Articles written by Mckenzie Allen-charmley


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  • No cold elders: Volunteers provide firewood for Navajo families ahead of winter

    Kiara Quaranta and McKenzie Allen-Charmley, Cronkite News|Updated Feb 2, 2021

    As winter approaches, volunteers with Chizh for Cheii are preparing to deliver firewood to elders on the Navajo Nation reservation, where nearly 90% of homes rely on wood for heat. The nonprofit organization, whose name means "firewood for Grandpa" in English, launched nine years ago. The volunteers work because they "don't want people to pass on because they were neglected," founder Loren Anthony said. Young people and families traditionally help their elders collect and...

  • Miss Navajo Nation is a "glimmer of hope" for community during pandemic

    McKenzie Allen-Charmley, Luce Foundation-Southwest Stories Fellowship|Updated Oct 13, 2020

    PHOENIX-After winning the title of Miss Navajo Nation in September 2019, Shaandiin Parrish immediately got to work on the cultural preservation and advocacy efforts central to the role. At times, she attended five or more events in a single day, traveling across the 27,000-square-mile reservation to speak to elementary school students and attend conferences. "You really hit the ground running," Parrish recalled. "There's no event too small. There's no event too big." But in...