Pauletta Red Willow is a dedicated advocate for abused, neglected, trafficked, runaway, and homeless youth. With more than 24 years’ experience as a child advocate, Ms. Red Willow is the founder of the transitional living program at Maggie’s House and its Director since 2008. Maggie’s House provides a broad range of services to homeless youth, youth exiting foster care, and youth experiencing abuse.

Ms. Red Willow has served as the Coordinator for Youthworks, North Dakota’s Youth Cultural Achievement Program, providing monthly classes in cultural education, organizing national, state, tribal, and federal trainings in juvenile diversion and justice, and coordinating human trafficking multi-disciplinary team building. Ms. Red Willow has also assisted in housing placements and application processes.

In addition to her time at Youthworks, Ms. Red Willow served youth in several capacities ranging from program development for emergency shelters to health care services. She has volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate and the 4-H organization for more than twenty years combined. She is a certified subject matter expert for the Family and Youth Services Bureau Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center and one of their Region 8 representatives for the National Runaway and Homeless Youth Board serving her third term.

Ms. Red Willow is also certified by the FBI in their Interview and Interrogations and Crimes Against Children school and an Oglala Lakota Court Appointed Services Advocate. Additionally, Ms. Red Willow has been certified by the National Association of Worksite Health Centers in Native American Holistic Health. Ms. Red Willow received her undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary science from Oglala Lakota College. As a member of the Lakota tribe, Ms. Red Willow was born and raised on Lakota land in South Dakota, is a veteran and a passionate child activist.