics. They often have trouble accessing care, and many do not want to receive services due to a historical lack of trust in the government. Working with Black Hills Center for American Indian Health (BHCAIH), a non-profit tribal health organization composed of Navajo public health professionals, we conducted onsite interviews with the Navajo Veterans (NV) where we learned more about their employment needs.  

As a winner of the VA’s Mission Daybreak challenge, Televeda has already mobilized a multidisciplinary cohort of NVs & cultural experts in AI/AN behavioral health to facilitate oversight. Televeda is working closely with tribal governments, local Veteran Service Organizations & Indian Health Services. 

To address ethical considerations, Televeda is working closely with BHCAIH, whose team members are public health professionals who come from a family of Traditional Healers trusted within the Navajo community. Additionally, the project is designed to collaborate with Navajo Elders, Veteran Service Organizations, including the Southwest Navajo Veterans Organization, the Navajo Chapter President for Dilcon and Teesto Veterans Association and the Winslow Indian Healthcare Center. We will also work with younger NV volunteers to assist with digital literacy training. Through the support of BHCAIH and our task-force, Televeda will ensure that our solution will be well-received and meet the needs of AIAN Veterans. Our long-term goal is to provide our culturally-relevant solution to Veterans within the ~7 million AIANs in the US.

Amy Doermann is Oglala Lakota Sioux. She has worked as a designer for over 13 years, and contributed as a Senior Product Designer across a variety of social ventures and healthcare startups. Amy is also a Native Herbalist practitioner. Amy joined Televeda as a founding design member and will be coordinating the Tribal Advisory Council of Indigenous Veterans for the development of this project. 

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We are an Arizona based social-venture with strong ties with tribal communities. Over the past 5 years, Televeda’s strength in overcoming social isolation, providing educational and health programs, and overcoming technology access and training hurdles make it the perfect partner to begin reversing the negative economic adversity in underserved communities. In 2022, under AZ DHS’ comprehensive 50 State Review on Loneliness, Televeda was officially identified as the currently implemented solution in AZ and a recommended tool for addressing social isolation.

Televeda has had a particularly profound impact, reaching an ever-increasing number of the aging members and closing the gap in the continuum of services they need for effective care and meaningful social lives. Lack of access to digital infrastructure, expertise, and facilitation are often barriers. Televeda has secured critical regulatory & tribal partnerships, in addition to telecommunications and hardware device agreements to successfully access, set up digital infrastructure and connect hard-to-reach networks. Our project empowers NA communities, employers, and other economic stakeholders to effectively reach and empower NA workers.

Televeda has been providing hands-on digital literacy, access to technology, and social connectivity support in a caring and inclusive environment to older adults across the country for over five years. Televeda was awarded Tribal Connectivity projects (Arizona Department of Health Services and Arizona Veterans Services), which will assist our foundational broadband efforts to bridge the digital divide amongst NVs.

Specific Challenges. Building trust & delivering education (digital literacy) across rural areas. Another potential barrier is the availability and quality of internet connectivity in some areas of the reservations. Minor challenges to overcome: (a) Culturally-appropriate and meaningful tech training (b) Adequate remote work opportunities so candidates do not have to relocate to urban areas (c) Ensuring necessary incentives are in place for key employment partners. 

Throughout the project, ongoing evaluation and feedback from users and stakeholders would be crucial to ensure the project is meeting its intended goals and objectives.

Solve Program. A community based problem needs a strong community based solution. Working with other Indigenous Innovators is crucial. We believe getting into the Solve program will provide us with access to partners and the best minds working on social-impact. It would be invaluable exposure to help us recruit quality talent, and access to world-class training & mentorship for this important cause.

Amy Doermann is Oglala Lakota Sioux and my family is from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Founding design member of Televeda, and lead Product Design for Project Hozho our indigenous suicide-prevention solution. Via this project, Amy will be working with Navajo & Lakota leaders & public health researchers. Amy stays connected to the community as a Native Herbalist, she graduated from the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine in January 2023.

A unique aspect of this project is that it will be specifically facilitating remote job opportunities, including the development of digital infrastructure and connectivity on tribal land, development of a training bootcamp, and partnerships with employers. This emphasis on remote job opportunities is especially relevant in the current post-pandemic world, where remote work has become more prevalent and important than ever for all other demographics (accordings to a Brookings report in 2022, it actually decreased for NA populations by 8% compared to Whites). 

Our solution will provide a valuable resource for NA who may have difficulty accessing job opportunities due to geographical barriers, a lack of digital infrastructure, or other challenges.

By improving indigenous employment opportunities on tribal land, we believe that our solution will have a transformational impact on people's lives. 

