TEAM
PEGGY WELLKNOWN BUFFALO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE CENTER POLE
Peggy is recognized by her community on the Crow Indian Reservation (Apsaalooke Nation) in southeastern Montana as “the woman who wipes children’s tears” and "everybody's grandmother." In 1999, she founded The Center Pole, the nonprofit organization of which Unity Hoops is part. Peggy has consistently helped sculpt the vision of Unity Hoops and to mentor its staff members. She was deeply wounded as a child during her time in Indian boarding schools but found solace and her future passion at the age of 12 when she was assigned to care for young children at the Pierre Indian School in South Dakota. Prior to the founding of her nonprofit, Peggy nurtured nearly 200 foster children and served as a community health representative. She also practices the Crow sweat lodge, has held numerous Native American Church prayer meetings, and has sponsored multiple sun dances in her community. Peggy has been named an Unsung Hero of Compassion by the Dalai Lama and a Leader For Justice by the Petra Foundation.
SUSIE KELLY
PROGRAMS DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER POLE
Susie helped Peggy create her organization in 1999, bringing practical skills to blend with traditional ways. She provides immense support to The Unity Hoops Project through fundraising and strategic planning. Susie spent much of her life as a photo editor, researcher, writer and project manager in the publishing industry while directing her own initiative to connect disenfranchised youth with a multitude of opportunities. Her mantra is one originally said by the great Arthur Ashe: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."
DAVID DEAN
DIRECTOR OF THE UNITY HOOPS PROJECT
David is passionate about the pursuit of systematic social change and is a believer in the transformative power of sports. He graduated from Dickinson College where he studied Sociology and Education. David began working with Peggy and Susie to develop The Unity Hoops Project while there and has directed its programs ever since. He has studied and worked to use education as a tool to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable youth and to understand its role in advancing social movements. David lives for moments of deep connection with family, friends or the natural world. He loves singing, performing, writing, weaving up and down athletic fields with teammates, and facilitating others' discovery of their own inherent goodness and power to make positive changes in their lives and communities.
MICHAELA KENNEY
YOUTH ACTIVISM TEACHER
Activist. Sustainable Farmer. Community Studies Major at UC Santa Cruz.
JUSTIN BIGHAIR
YOUTH ACTIVISM TEACHER
Visual artist and designer dedicated to building resilience in indigenous youth through art.
ALISON ESPINOSA-SETCHKO
MINDFULNESS INSTRUCTOR
YOUTH ACTIVISM TEACHER
Mindfulness educator devoted to the emotional wellbeing and empowerment of our youth.
TOM CLEMENT
BASKETBALL INSTRUCTOR YOUTH ACTIVISM TEACHER
Filmmaker committed to giving voice to suffering through his lens.
