President Obama Announced Native American Youth Challenge

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Winning The Future for Native American Youth
July 2011

The White House Office of Public Engagement launched the Native American Youth Challenge program.

In a video message, President Obama announced the challenge at the 2011 UNITY Youth Conference, calling for young American Indian and Alaska Native leaders to submit their stories of leadership and service in their communities.
VIDEO: http://www.whitehouse.gov/nativeamerica ... -challenge
(President Obama has challenged us all to help win the future by out-educating, out-innovating, and out-building our competitors in the 21st century. Are you doing extraordinary things to make a difference for your tribe, village or community? Take the Native American Youth Challenge. We want to hear your stories and a group of exceptional Native youth community leaders . . .)

The stories submitted will be considered and evaluated based on a demonstrated record of service to one’s tribe, nation, village, or community. Young leaders who have sought to improve their communities are encouraged to submit stories in one or more of the following areas:

Education, Mentorship or Afterschool Programs;
Sports, Nutrition or Let’s Move! in Indian Country;
Substance and Alcohol Abuse Prevention;
Health and Wellness, including Youth Suicide Prevention;
Building Healthy Relationships and Peer Relationships;
Cultural Preservation and Native Languages;
Anti-Bullying and Personal Empowerment;
Self Expression through Arts and Crafts;
Emerging Leadership in Government Service; and
Economic and Community Development

As a part of the challenge, a handful of exceptional Native youth community leaders will be invited to the White House this fall in conjunction with the activities of Native American heritage month. Submissions should include a description of the leadership initiatives or community programs; the number of people involved or effected; key examples of success; and explanations of the barriers or challenges and how they were overcome. Simply put, we hope to hear from Native American Youth to learn about how you are working to overcome the challenges facing your communities – send us your stories!
http://www.whitehouse.gov/nativeamerica ... -challenge

One great example of how young people are overcoming the challenges facing Indian Country is by taking part in the First Lady’s initiative, Let’s Move! in Indian Country.
http://www.doi.gov/letsmove/indiancountry/index.cfm
The White House Summer South Lawn Series hosted a lacrosse event for approximately 80 Native American youth from the Menominee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Native Lifelines of Baltimore, as well as local youth from Annapolis and D.C. The groups played and learned about Lacrosse with some of the best players in the game, while also learning about the origins of the game and cultural traditions from members of the Onondaga Nation. viewtopic.php?p=13551#p13551

Let’s Move! in Indian Country strives to bring together federal agencies, communities, nonprofits, corporate partners and tribes to end the epidemic of childhood obesity in Indian Country within a generation. http://www.doi.gov/letsmove/indiancountry/index.cfm

Edited from information provided by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement

President Obama has challenged us all to help win the future by out-educating, out-innovating, and out-building our competitors in the 21st century.

Are you doing extraordinary things to make a difference for your tribe, village or community? Take the Native American Youth Challenge. We want to hear your stories and a group of exceptional Native youth community leaders will be invited to the White House this fall in conjunction with the activities of Native American heritage month. We will also consider your stories of leadership and service as we feature individuals on the White House website. Tell us your story – everyone has a story to tell and a part to play.

Requirements:

You must be aged 13-25
Maximum of 250 words
All submissions must be received by September 30, 2011
Submissions may be about yourself or another leader in your community, however all submissions must be written by people age 25 or younger
Any individuals invited to the White House will be responsible for obtaining their own travel and lodging

Your submissions should include a description of the leadership or community activity, the number of people involved or impacted, key examples of success, and barriers or challenges for the leadership efforts and how they were overcome.

Take the Native American Youth Challenge . . .
http://www.whitehouse.gov/nativeamerica ... -challenge