1. Leveraging machine learning, the platform can provide personalized job recommendations, reduce bias, and track relevant metrics in a culturally sensitive and respectful manner. 

2. Collaborating with tribal governments, educational institutions, and other job platforms, the project can help to create a more integrated and holistic approach to improving employment outcomes for NA. 

3. Finally, by promoting data sovereignty and responsible data sharing practices, the project can catalyze broader positive impacts and help to change the market for responsible AI and machine learning in the employment sector. We hope that our approach will catalyze broader positive impacts from others in this space, by promoting the use of AI and machine learning to address challenges in employment and economic growth. 

Our work has the potential to change the market by providing a model for addressing employment disparities and promoting economic growth in traditionally underserved communities. The success of the project could significantly impact the world by reducing poverty and unemployment rates among Native American communities, while preserving traditional cultures and ways of life. This could also address health disparities and improve overall well-being for these communities. According to a report by the National Congress of American Indians, increasing employment opportunities on reservations can lead to increased economic activity, reduced poverty, and strengthened cultural preservation. Additionally, a study published in the Economic Development Quarterly estimated that increasing employment rates among Native Americans to the national average could generate an additional $21 billion in economic output, create over 200,000 new jobs, and reduce poverty rates by up to 32%. It is important to consider that the impact of this project may vary depending on the unique cultural, economic, and social context of each reservation.

Our impact goals for the next year and the next five years are centered on improving employment opportunities and economic growth for Native Americans. Specifically, we aim to create a centralized repository of Indigenous Employment Training Opportunities & Resources that would be open-sourced, de-identified, and made available for integration with appropriate educational, employment, social & healthcare databases as relevant to improve SDG outcomes.

Over the next year, our focus will be on planning, preparation, and platform development. We aim to develop and test the job portal platform for job recommendations and personalized career paths, integrate the platform with existing reservation job services and databases, and develop an outreach and engagement strategy with employers to provide remote work opportunities. We plan to achieve these impact goals through the following steps:

1. Launch the Job Portal: We will work with our partners to ensure that the platform is user-friendly, culturally sensitive, and secure. We will conduct outreach and engagement activities to encourage job seekers and employers to use it.

1. Partner with Employers: Establish partnerships with employers across different industries and regions to increase the number of remote job postings suited for employment in the reservations. We will also work with these employers to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace and to encourage them to adopt fair hiring practices.

1. Develop AI/ML Algorithms: We will work to ensure that these personalized job recommendations and career paths algorithms are unbiased and inclusive and that they do not reinforce existing stereotypes or biases.

Over the next five years, our aim is to see significant increases in the number of NA accessing the platform, improved job satisfaction and income levels, and an increase in the number of participating employers and industries. We will continue to work on scaling and expanding the platform, analyzing usage data to make adjustments to improve the platform, expanding outreach efforts to reach more NA, and developing partnerships with additional employers to increase job opportunities.

To evaluate the success of our project, we will map the relevant indicators for the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) to measure progress. We can measure these via platform engagement: number of participants recruited, attendance to track retention and engagement, tracking access to employment resources, and waitlist trial control groups comparing outcomes. We will set targets for SDG indicators, such as matching the national employment rate for the employment rate among Native Americans, and use quarterly and yearly reports to track progress and adjust strategies as needed. Our goal is to close the unemployment gap, and promote economic growth and opportunity within tribal communities. We anticipate seeing a significant increase in NA accessing the job platform, improved job satisfaction and income levels, and an increase in the number of participating employers and industries in the next 2-3 years.

Overall, tracking progress towards SDGs can help ensure that the job platform is having a positive impact on the economic growth and reduced inequalities of Native American communities.

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Measuring the number of new jobs created through the platform and the average income and job satisfaction levels of those employed. Additional metrics could include the number of employers and industries participating in the job platform, as well as the skills and training opportunities available to workers.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Measuring the number of Native Americans accessing the job platform and the diversity of jobs and industries available. Additional metrics could include the percentage of jobs filled by Native Americans compared to non-Native Americans and the average income and job satisfaction levels of Native Americans employed through the platform.

Our theory of change is to transform the job market for Native Americans by providing employment opportunities within the reservations. Currently, Native Americans often have to leave their reservations in search of employment, which causes hardship for them and impacts both the cities and reservations. Past public policy attempts at integration have failed, leading to lasting effects. By flipping the script, our solution aims to improve the ecosystem by creating job opportunities within the tribal communities. This approach not only preserves indigenous cultural practices but also ensures that members can contribute to the local economy while staying connected to their communities. Our approach involves providing digital infrastructure and connectivity, digital literacy and coaching, and facilitating partnerships with employers, among other activities, to create a sustainable solution. The immediate outputs of our activities include the development and launch of a job portal platform and boot camp, training programs for job seekers, and partnerships with employers. In the longer term, we expect to see a significant increase in job satisfaction and income levels for Native Americans, as well as increased economic growth and opportunity within the tribal communities. Ultimately, our goal is to close the employment gap between Native Americans and non-Native Americans, catalyze positive impacts within the broader job market, and promote economic and social well-being for the tribal communities who currently face the highest unemployment & economic adversity in the United States.

