Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

White House Native American Youth Challenge

Last day to submit applications is this Friday, September 30, 2011

Since the launch of the White House Native American Youth Challenge in early July, young people across Indian Country have been answering the President’s call to submit their stories of leadership and service in their communities. Native youth have been active and engaged throughout the summer; hundreds attended the National United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) conference in Minnesota, the National Intertribal Youth Summit in New Mexico hosted by several federal agencies, and the Let’s Move in Indian Country Lacrosse event on the South Lawn of the White House, among others.

But as the summer has come to an end, so too does the Youth Challenge and the last day to submit applications is this Friday, September 30, 2011. We have already received an outstanding response and we hope even more young people will respond before the deadline.

Please share this with young people in you communities, we value your leadership and we look forward to hearing your stories. 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!

Sincerely,

Charles Galbraith

The White House - Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

WhiteHouse.gov/NativeAmericans

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"President Barack Obama has issued a call-to-action to Native American youth. He wants to hear solutions from Native American youth aged 13 to 25 on what they are doing to improve the futures of their communities.

"Across the country Native American young people like you are doing extraordinary things every day to help solve problems in your own communities," Obama says in the video. "The challenges you face are not small, solving them won't be easy, but we are making progress and you're leading the way."

Interested youth can visit Whitehouse.gov to submit a maximum of 250 words on how they have made a difference. A group of those youth will be chosen to visit the White House in the fall as part of Native American Heritage Month.

Youth can write submissions about themselves or another leader in their community, but each should include a description of the activity, the number of people involved and affected, examples of success, and obstacles facing the efforts, as well as how those obstacles were overcome.

Submissions will only be accepted from those 25 years of age or younger and youth chosen to visit the White House will be responsible for their own travel and lodging. Submissions are due by September 30."

 

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