The United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY) will be accepting applications through February 29 for the second class of its national youth leadership recognition program, the “25 Under 25 Native Youth Leadership Awards”. The awards program celebrates the achievements of Native American and Alaskan Native youth ages 14 to 24 who embody UNITY’s core mission and exude living a balanced life developing their spiritual, mental, physical and social well-being. In addition to being recognized, each awardee will receive special training by UNITY over the period of one year that is designed to build on their individual achievements.

 “Tribal leaders, community leaders, parents and elders are encouraged to nominate a youth from their community for this prestigious recognition,” said Mary Kim Titla, Executive Director of UNITY, Inc. “The 25 Under 25 program happens every other year, we look forward to another class of outstanding youth leaders who are doing great things for our people and their communities,” added Titla. The purpose of UNITY’s 25 Under 25 program is to:

• Recognize the accomplishments of Native young people, ages 14 to 25, who are dedicated to serving their communities;
• Provide training and hands-on learning activities that will increase the participants’ ability to serve their community;
• Encourage rising Native leaders to aspire to greater levels of achievement; and
• Build a support network of ‘service to community’ minded leaders that will grow with each year; and Further the UNITY mission of building a strong, unified, and self-reliant Native America through greater youth involvement.