The Hopi Pu'tavi Project is a non-profit organization serving the needs of Hopi youth and families. It is located in Second Mesa, Arizona. Second Mesa is a small town in northern Arizona, on the Hopi Reservation, 60 miles north of Winslow, at the junction of Highway 87 and Highway 264. The mailing address of the Hopi Putavi Project is: Hopi Putavi Project, Inc., P.O. Box 466, Second Mesa, AZ 86043.
The Hopi Community is remote and rural. It exists basically around three mesas about 100 miles northeast of Flagstaff. It extends to two villages near TubaCity at the northwest edge of the reservation boundary. TubaCity, actually located on Navajo land, is the nearest grocery store and the location of many agencies which cannot be accessed on the Hopi Reservation. As of September 25, 2007, there are 12,544 Hopi/Tewa tribal members living on the reservation and 5,209 living off reservation. The Hopi community suffers from the lack of gainful employment and resources for jobs and income that are typical for many rural communities, but their community is different in the type of industry they would like to develop because of Hopi culture and traditions.
Since April 14, 1999, Hopi Pu'tavi Project has been operating on the Hopi reservation to accomplish specific goals and purposes for all Hopi youth and their families.The Project became incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2000. Hopi Pu'tavi the involvement of more people in solving community issues. Activities centered on giving voice to many factions within the community to express their desires.
Computer Training at Second Mesa
Hopi Pu'tavi has concentrated on collaboration and broadening of their community base. The organization has formed relationships with community groups, other villages, and the Hopi Tribe. Over a period of three years, Hopi Pu'tavi has received more than $211,000 in grants from OxFam, National 4-H, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Hopi Foundation, Arsalyn, US Department of Agriculture, NavajoCounty, The University of Arizona, and private donations.
Now Hopi Putavi is supported, in part, by the artists that the organization trained and supported in an economic development program. Assisted to survey and to promote vertical marketing by the NorthCentralRegionalCenter for Rural Development (NCRCRD) and its Director Cornelia Butler Flora, Hopi Putavi Board Member, Wil Danesi, and others, worked very hard to establish the Tuhisma Arts and Crafts Show on reservation land. All of these efforts have helped Hopi artists market their traditional art pieces from their own community, and this has kept the profits local and generated business which helps everyone in the community. Cornelia Butler Flora has worked with Matt Livingston, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Agent on the Hopi Reservation, and other staff, volunteers and Board Members of the organization, to also assist Hopi farmers to grow food for their families and to pass on time-honored traditions and values.
Keeping Hopi values strong and resources available for a healthy family life are important goals for the Hopi Putavi project. Over the years various programs and events have been sponsored by the non-profit organization to meet these goals. The Co-operative Extension, the National 4-H, The Arizona Community Foundation, the NCRCRD, and other agencies and individuals have partnered with the organization to make good things happen for the Hopi community.
