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Tyrese Gould Jacinto credits her father’s generation for firmly establishing roots so that her children and grandchildren do not have to face the same perils of identity erasure that her father did growing up.

“We went all up and down the whole East Coast to all the pow-wow who you know to be with other communities,” she said, describing how her dad helped regroup the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians starting in the late 1970s. Tyrese Gould Jacinto founded the non-profit Native American Advancement Corp, which provides job training and promotes home ownership. ”We needed to forge something here so we don’t lose our children,” she said. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Jacinto is now following her father Mark “Quiet Hawk” Gould’s footsteps. Gould served as the chief of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation for 45 years. Jacinto founded the Native American Advancement Corporation in 2009 with the goal to retain the future generations of her tribe in the South Jersey region.

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“My generation got their education and they went someplace else because they had to make a living someplace else,” she said. “It’s our idea that we need to forge something here so that we can stay and make this place a better place so that we don’t continue to lose the generations with education and a better life and the so-called American dream.”

The organization, which trains in the fields of building sciences and energy conservation, started at Jacinto’s dining…

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Tyrese Gould Jacinto, inspired by her father’s efforts in the late 1970s, has taken on the mission of preserving the cultural heritage of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians in New Jersey. Through the non-profit organization she founded, Native American Advancement Corp, Jacinto aims to ensure that future generations of her tribe can retain their identity and traditions.

Jacinto’s journey began at her dining table, where she started offering job training programs in building sciences and energy conservation. As the organization grew, they moved into a rented space in downtown Bridgeton, but it soon became clear that a larger space was needed to fully realize their vision.

In a stroke of luck, Jacinto, who works as a carpenter and realtor, stumbled upon a listing for 63 acres of land in Quinton Township, Salem County. The property, formerly a church, held great significance for the Gould family as it was where their ancestors were born and raised. Recognizing the potential of the land, Jacinto negotiated the price down to $820,000 plus closing costs and secured financial support from organizations such as the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and the state’s Green Acres program.

The acquired land, known as the Cohanzick Nature Reserve, will serve as a conservation, cultural, and educational center. Plans are underway to develop programming that focuses on conservation, land stewardship, and Lenape culture. Visitors to the reserve will have the opportunity to learn about and engage with the rich heritage of the Lenape Indians.

By reclaiming this ancestral land, Jacinto and her organization are ensuring the preservation of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians’ history and traditions for generations to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Native American Advancement Corp?

The Native American Advancement Corp is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing job training and promoting home ownership for Native Americans, with a particular focus…

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SEAFORD — TidalHealth Nanticoke has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards.

The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care and is valid for the next 36 months.

The Seaford hospital underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review July 12-14. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with hospital standards spanning several areas including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, medication management, and rights and responsibilities of the individual.

The team at TidalHealth Nanticoke joins their counterparts at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, Maryland who earned the same Gold Seal Accreditation from The Joint Commission in 2022.

“As a healthcare accreditor, The Joint Commission works with healthcare organizations across care settings to inspire safer and higher quality of care that is more equitable and compassionate,” said Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, Executive Vice President of Accreditation and Certification Operations and Chief Nursing Officer, The Joint Commission.

“Through collaborating on innovative solutions and evidence-based resources and tools, The Joint Commission helps drive improvement while maintaining accountability through our leading survey methods and standards. We commend TidalHealth Nanticoke for its commitment to advance safety, quality, equity and compassion for all patients.”

The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help healthcare organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conduct onsite observations and interviews.

“TidalHealth Nanticoke is pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier healthcare quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” added Penny Short, MSM, BSN, RN, TidalHealth Nanticoke President. “Team members from across the…

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