The Learning to Lead: The Impact of Youth Organizing on the Educational and Civic Trajectories of Low-Income Youth report examines the ways that participation in youth organizing groups while in high school impacts the educational and civic trajectories of young adults. The study, conducted by UCLA Professor John Rogers and USC Professor Veronica Terriquez, compares the experiences of former members of youth organizing groups to those of a randomly selected sample of young adults who never participated in youth organizing while in high school. Rogers and Terriquez find that youth organizing alumni are far more likely than comparable peers across California to enroll in four-year colleges and universities and engage in various civic activities in early adulthood. These findings provide further evidence for the value of youth organizing: In addition to building power and garnering significant policy “wins,” youth organizing groups are powerful agents for youth development.

You may read/download the complete report HERE.

Webinar: How to Become an Effective Leader

On September 24, 2015, from 6 to 7 p.m. ET, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will host “Learning to Lead,” a Webinar presented by UNITY: Today’s Native Leaders.  Young people who participate in youth leadership and youth development activities tend to do better in school, are more active in their communities, and have an easier time moving onto adulthood. This webinar will explore how to assess your leadership skills and learn how to become an effective leader.

The training will be led by Chance Rush of Cloudboy Consulting and UNITY youth leader Hamilton Seymour. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and learn more about this free Webinar.

On September 24, 2015, from 6 to 7 p.m. ET, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will host “Learning to Lead,” a Webinar presented by UNITY: Today’s Native Leaders.  Young people who participate in youth leadership and youth development activities tend to do better in school, are more active in their communities, and have an easier time moving onto adulthood. This webinar will explore how to assess your leadership skills and learn how to become an effective leader.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore leadership qualities youth bring to their schools and communities
• Recognize youth leadership skills and priorities
• Build support among peers to take on leadership roles and practice leadership skills by creating positive change in schools, organizations, or communities

For more information visit the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Online University site.

You may register to participate in this webinar HERE.
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Free training offered for up to 120 youth!

Mesa, AZ—Free leadership training for up to 120 American Indian youth is available on a first come first serve basis from November 6-8, 2015 in Spokane, Washington. 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 Red Lion Hotel at the Park.

This TNL training focuses on culturally relevant leadership development and will include:

• 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

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NEWS RELEASE

Mesa, AZ—Six Native American youth groups have been selected to share their service projects in Washington, DC during the Today’s Native Leaders National Summit on July 9, held in conjunction with the White House Tribal Youth Gathering. UNITY partnered with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in 2013 for the Today’s Native Leaders (TNL) program. This exciting four-year initiative offers Native youth the opportunity to participate in trainings throughout the country that provide a plan for developing and implementing service projects in their communities.

In the past year, trainings have been held in Arizona, Florida, and South Dakota. Over the next couple of years, TNL staff and trainers will host events in five additional locations throughout the country including Washington, Minnesota, Oklahoma, California, and Massachusetts. A schedule of the remaining sites are available on the UNITY website at www.unityinc.org.

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Do you need help with Youth Action Planning for your community service project or youth activities? If so, register and join us for an upcoming Webinar that is open to Native youth, youth councils, advisors, and youth workers. Pearl Yellowman, Navajo Nation, national Native youth leadership development trainer and UNITY alumna will conduct the training. The material presented will also be useful to those who are planning a GEN-I project.

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Rapid City, South Dakota—Nearly 100 Native American youth and their advisors from tribes across the nation discussed how they can give back to their communities at a leadership training last week in Rapid City, South Dakota. United National Indian Tribal Youth, also known as UNITY, in partnership with the Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) hosted the “Today’s Native Leaders” (TNL) youth leadership event at the Hilton Garden Inn in Rapid City.

The free TNL training, which focused on culturally relevant leadership development, included a curriculum promoting team building activities, action planning & event promotion, developing community service projects, and “How to create a UNITY youth council.” A group of Native youth peer leaders assisted in the training including Alexandria GreyBull, Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes from South Dakota, Nataanii Hatathlie, Navajo from New Mexico, Leslie Locklear, Lumbee from North Carolina, Hamilton Seymour, Nooksack from Washington, Layha Spoonhunter, Eastern Shoshone from Idaho, Claullen Tillman, Eastern Shoshone from Wyoming, and Alexander Toledo, Jemez Pueblo from New Mexico.

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A flyer with information concerning the upcoming Today’s Native Leaders National Summit is attached.

On February 26, 2015, from 5 to 6 p.m. ET, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will host “Youth Action Planning:  Develop a Fundraising Plan,” a Webinar presented by UNITY: Today’s Native Leaders.

Training Summary:

This webinar will focus on creative fundraising and will challenge participants to think outside the box when fundraising for youth council projects. This is the third Webinar in the “How to Build an Effective Youth Council” series.
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Free training offered for up to 100 Native youth!

Mesa, Arizona—Free leadership training for up to 100 Native American youth is available on a first come first serve basis in April in Rapid City, South Dakota.  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  Hilton Garden Inn from April 10-12, 2015. There is no registration fee.

This TNL training, featuring renowned lead trainer Jeri Brunoe of the Wasco Tribe, focuses on culturally relevant leadership development and will include:

• 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

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