Margo Gray brings passion for improving outcomes for Native American youth
IRVING, TX – Big Brothers Big Sisters' National Board of Directors is proud to announce entrepreneur and president of Margo Gray and Associates, Margo Gray to the Board of Directors. As President of Margo Gray and Associates, Gray offers consulting services for Owners' Representation, Project Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurial and Indigenous Women's Empowerment.
Gray is honored to join the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors, “It is the accumulation of several reasons that I choose to support Big Brothers Big Sisters. The philosophy of mentoring is ensconced into each of the tribal nations through the teachings of the culture and traditions. It is how we learn to be a part of the community (tribe) through one-to-one mentoring from the elders to the warriors to the young people. We as native people are not new to this and there is much to learn from each other.”
"We are honored to have Margo Gray join our National Board of Directors," said Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's President and Chief Executive Officer, T. Charles Pierson. "Her knowledge and inspiring background will play a key role as we continue to help change the lives of children for the better, forever."
In addition to her entrepreneurial success, Gray has achieved many national and international achievements on indigenous women's empowerment and community involvement issues. Most recently, Gray received the "Warrior Women's Circle Lifetime Achievement Award" for Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations (WEWIN) and was named "Minority Small Business Champion of the Year" from the Small Business Administration (SBA) of Oklahoma in 2012. She is also on the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development Board of Directors and where she served as Chairwoman for two terms.
Gray, who is Osage, encourages others to follow her lead, “Only a few Native Americans sit and advice on National Boards and it is crucial to have our voice heard and to make sure we are not left out. We need more Native American men and women to dedicate their time and leverage their relationships for this reason: to elevate through education of the challenges of improving our Native communities.”
“Having Margo join the national board of Big Brothers Big Sister demonstrates a renewed focus on the Native American community,” said Lowell Perry, Vice President of Diversity for Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Margo Gray brings unprecedented credentials and credibility and creates a path of holistic engagement in Indian Country. “
Prior to Gray's many accomplishments in her business career, she spent several years in tribal law enforcement and tribal government service. Today, Gray offers encouragement for Native American and Women entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and lends counsel for tribal leaders to create the government and legal environments that will enable Native American Indian businesses to thrive.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children ("Littles") with screened volunteer mentors ("Bigs") and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization's 100-year history. With about 350 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 630,000 children, volunteers and families. The organization is engaged in a nationwide search to reunite with alumni mentors, mentees, donors, and family, staff and board members. Learn more at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.