Matriarch Mixer Indigenous Wellness Summit

On September 18th, 5–8 PM at Desert Botanical Gardens in Dorrance Hall, we invite you to join us for our next Matriarch Mixer, a networking experience designed especially for Indigenous women-owned small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals.

This gathering will be held with a special focus on wellness and cancer prevention. Together, we’ll create a space rooted in our shared values and innate knowledge, where kinship, healing, and empowerment guide us. The evening will include:

✨ Welcome Gift for the first 100 attendees provided by Bashas

✨ Storytelling segment centering Indigenous voices and lived experiences

✨ Wellness & informational booths with Passport Activity offering knowledge, resources, and support -visit each booth, collect your stamps, and enter to win a raffle

✨ Signature earring exchange bring a pair, leave with a pair.

✨ Spotlight on Indigenous leaders this month, we’re honored to uplift Dr. Michelle Huyser (Diné) and Alicia Mitchell (Cherokee)

The Matriarch Mixer series is part of Indigenous Community Collaborative’s mission to advance economic opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs by creating spaces for connection, collaboration, and community building. Each mixer is co-hosted with fellow sisters and business owners Turquoise Devereaux (@indigenousskye), Mikenzi Dupree (@stillshelives), Jillian Waln (Konekted Media), Katherine Jacobs and Roshan Spottsville (@photographybyroshan).

The Indigenous Wellness Summit is more than an event, it’s a celebration of resilience, health, and community care. Together, we’ll uplift one another and continue weaving networks that strengthen our futures.

About Earring Exchange

To Indigenize the networking experience, we host a special Earring Exchange, a beautiful way to share story, style, and sisterhood. Bring a pair, take a pair, and meet someone new.

To Participate simply bring a pair of gently used pair of earrings to exchange with another.

We limit 1 (one) Pair of earrings to be entered into the Earring Exchange. Any additional earring will considered a donation. Please gift earrings that you would appreciate receiving.

Info: Carey Pena (Moderator), Emmy Award Winning Journalist

Info: Opening remarks and blessing. Sharing more about Matriarch Mixer and the goal of the evening.

Info: Collaborator Remarks from Elizabeth Parra (Cahuilla Band of Indians, Anza, Ca.) the Director of Outpatient Services at City of Hope Phoenix and Bethany A. Davis, Ph. D, (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), Research assistant professor at TGen

Info: Melody Lewis – Founder, Indigenous Community Collaborative
Turquoise Devereaux - Founder, Indigenous Skye, LLC and PhD student at Arizona State University School of Social Work
Alicia Mitchell – Indigenous Professional and Breast Cancer Survivor
Dr. Michelle Huyser – Surgical Oncologist at Phoenix Indian Medical Center

Info: Wellness & informational booths offering knowledge, resources, and support. Booths include Trauma Recovery Services of Arizona, Generations 4 Change, Gila River Health Care, and many more!

Info: To weave connection into our gathering, our sisters at Matriarch Mixer will host a special Earring Exchange, a beautiful way to share story, style, and sisterhood. Bring a pair, take a pair, and meet someone new.

Info: Opening remarks and blessing to open up the evening. Share more about Matriarch Mixer and the goal of the evening.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, United States