Welcome to our new Executive Director, Leah Altman!
Confluence is thrilled to announce our new permanent Executive Director, Leah Altman. She will begin as Confluence’s new Executive Director on September 9th. She has over 12 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a focus on developing strong fundraising teams, designing and implementing donor engagement programs, and managing complex government grants and private funders. Leah (Oglala Lakota) was most recently the Philanthropy Director at the Intertribal Agriculture Council where she oversaw the fundraising activities of the organization.
Leah has worked for local nonprofit organizations as well, like Native Arts & Cultures Foundation, the Native American Youth and Family Center, Ecotrust, and Friends of the Children. Leah has written for local and national publications, including Underscore, Portland Monthly, Oregon Humanities, Parents.com and Indian Country Today. She lives in Vancouver, WA, and is an alumna of the Institute of American Indian Arts. She is publishing her first book, Cekpa: A Memoir, in November 2025.
As a writer, Leah knows the power of words and she will be officially introduced to the Confluence community at our “Keeping our Words” Legacy Maker Gathering on September 14, where we will honor the legacy of poet Ed Edmo. You can register for the Legacy Maker Gathering below.
Legacy Makers Gathering
“Storytelling is essential for the proper growth and development of well-rounded human beings who can laugh at life’s problems, laugh at themselves, and learn how to overcome problems that come with living.”
– Notes on Storytelling, Ed Edmo
All of us leave a legacy. Shoshone-Bannock poet Ed Edmo’s legacy includes decades of stories and poetry from his childhood at Celilo Falls through his teachings today as an Elder. Ed has been the beating heart of Confluence’s educational programming since the very beginning. Each year, hundreds of students hear stories from Ed and follow him on tours through Confluence in the Classroom and Outdoors. He teaches them about Indigenous cultures and the power of keeping our words.
On September 14, 2024, we will gather once again for the Confluence Legacy Maker Gathering, this time to honor Ed Edmo’s life and legacy. Join us as we celebrate all we have accomplished together. This informal event will include traditional First Food appetizers, uplifting testimonials about Confluence’s important work, and words and stories from our dear friend Ed Edmo.
Register here!
