Tyra Blackwater

Campaign coordination as connection.

Tyra grew up on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, and that foundation shapes how she works. Before joining DH, she spent time in the fashion industry focused on social impact, helping brands express their ethics and connect with Native artists and artisans. At the heart of it all, she says, is storytelling. “I like to make space for underrepresented voices, to make sure communities feel seen and campaigns feel authentic and relatable.”

Her measure for success isn’t only whether a project gets delivered, but also whether people see it and think, “That was made for me.” Tyra says respectful representation — and the resulting trust — are ultimately what make social impact work meaningful and social change possible.

Turning feedback to growth.

Tyra brings a healthy sense of humility to community-facing work. She’s quick to note that her story is one piece of a larger culture, that her experience may not reflect her whole community and that that’s true for others as well. That’s why she leads with curiosity and questions.

Tyra says:

Being an artist and advocate for all things analog.

Outside of DH, Tyra is an artist in every sense. She designs and upcycles clothing, works with natural materials inspired by the desert landscape she grew up in, and creates sun prints and sculptures that connect her art to the land. She’s also working with friends on an independent magazine they’ve titled FREEZE MAG. Built around Seattle’s creative community, the magazine is committed to breaking the ice, melting the “Seattle Freeze,” and making space for voices that don’t always find their way into traditional media. Tyra hopes others will embrace the retro revival: “Bring back magazines! Bring back print ads! Bring back analog!”