We had the good fortune of connecting with Vince Flores Maldonado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vince Flores, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It’s was simple, well not that simple in starting up our nonprofit but I know what was lacking in our communities and that is the need to help empower our Indigenous people find and maintain wellness and it starts with feeling proud of who we are as Native Americans.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We provide a wide array of services, from cultural awareness sessions, cultural relevant outings, a youth program to help kids from 4 to 18 years of age find ways to develop coping and life skills, sober living homes for men, women, and children, individual therapy, to peer support. What sets us apart is that we recognize the need to have our spiritual identity a priority and we incorporate that in everything we do for the community. When you walk into our doors at NMC you will see a face that is familiar as we strive to hire people who grew up in the communities we serve. So far we been able to serve tribal communities across Arizona.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would most definitely check out gates pass, not just a drive through but to stop and take in the scenery. The desert is our home and our ancestors still talk to us through nature. It’s really beautiful and calming.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe the people everything, if it was not for their belief in me, we would not be where we are at today with NMC.

Website: www.nativemusiccoalition.org

Instagram: native_music_coalition

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nativemusiccoalition/

Image Credits
Native Music. Coalition

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.