Circle of Healing Council (Board) Members
Tonya Covington
President
Tonya Covington was born in Washington, D.C. into an Air Force family. At the age of three her family landed in Morocco, North Africa where she learned to speak three languages. A lifelong fascination with different cultures and languages ensued.
Tonya’s family was transferred to Clovis in 1969 and thus began a lifelong love of all things New Mexican. Searching for a way to be of service to her community Tonya was trained in Mediation and Anti-racism techniques.
Tonya continued to hone this unique combination of skills making her an expert on cross-cultural relations and peacemaking. Along the way, Tonya also became a certified Community Health Worker helping the community with issues surrounding diabetes. She also chaired the committee to establish a New Mexico Black History Museum.
Tonya has been using these skills as a dedicated community activist, community resource and consultant. Tonya has always enjoyed working with young people and has mentored many in the community.
Over three decades of community service and still going strong.
Macaiah Shendo
Macaiah Shendo is a graduate student at the University of New Mexico working on his Master of Public Health concentrating in Epidemiology. He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology in 2023 from the University of New Mexico. He is also from the Pueblo of Jemez and learned his native language “Towa” before he learned English. Macaiah advocates for indigenous students everywhere and does his best to support them with their journey through education and scientific learning. His current area of training is neuropsychological epidemiology with his long-term goal of becoming a Neuropsychological Epidemiologist that specializes in lifespan health.
Shannon Fleg
Secretary/Treasurer
Yá’át’eeh shik’éí.Shíéí Naadáá Łigai Naasht’ézhi Tábaahi nishłí, Kinyaa’áanii báshishchíín, Naakai Dine’é dashicheii, dóó Tsi’naajini eí dashinalí. Akot’êgo Diné asdzáán nizhłi. Greetings of well-being my relatives. I am Diné of the White Corn Zuni-Edgewater Clan born for Towering House Clan, Mexican Clan are my maternal grandfathers, and Blackstreak wood are my paternal grandfathers. I reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico and am originally from Moenave, Arizona (near Tuba City, Arizona). I am a mother to four beautiful growing children, and wife to an amazing, supportive husband. I love family time, running, exploring Mother Earth, writing, reading, gardening, and supporting others with Indigenous traditional ways.
For the past 20 years, I have been involved in grassroots, community, and non-profit organization work. I love working with, for, and at the guidance of the community. I have been a public health educator, facilitator, program planner, and cultural specialist working in the areas of health equity, health disparities, and issues/concerns of the Native American Indian/Indigenous populations.
About 18 years ago, I co-founded the Native Health Initiative, a love-grounded organization that is rooted in loving service (human-to-human element of wanting to serve others) to bring about health equity, meaningful health partnerships, honoring and respecting the traditional ways of Native/Indigenous individuals, families, and communities. As a former co-partnership director, I created health opportunities for youth, elders, health professions students, and families with scholarship, youth health programs, tobacco prevention with a cultural perspective, and community asset mapping.
I am honored to be a co-founder of the Native Health Initiative, now serving as a Circle of Healing Council (Board) Treasurer. I also serve as health consultant to support and advance health diversity, equity, and inclusion with an emphasis on understanding Indigenous/Native
American Indian perspective. Currently, I work with the Changing Woman Initiative as their Community Engagement Director.
Laura Harris
Anthony Fleg
Anthony Fleg is a healer who believes in the power of art and word to heal. Originally from Baltimore, Anthony grounds his healing work in antiracism, decolonization, movement, and a focus on strengths and holistic health.
He is a co-founder of the Native Health Initiative (NHI), and served as the Co-Partnership Director 2005-2022. In addition, he has dedicated much of his career to improving health in Indigenous communities.
He is a proud father of 4 children, an avid runner, and recently wrote his first book, Writing to Heal – A Pandemic Journey to Healing.