Native American Student Development at Cal

YAHYA ASHOUR POETRY READING & conversation with Rana Sharif
MONDAY MAY 18, 2026 6PM, INTS 1128
Yahya Ashour is an exiled Gazan poet and an award-winning author who will be entering the MFA program in Creative Writing at UCR in the fall. Born on April 22, 1998, he is currently based in California. Ashour was the 2025 Author-in-Residence at UCLA and currently teaches at Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges. Following his reading, he will be in conversation with Rana Sharif, an incoming assistant professor of Media & Cultural Studies at UCR.
Organized by the California Center for Native Nations, with co-sponsorship from the Departments of English, Comparative Literature, and Media & Cultural Studies.

Alt Text:
An event flyer for a poetry reading featuring Yahya Ashour. The top of the flyer displays the name "YAHYA ASHOUR" in large, red serif font, followed by "POETRY READING & conversation with Rana Sharif."
On the left, there are two photos: a large photo of Yahya Ashour, a man with a beard wearing a patterned shirt speaking into a microphone, and a smaller photo of Rana Sharif, a woman with curly hair and blue earrings. To the right, a red oval contains the event details: "MONDAY, MAY 18, 2026, 6PM, INTS 1128."
The bottom half contains a biographical paragraph explaining that Yahya Ashour is an exiled Gazan poet, award-winning author, and incoming UCR MFA student. It notes he was the 2025 Author-in-Residence at UCLA. The flyer includes the logo for the California Center for Native Nations and lists co-sponsorship by the UCR Departments of English, Comparative Literature, and Media & Cultural Studies.

The Ocean Access: Benefits and Barriers project is hiring a summer intern to support the Tribal aspect of the project, including synthesizing information from the interviews and focus groups we will be holding this summer.

This summer internship involves analyzing qualitative data from Tribal interviews and focus groups to support equitable coastal management.

We seek a graduate student, recent graduate, or experienced upper-level undergraduate who is familiar with California's Tribes and has a background in Native American Studies, Geography, Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Environmental Studies, or related fields.

The ideal candidate must demonstrate qualitative analysis skills and approach Tribal engagement with cultural humility, sensitivity, and awareness of the emotional dimensions of this research. We hope that the intern will continue part-time in the fall as a paid research assistant.

Page 1: Project Overview & Qualifications
Header and Visuals
The top of the flyer features logos for the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF), California Ocean Access & Management, and Native Coast Action Network. An illustration shows diverse groups of people enjoying a California beach: a surfer walking with a child, a family having a barbecue, and two people fishing from the shore.

The Project
This initiative aims to understand how Californians value and access the ocean, with a specific focus on underserved and Tribal communities. Research methods include:

A multilingual survey of approximately 5,000 respondents.

Tribal and community interviews.

Focus groups held across California.

Who We Are
A team of researchers and scientists from the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, CSU San Marcos, and Native Coast Action Network, working with community partners.

Internship Description
The role focuses on the "Tribal component" of the research, using a "two-eyed seeing" approach that integrates Indigenous and Western knowledge. The intern will analyze qualitative data from interviews and focus groups to support equitable coastal management.

Qualifications

Graduate students, recent grads, or upper-level undergraduates in Native American Studies, Social Sciences, or Environmental Studies.

Experience working with Tribal communities and familiarity with Indigenous Research Methodologies (e.g., CARE).

Skills in qualitative research and thematic coding.

High comfort level with public engagement and interacting with strangers.

Strong communication and data management skills.

Ability to continue as a paid research assistant in the fall.

Page 2: Logistics & Application
What is Ocean Access?
This section defines ocean access as the ability to obtain benefits like food, jobs, and ceremonial connection. It notes that barriers to access are often part of larger systemic injustices. It highlights the need for equitable management that respects Tribal sovereignty.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) & Sanctuaries
The flyer notes there are 124 state MPAs and 5 National Marine Sanctuaries in California. An inset map shows the California coastline with these protected areas highlighted in blue.

Internship Logistics

Duration: 12 weeks, approximately 40 hours per week.

Stipend: $8,500.

Dates: Preferred May 28 – Aug 28.

Location: In-person in Santa Barbara is preferred; some funded travel may be required.

Schedule: Weekdays, with occasional weekends and evenings.

How to Apply
Applications are reviewed starting April 30.

Required: Resume/CV and a brief statement of interest in the email body.

Contact: Send to [email protected] and CC [email protected].

Footer
A row of logos representing partner organizations including UC Santa Cruz, Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, UCSB, NOAA, and various local conservancy groups.

Talking Circle
Thursday, May 7th and 21st
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

As Talking Circle is transitioning from San Francisco to the East Bay, please join us for two more session! Facilitated by Aprill Marshall, please join community in sharing stories, becoming strengthened by experiences, and learning and growing together. Please email below to learn more!
[email protected].

Alt text:
This flyer provides details for a series of community gatherings titled "Talking Circle with April Marshall."

Date and Time
Schedule: 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month (through May 2026).

Specific Dates:
February 19, 2026
March 5 & 19, 2026
April 2 & 16, 2026
May 7 & 21, 2026

Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Current Address: NAHC (Native American Health Center) San Francisco, 3rd Floor Community Wellness Department, 160 Capp St., San Francisco, CA 94110.

Future Note: The flyer states that after May, the circle will transition to Oakland at 3124 International Blvd.

Top Header: A high-contrast circular image on a black background featuring a bundle of white sage smudging and burning inside a large abalone shell. The words "Talking Circle" are written in an elegant white cursive script across the bottom of the shell.

Design Layout: The bottom half uses a clean white background with text on the left and two rounded orange call-out boxes on the right containing the schedule and location details.

Logos and Contact
Organization Logo: The Native American Health Center (NAHC) logo is at the bottom left, featuring a circular emblem with a teepee and a buffalo silhouette.

Contact Information: April Marshall at [email protected].