WhiteHouseLaunches“GenerationIndigenousNativeYouthChallenge”
Posted by Jodi Gillette, Senior Policy
Advisor for Native American Affairs
in the White House Domestic Policy
Council, and Raina Thiele, Associ-
ate Director in the White House
Office of Intergovernmental Affairs,
on Feb. 12, 2015, at whitehouse.gov/
blog/2015/02/12/white-house-launches-
generation-indigenous-native-youth-
challenge
Today, Director of the White House
Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Muñoz
announced the launch of the Generation
Indigenous Native Youth Challenge at the
2015 United National Indian Tribal Youth
(UNITY) Midyear Conference.
This challenge invites Native youth
and organizations across the country to
become a part of the Administration’s
Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) initiative
by joining the National Native Youth
Network – a White House effort in part-
nership with the Aspen Institute’s Center
for Native American Youth and the U.S.
Department of the Interior.
President Obama launched the Gen-I
Initiative at the 2014 White House
Tribal Nations Conference to focus on
improving the lives of Native youth by
removing the barriers that stand between
Native youth and their opportunity to
succeed. Through new investments and
increased engagement, this initiative takes
a comprehensive, culturally appropri-
ate approach to ensure all young Native
people can reach their full potential.
To use the mail order pharmacy
at the Siletz Community Health Clinic
to order your refills after hours and on
weekends: Please call the Siletz Clinic
7-10 days before you need your refills.
This allows us time to contact your
provider, if necessary, and for mailing.
In addition to the National Native
Youth Network, the Gen-I Initiative
includes a demonstration program called
the Native Youth Community Projects,
administered by the Department of Educa-
tion, a restructuring of the Bureau of Indian
Education, a Cabinet Native Youth Listen-
ing Tour and the organization of the first
ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering.
Also announced today was the sign-
ing of an agreement between UNITY, the
Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and
the White House to collaborate on the first
ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering
that will take place this summer.
We encourage everyone to take
the Gen-I Native Youth Challenge and
become a part of the National Native
Youth Network today!
Gen-INativeYouthChallenge
As part of the process of establish-
ing the National Native Youth Network,
we invite Native youth and all young
people across the country to take part in
the Gen-I Challenge.
This call to action is the first step in
engaging a broad network of people inter-
ested in addressing the issues facing Native
youth and creating a platform through
which Native youth can access informa-
tion about opportunities and resources, and
have their voices and positive contributions
highlighted and elevated.
Here’s how it works: Youth 14-24,
non-profits and educational institutions
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Call 800-648-0449; enter 1624
as soon as the clinic’s message
begins – you’ll be transferred to
the refill line.
Or call the refill line direct – 541-
444-9624.
Maude and Alfred Lane Family Reunion at
Crooked River Ranch, Oregon
There is a get-together at the Sandbagger Saloon and Restaurant
are invited to join the National Native
Youth Network by accepting the Gen-I
Challenge.
Who: Individuals, youth councils and
youth groups can participate as Challenge
Acceptors. Non-profit organizations, col-
leges, universities, and Tribal colleges and
universities (TCU) can become acceptors
by helping their youth and students com-
plete the Gen-I Challenge!
Youth and others can accept the chal-
lenge by following this link (cnay.org/
Challenge.html) and committing to take
the following steps.
Step 1: ACT. Within 30 days of tak-
ing the challenge, youth should work
with other youth in their community or at
their school to do something positive of
their choosing (for example: completing
a volunteer project with a local organiza-
tion or charity, hosting a meeting with
other youth to brainstorm how to address
an issue of concern in their community
or becoming a mentor to a younger per-
son). The youth can use toolkits from the
National Native Youth Network and their
partners to help them achieve their goal.
Their local Tribal youth council, urban
Tribal youth group or Native youth orga-
nization can also be a resource.
Step 2: CAPTURE. Youth should
document their community efforts and
projects through a short summary (3-4
sentences) with photos and video!
Step 3: SHARE. Youth should share
their stories online using #GenI and send
the National Native Youth Network their
story through cnay.org/Challenge.html.
The National Native Youth Network or the
White House may even feature their story.
Step 4: PARTICIPATE. By par-
ticipating in the National Native Youth
Network, youth may be invited to apply
to send a representative to the first ever
White House Tribal Youth Gathering in
Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2015.
Organizations, colleges, universities
and TCUs can take the Gen-I Challenge
too by committing to help their youth and
students complete the Gen-I Challenge!
They just follow this link (cnay.org/Chal-
lenge.html) to get signed up.
The following organizations have
already committed to take the Gen-I Chal-
lenge and get their youth on board.
Gen-INativeYouthChallenge
Early Acceptors
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American Indian College Fund
American Indian Higher Education
Consortium
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Center for Native American Youth at
the Aspen Institute
Close Up Foundation
National Congress of American
Indians
National Indian Child Welfare
Association
National Indian Education
Association
National Indian Health Board
United National Indian Tribal Youth
A TIP ABOUT
SECONDHAND
SMOKE
DON’T BE SHY ABOUT
TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO
SMOKE AROUND YOUR KIDS.
Aden, Age 7
Jessica, His mother
New York
Aug. 14 (Friday), 4-9 p.m.
Family BBQ
at Crooked River Ranch’s MacPherson Park
Aug. 15 (Saturday) • 2 p.m.to sunset
Bring your favorite beverages
BBQ will be provided. Side dishes welcome!
Please RSVP/call Linda & Greg Merrill for info at
(home) 541-548-2452, (cell) 541-598-6683 or
crookedwillowm@gmail.com
Lodging info and RV/camping info available
Reserve early!
I have reserved a block of tee times, so if you want to
play golf on the morning of the 15 th , let us know.
See you soon!
Half of U.S. kids are exposed to secondhand
smoke. For Aden, it triggers his asthma attacks.
Keep kids smoke-free. If someone you know
wants free help, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
March 2015
www.cdc.gov/tobacco
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SiletzNews
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