Our solution is powered by several core technologies (infrastructure, in-person and online) that work together to address the challenge of Native American employment. First, we recognize the need for digital infrastructure to bridge the digital divide and improve connectivity on tribal lands. To this end, we are currently working on projects that improve access to broadband and hardware devices that can support this platform and other digital resources.

In addition, we understand that a key aspect of our platform's success will be its ability to engage users in a culturally appropriate and accessible way. This is why we are investing in Indigenous UI/UX design that incorporates native languages and reflects the unique cultural experiences of Native Americans.

To ensure that users have the skills for remote tech jobs, we are offering in-person tech training boot camps run by locals and veterans who understand the specific needs and challenges of their Native American community.

Our platform is powered by an AI engine that uses machine learning to provide personalized job recommendations, identify career paths, recommend training programs, and connect with relevant employers. By building a network of employer partners, indigenous employment and training resources, and culturally sensitive algorithms, we hope to catalyze positive change in the employment landscape for Native Americans.

Televeda is a minority-owned & woman-run organization. We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

The platform will always remain free for job seekers, while employers and other organizations will pay fees for posting job openings, specialized training and recruitment. The revenue generated from these fees will support the ongoing development and maintenance of the project.

Key customers and beneficiaries include Native American job seekers, employers seeking to diversify their workforce, and organizations focused on improving employment outcomes for Native Americans. The products and services provided by this project include a job portal with personalized job recommendations, training & career path recommendations, and cultural sensitivity resources. 

The platform will also provide employers with access to a diverse pool of qualified job candidates. To provide such services, we will need to to build a network of employer partners, indigenous employment, and training resources, and leverage AI technology to match job seekers with relevant opportunities. We will also focus on building relationships with organizations focused on improving employment outcomes for Native Americans, such as tribal governments and educational institutions.

The revenue model for this project will be based on a freemium model, with job seekers accessing the platform for free and employers paying fees to post job openings and access data on job seekers. In addition to generating revenue, this business model also creates value for the populations we serve by improving employment outcomes for Native Americans and supporting the economic development of tribal communities. 

By providing a platform that connects Native American job seekers with relevant job opportunities, training resources, and career development tools, we aim to improve the lives of Native Americans and their families. Through the fees charged to employers and organizations, we can sustainably finance the maintenance of the platform, ensuring that it continues to sustainably benefit Native American job seekers and employers for years to come.

We have already been awarded $3M by the VA to initiate our comprehensive suicide-prevention solution for indigenous populations, with a roadmap to scale such services. Televeda has always been commercially viable and sustainable since our first year of operations. We also have contracts with state governments pertaining to digital-inclusion. Investing in job-opportunities helps our mission to reduce veteran suicide, and projects pertaining to employment opportunities (such as job portals) already have validated revenue models which would ensure this project remains sustainable. 

Initial funding for the platform would be a combination of grants, contracts to governments and employers. If applicable, return on investment for tribes could be via revenue generated through partnerships, placement services, advertising, or other means. 

A key partnership critical for the success of this project are Employers. Specifically those who are willing to provide remote work opportunities or invest more directly in reservations. The incentive for the majority of them would be increasing the diversity in their hiring pipeline so they have stronger teams. 

We think Governments (state and federal level) would be great stakeholders who can create additional tax credits and employer benefits for businesses willing to recruit talented Native American workers, and offer such opportunities remotely so their employees can continue to live in reservations. 

We also think large Tech companies would be the ideal partners for providing resources on tech training and placement services with adequate mentorship. Examples would be Microsoft, Amazon & Google. We know Google has recently made a $100M investment into upskilling low-income Americans (2021), and we see our project being a great fit for such initiatives.

We have proven successful traction with grants and government contracting vehicles. 

1. First-place prize winner of the US Department of Veterans Affairs Mission Daybreak Grand challenge for our Indigenous Veteran Suicide Prevention Project. Awarded $3M as prize money. 

2. Arizona Department of Veteran Services contract for tribal connectivity amongst veterans in 22 tribes in the state of Arizona.  

3. Arizona Department of Health Services rural telecare contract for developing state's strategic Health Improvement Plan.