Free Leadership Training for Native Youth Offered in Anchorage, Alaska

SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 – MESA, AZ – Motivational trainer Robert Johnston, Choctaw, recording artist and speaker Marcus Guinn, Osage and Potawatomi, and peer trainer Leslie Locklear, Lumbee, are teaming up to offer free leadership training for up to 80 American Indian and Alaska Native youth from September 30 to October 2 in Anchorage, Alaska. United National Indian Tribal Youth, also known as UNITY, in partnership with the Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is hosting the “Today’s Native Leaders” (TNL) youth leadership event at the Anchorage Sheraton Hotel. There is no registration fee.

Johnston has served as a Lead Trainer for UNITY for many years. Guinn, who is also a rap artist and DJ, has served on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee. Locklear is a former National UNITY Council Co-President and is currently serving as TNL’s lead peer trainer, in addition to pursuing her Ph.D. Johnston, Guinn and Locklear are ready to combine their talents to empower and motivate youth and adult participants.

The free TNL training focuses on culturally relevant leadership development, including:

• Team building activities

• Action planning & event promotion

• Developing community service projects

• How to create a UNITY youth council

• Opportunity to present at a national conference

• Training Materials

Limited scholarships to assist with a portion of group hotel costs are still available on a first come, first serve basis. Youth trained through this initiative will have an opportunity to assume leadership roles at the TNL National Summit and National UNITY Conference next July in Denver, Colorado.

Future Trainings

The TNL initiative will offer tribal youth leadership training in Palm Springs, CA, December 2-4, 2016 and Boston, MA, in April 2017. Trainings will expand the number of UNITY youth councils and youth-led community service projects.

For more information or an application for the training in Anchorage, call Lynnann Yazzie at (480) 718-9793 or email her at l.yazzie@unityinc.org. For information about UNITY, go to http://unityinc.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e88cfde123ac0ccc7d1f86376&id=4875369368&e=c2ffbf55eb.

This project was supported by 2013-TY-FX-K008 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs.

About UNITY

Established 40 years ago, UNITY—United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc.—is a national organization promoting personal development, citizenship, and leadership among tribal youth. UNITY is composed of 160 affiliated youth councils in 36 states, sponsored by tribes, Alaska Native villages, high schools, colleges, and urban Native centers.