Center for Native American Youth

Center for Native American Youth
Name	Center for Native American Youth
Founded	2008
Founder	Ted Strong (Note: do not create a separate linked page for founder)
Type	Nonprofit advocacy
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Parent organization	Aspen Institute

Center for Native American Youth

The Center for Native American Youth is a nonprofit advocacy initiative based in Washington, D.C. focused on advancing the well-being of Indigenous youth across the United States, including communities in Alaska, Hawaii, the Navajo Nation, the Cherokee Nation, and other tribal jurisdictions. The Center operates within the framework of the Aspen Institute and engages with federal entities such as the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the United States Department of Education, and the United States Congress to address disparities affecting Native communities.

History

The Center for Native American Youth was established in 2008 within the Aspen Institute amid nationwide efforts catalyzed by leaders from organizations including the National Congress of American Indians, the Native American Rights Fund, and the Indian Health Service. Early collaborations involved tribal leaders from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation, and advocates associated with the National Indian Education Association and the Native American Heritage Association. The Center’s formation paralleled national moments such as the enactment of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act reauthorization debates and policy initiatives following reports by the Institute of Medicine (US). Over time the Center expanded programming aligned with initiatives from the White House Tribal Nations Conferences and engagement with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including members from committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the United States House Committee on Natural Resources.

Mission and Programs

The Center’s mission emphasizes youth leadership development, cultural preservation, health equity, and educational access for Native youth in locales including Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Native Hawaiian communities, and urban Indian centers. Programs have included youth summits informed by leaders from the National Indian Health Board, curriculum partnerships with the Smithsonian Institution, tribal scholarship programs linked to the American Indian College Fund, and mental health initiatives coordinated with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Programmatic work has intersected with legal advocacy by entities like the Bureau of Indian Affairs and research undertaken by the Urban Indian Health Program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on issues affecting Indigenous adolescents.

Leadership and Organization

The Center operates under the auspices of the Aspen Institute with an executive leadership team that has engaged with tribal chairpersons, youth delegates from the National Congress of American Indians Youth Commission, and leaders from organizations such as the Native American Rights Fund, the First Nations Development Institute, and the Intertribal Agriculture Council. Governing relationships include advisory input from representatives of the Association on American Indian Affairs, the Native American Lifelines, and educational leaders associated with the Bureau of Indian Education and the Council on Native Hawaiian Advancement.

Advocacy and Policy Impact

Advocacy efforts by the Center have targeted legislation and administrative actions involving the Indian Child Welfare Act, funding allocations in appropriations overseen by the United States Department of the Interior, and public health responses coordinated with the Indian Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Center has submitted testimony and recommendations to bodies including the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and worked alongside coalitions like the National Congress of American Indians, the Native American Rights Fund, and the American Indian Health Commission to influence policies related to housing, tribal sovereignty, and youth services. The Center’s policy briefs and youth-led advocacy have intersected with litigation trends involving the Supreme Court of the United States when cases touch tribal jurisdiction and youth protections.

Events and Awards

The Center convenes annual youth summits in partnership with institutions such as the Aspen Institute, the Smithsonian Institution, and tribal venues on reservations including the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and the Rosebud Indian Reservation. It recognizes young leaders through awards that have honored recipients alongside officials from the White House, the National Congress of American Indians, and the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. Events have featured speakers from academia and policy circles such as the Native American Rights Fund, the First Americans Museum, and leaders from tribal governments including the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Yurok Tribe.

Partnerships and Funding

The Center’s partnerships span philanthropic, governmental, and tribal institutions, including collaborations with the Aspen Institute, the Ford Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and corporate partners engaged with Native communities. Federal partnerships have included work with the Indian Health Service, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Department of Education on grant-funded projects. Cooperative efforts extend to tribal colleges such as Haskell Indian Nations University and Diné College, cultural institutions like the National Museum of the American Indian, and legal partners such as the Native American Rights Fund and the National Congress of American Indians.

Category:Native American youth organizations