UNITY AWARDED OJJDP GRANT TO SUPPORT TRIBAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE

January 25, 2019 – Mesa, Arizona – With a three-year grant awarded by the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), UNITY has begun a national search for a full-time Project Manager to support and build on the successes of the past OJJDP National Intertribal Youth Leadership efforts and the Today’s Native Leaders program. The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall development of the Tribal Youth Leadership Initiative program, enhancing Native youth engagement, coordination, and action related to public safety issues, with a focus on juvenile justice and delinquency prevention in Indian country.

Responsibilities also include creating and supporting the initiative's planning team, providing overall direction and coordination for training events and activities, and serving as the primary liaison for project collaborators.

Under the new initiative, UNITY will be recruiting a diverse group of youth leaders and mentors, who will design and facilitate intensive training in critical aspects of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention efforts for cohorts of youth throughout the country. Young people will serve as leaders to provide training, mentoring, support, resources, information, and other assistance for their peers who are interested in becoming leaders in efforts to increase public safety and creatively prevent and address juvenile delinquency.

UNITY, with its team of trainers, youth guides, and mentors will offer a series of regional youth leadership development training that will enable Native youth, and their adult advisors, to create, plan, organize, and carry out projects, programs, education, awareness campaigns and other efforts within their respective communities. The projects will benefit tribal communities while providing valuable real-world leadership experiences that will better prepare the involved youth to succeed in their future leadership roles.