Pat is the president of the Northwest Leadership Foundation (NLF), a faith-based intermediary in Tacoma, Washington established in 1989. NLF convenes and fosters cross-sector relationships to encourage, strengthen and develop leadership for the spiritual and social renewal of the city. Patricia is also co-founder and a consultant of IntegritySource, a resource management consulting firm serving faith and community-based organizations. In addition to her work Pat has volunteered her time serving on boards of various civic organizations.

Patricia Talton is the youngest of five children, born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She received a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Iowa State University in 1988. Pat moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1990, which has been her home ever since. Pat attends Urban Grace, an ecumenical, multi-cultural congregation in the heart of downtown Tacoma. She enjoys music, reading, movies, and a variety of Asian cuisine.

Omar was born on the Yakama Reservation, and graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelors of Science in Biology with an emphasis in microbiology and chemistry. He was actively involved in 4-1 Youth Church, as a youth leader, from its conception until the fall of 2004. It was not until he and his wife, Maria, became youth leaders that they realized the challenges many of our kids are facing are much more profound than one can imagine. Omar and Maria have two boys, Isaac and Keon, and currently reside in Wapato, WA. on the Yakama Reservation. Omar works as a Pharmaceutical Representative for Pfizer, and is currently on the Board of Directors for Mending Wings Ministries.

Philip Burdeau was born in the fall of 1971 in Yakima Washington and attended schools at Wa-he-lut Indian School on the Nisqually Indian Reservation in the early years before moving back home to the Yakama Nation in the late 70’s. Philip is employed with the Yakama Nation in the Human Resource Office. Philip joined Mending Wings as a grant writer/seeker and currently sits on the Board of Directors. Philip’s education includes graduating from Wapato High school in 1990 and furthering his higher education at Yakima Valley Community College earning his Associates of Arts degree in 1995. After a short break, Philip went back to college and attended Heritage University and received his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Psychology. He plans on pursuing his master degree in the field of organizational leadership. Philip currently is active in numerous committees and groups here on the Yakama Nation. Philip attends Christian Life Center in Yakima Washington. He is the proud father of four children. One is in College and one in high school, one in junior high and a three year old. His wife works for Behavioral Health out of Yakima.

Corey was born in Michigan City, IN.,  located on the shores of Lake Michigan.  He graduated from LaPorte High School in LaPorte, IN. in 1988.  Attending Lincoln Christian College and Seminary (Lincoln, IL.) in the Fall of ’88 he graduated with a BA in Cross-Cultural Missions, and a few credits shy of a Minor in Cross-Cultural Youth Ministry. 

Corey completed an internship with the American Indian Evangelism Association in 1996, and came on staff at McKinley Indian Mission (Yakama Reservation) in 1997.  In 2001 he began his work with the Presbyterian Church, USA by coming on staff at Wapato Community Presbyterian Church where he quickly grew the largest Native American youth ministry in the PCUSA.  In 2006, Corey, and his wife Gina, started their own non-profit, Native American youth organization called Mending Wings Ministries.

Corey’s passion is to see Native youth and families restored to wholeness, and walk in beauty, by the strength of Yeshua within the cultures that He gave us—fully Indian and fully following The Jesus Way.

Corey is a Youth Pastor and gifted speaker.  He speaks at colleges, universities, churches, youth groups, and organizations across the U.S.   He seeks to bring reconciliation between the Body of Christ and Native people by dealing with real issues, both historical and contemporary.