Office Staff
Carolina Castoreno (Lipan Apache),Executive Director
Carolina Castoreno is the Executive Director of the American Indian Center of Indiana. She is an enrolled member of Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, and is also of Mescalero Apache descent. At Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, she pursued her BA in an Individualized Major focusing on Multicultural and Diversity Studies with a minor in Creative Writing and served as the President of the Native American Student Alliance. She has presented on topics surrounding Indigenous identity and rights at several Educational and Diversity conferences across the state and country. As Director, she has increased outreach activities, started a food pantry, and created partnerships to address inequities Urban Indians face with regards to substance abuse and access to Mental healthcare. Carolina’s academic and advocacy efforts focus on the preservation of Native identity, decolonization efforts, and education for and of Indigenous peoples of the Americas. One of her biggest passions is collaborating with other communities of color, and she is dedicated to improving the image and presence of AICI in the community. Carolina is a writer, activist, student, and mother who is dedicated to social justice, the preservation of Native identity, decolonization efforts, and education for and of Indigenous peoples of all the Americas. Contact: ccastoreno@americanindiancenter.org
Alvina LaForge (Crow)The People's Circle Recovery Café Manager, Lead Peer Support
Contact: alaforge@americanindiancenter.org
Alvina Laforge, CAPRC ll, MATS, CSPR-PR, CAPRC1-FS is originally from Montana, raised on the Crow reservation. She is an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe of Montana and a descendant of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. She currently works for the American Indian Center of Indiana as the café manager and Peer Support Specialist for The People's Circle Recovery Café. Through the MHAI, she obtained her CRS/CHW credentials. While working at Lafayette Recovery Cafe, Alvina was the recipient of the Tippecanoe County Recovery Rally, peer of the Year for 2020. On behalf of Mental Health America of Indiana Board of Directors and Faculty, she has been awarded the 2021 Heroes for Recovery, Recovery Coach of the Year. As a person in long-term recovery, her goal is to give back and help others find their way. Alvina is passionate about sharing her journey and expertise with the Native community of Indiana, as it has always been her passion to work with and for her people.
Laura Vega (Tarahumara Descent)
WIOA Case Manager/Bilingual Peer Support
Contact: lvega@americanindiancenter.org
Colten Condon (Lakota, Cheyenne River)
Front Desk
Contact: frontdesk@americanindiancenter.org
