Legal Aid Services of Oregon Announces Molly Washington as New Director of the Native American Program

Molly Washington

Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) recently welcomed Molly Washington (N'dee/Apache) to serve as the next Director of the Native American Program, historically known as NAPOLS.  Since its inception in 1979, NAPOLS has provided high-quality legal advice and representation to income-eligible Native American community members, organizations, and Indian Tribes throughout Oregon, covering an array of legal issues including estate planning, guardianship, expungement, benefits access, tribal sovereignty and more.

Molly brings a breadth of experience to this leadership position, having spent over 16 years as a civil law practicing attorney in both the private and public sectors, as well as experience in non-profit leadership. Molly currently serves as the Chair of the Native American Youth and Family Center, having served on the Board for the past six years, and has worked with many other Native-led organizations throughout the region. Molly's approach to her work at NAPOLS is guided by her cultural values which instill responsibility, respect, balance, interconnection, humility, and truth. Molly is ecstatic about the opportunity to advance and reinvigorate the Native American Program so that it remains responsive to community needs and the shifting legal landscape.

"NAPOLS is a program that has the ability to provide significant legal support to the members of our Native community who are most in need ," Molly said. "Our community is resilient, adaptable, creative, strong, and inspiring. Our work is to advocate, to educate, and to empower all of those traits. I am grateful for the opportunity to play a small part in the long legacy of NAPOLS and am honored that its future has been entrusted to our team."

If you want to learn more about the Native American Program of LASO and its services, go to Native American Program - LASO