Arizona Historymakers selections include Diana Yazzie Devine
(Photo provided by Historical League, Inc.)
Diana “Dede” Yazzie Devine was recognized with six other Arizonans and a couple as a Prestigious Arizona Historymaker on Feb 19.
Diana "Dede” Yazzie Devine was honored as one of the Historical League’s Inc., chosen Arizona Historymakers of 2025 at the Arizona Heritage Center’s announcing celebration in Tempe.
More than 100 guests were introduced to the new Historymakers’ accomplishments, and contributions in the world of agriculture, medicine and community outreach.
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NEIGHBORS
Arizona Historymakers selections include Diana Yazzie Devine
(Photo provided by Historical League, Inc.)
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BIO
Diana Devine was born in Lansing, Michigan, one of seven children. She moved to Tempe during her father’s tenure as ASU football coach, then to Missouri and Wisconsin. While at the University of Wisconsin, she accepted an internship on an Ojibwa Reservation where she lived and worked for five years. In 1978, she returned to Arizona to work in a new nonprofit. Under her leadership it became Native American Connections (NAC), focusing on health, housing, and community development. Over her 44 years as CEO, NAC developed and operates over 1,200 affordable housing units within 24 service sites. NAC created innovative nationally recognized models of care for supportive housing and integration of Native American traditional healing practices for those impacted by addiction, mental health and abuse. NAC serves 10,000 people each year.
With the city of Phoenix and Arizona Tribes, Devine was instrumental in developing the Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center, making the former boarding school a place of cultural and historic learning.
Honors include USA Today Women of the Year; induction in Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame; Phoenix Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOS; Arizona Department of Housing Lifetime Achievement Award; ASU’s WP Carey Business School Hall of Fame.
Diana “Dede” Yazzie Devine was recognized with six other Arizonans and a couple as a Prestigious Arizona Historymaker on Feb 19.
Diana "Dede” Yazzie Devine was honored as one of the Historical League’s Inc., chosen Arizona Historymakers of 2025 at the Arizona Heritage Center’s announcing celebration in Tempe.
More than 100 guests were introduced to the new Historymakers’ accomplishments, and contributions in the world of agriculture, medicine and community outreach.
In presenting “Dede” Yazzie Devine, Diane Smith, the Historical League’s committee co-chairman, highlighted her as a community leader who created innovative housing, and health programs for Native Americans with the nonprofit Native American Connections (NAC).
The program operates more than 1,200 affordable housing units within 24 service sites. NAC created innovative nationally recognized models of care for supportive housing and integration of Native American traditional healing practices for those impacted by addiction, mental health and abuse. It serves 10,000 people each year.
Along with Devine the 2025 Historymakers included Bob Boze Bell, John W. Graham, Sharon and Oliver Harper M.D., Sister Adele O’Sullivan, CSJ, M.D., Ronald Rayner, Eric Reiman M.D., and David Wooten M.D.
Also recognized during the evening were past Arizona Historymakers Elizabeth White, Honorable Jim Bruner, Stevie Eller, Merrill Mahaffey, and Harry and Rose Papp.
The night celebrated Arizona’s statehood, and a tribute to White on her 102nd birthday.
The Arizona Historymakers’ program created in 1992 by the Historical League Inc., awards Arizona individuals, who have distinguished themselves with noted achievements and have maintained their ties to Arizona. To date mor than 90 Historymakers have been honored over the years at celebration events, and inclusion in the Historymakers Hall exhibit at the Arizona Heritage Center. Their videos, oral histories and transcripts are uploaded to the League’s website, YouTube, and preserved in the Library and Archives of Arizona Historical Society’s Heritage Center at Papago Park.
The Historymaker Committee is presenting Turquoise & Treasures, a celebration evening on Oct. 25 to honor and share how the 2025 Arizona Historymakers have contributed to Arizona and the nation.
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