Gen-I Youth Ambassador Spotlight

As part of the Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) National Native Youth Network, CNAY has launched the Gen-I Youth Ambassador Program. The purpose of the Ambassador Program is to connect Native youth across Indian Country and give them opportunities to share their perspectives on Native youth priorities on a national platform through serving as spokespersons for their communities, for Gen-I, and for the Center for Native American Youth.

Since its launch, over 200 young people have signed up for the Gen-I Youth Ambassador Program. Ambassadors have been active on social media and in their communities, but have also been active though participating in engagement calls and online engagement chats on a variety of subjects. Highlighted below are two of our Gen-I Youth Ambassadors who have been doing great work in their communities and around the country.

Celeste, Oglala Lakota, created Thinking Indigenous. The website will be a social networking organization for Native youth across the country. She is building the website from scratch, building out the code. She is also recruiting a team comprised of other young Natives to expand the site. The long term goal for the site is to have Thinking Indigenous serve as an international social message for Native and Indigenous youth around the world.

Jason, Tohono O’odham, served as the Tohono O’odham Nation Voter Outreach Coordinator in the Office of the Pima County Recorder. In this role, he worked with members of the Tohono O’odham Nation to register to vote for National, State and Local elections. During the 2014 General Election, Jason worked with tribal leaders to successfully operate an Early Voting Site on the reservation. This resulted in a 300% increase in early voting turnout on the Tohono O’odham Nation.

To learn more about the Gen-I Youth Ambassador program or to sign up, please visit: http://cnay.org/Gen-I_Youth_Ambassadors.html.