Lauren spent five years ruminating and researching. Once she decided to start, the Wo’takuye Oyate: Kinship Nation Inter-Tribal Network came together within two months. Wo’takuye Oyate opened in late 2024. Wo’takuye is the Lakota word for “kinship,” and the organization’s mission to rebuild a thriving kinship in the community.

Wo’takuye Oyate brought together three overlapping desires to create strong community bonds. Kelsi Vinger, Diversion Specialist for Brown County State’s Attorney’s office, had recently started a juvenile diversion program for Native youth. Lara Nelson, American Indian Circle Program Director at Northern State University, partnered with Kelsi to create peer mentor network between NSU students and youth in the diversion program. Lauren wanted to create a place to celebrate and connect with Tribal cultures.

“Lara used to say, ‘We’re building the plane as we’re flying it,’ and that’s very true, but there was a lot of consideration and leg work, that went into it before even launching,” Lauren said.

The Kinship Center is designed to be a grassroots effort and therefore isn’t reliant on having a specific amount of involvement. Lauren credits Dan and Angie Kleberg, owners of the Red Rooster, for helping her design a community center that could handle operating on both large- and small-scales.

“Because it’s primarily all volunteer, things can ebb and flow, and that’s honestly how I designed it,” Lauren said.

For Lauren, the desire to create a space in the community for Native Americans came from her work in healthcare. Lauren has a master’s in clinical mental health counseling and works as a community health worker.

“I saw a real need for an opportunity for people to engage with each other in a healthy way,” Lauren said. “So, of course, I did a lot of work looking into the connection between well-being, good mental health, and cultural identity.”

While she had been kicking the idea around for several years, it wasn’t until Lauren attended the Billy Sutton Leadership Institute that she got the push she needed to bring her ideas to life. Being surrounded by other people motivated to create real change in their communities helped Lauren get over her fear of failing publicly. After that, Lauren connected with Kelsi and Lara, and the Kinship Center took off.

Wo’takuye Oyate has been very successful, Lauren said. They’ve had good community involvement and support. In the coming years, she hopes to have more events, build more bridges with community organizations, and expand the traditional arts out into the community. From family nights to beading kits available at the ARC, volunteers help shape the Center and its direction.

“With the grassroots organization, if people are doing what they love and are passionate about, it will be sustainable,” Lauren said. “I’m doing the thing I love. Laura’s doing the thing she loves.  It’s self-sustaining.”

It also works because volunteering at the Kinship Center “feeds the hearts of the people who are part of it,” Lauren said. The Center gives the community a way to live their values, she said.

“It’s not just Native people connecting to each other. It’s really trying to bring our presence into these organizations in an authentic and respectful way. So that’s been a huge success too,” Lauren said.