Chinle Chapter Leaders Rosanna Jumbo-Fitch, Sharon Yazzie Receive AmeriCorps Award

Chinle Chapter leaders Rosanna Jumbo-Fitch and Sharon Yazzie stood in Window Rock with an AmeriCorps award, a visible sign of outside recognition for local service efforts and a potential lever for strengthening community programs. The pair posed with the award on Tuesday - the photograph and caption were provided by Special to the Times reporter Donovan Quintero.

"Chinle Chapter President Rosanna Jumbo-Fitch, right, and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Projects Coordinator Sharon Yazzie pose with their AmeriCorps award on Tuesday in Window Rock," the caption reads. The presentation, which took place on Feb. 3, 2026, highlights local leaders who manage and deliver programs that affect daily life in Apache County communities.

The citation itself was described in local reporting only as an AmeriCorps award; specific award name and selection criteria were not included in the material available. Still, the recognition is meaningful in practical terms. Rosanna Jumbo-Fitch serves as Chinle Chapter President and Sharon Yazzie is the chapter's ARPA Projects Coordinator - roles that put them at the intersection of local governance, federal recovery funding, and community services. In rural and tribal settings, such recognition can help unlock partnerships, attract volunteers, and shore up resources for public health, housing, and emergency response initiatives that rely on sustained local capacity.

AmeriCorps operates at national and community levels to honor and support service work that addresses social needs. That national reach was underscored in separate reporting noting that in 2024 AmeriCorps and the Office of the President of the United States awarded The President's Lifetime Achievement Award - "an honor given to those for their lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service." That example shows how federal recognition can elevate local leaders and programs, linking grassroots action to broader networks of support.

For residents of Chinle, Window Rock, and surrounding Apache County communities, the award signals that local efforts are visible beyond county lines. Recognition may translate into stronger applications for funding, increased collaboration with regional service networks, and greater public trust in programs tied to ARPA dollars. Given persistent disparities in access to healthcare, infrastructure, and social services on the Navajo Nation and in rural Arizona, bolstering locally led initiatives is a key equity strategy.

Next steps include clarifying the specific award citation and how Chinle Chapter plans to leverage this recognition to expand services. For now, the image of Jumbo-Fitch and Yazzie with their AmeriCorps award serves as a reminder that community leadership and coordinated service work remain central to rebuilding and sustaining health and well-being across Apache County.