About
Vision
NIYLP's vision is a world with generations of healthy, capable, caring, resilient Native youth who contribute to their groups, famalies, communities and nations.
We envision NIYLP to be in the forefront of the national youth development movement as leaders, mentors, and learners in Native communities.
Mission
NIYLP's mission is to nurture the potential of Native youth to be contributors to a more positive world through adventure-based learning, service to nature, community, and family.
Values
YOUTH
...capable, resilient youth who embody cultural pride.
...treating Native youth with respect and cultural responsibility.
...youth as central to all that we do.SERVICES
...culturally sensative staff who promote and live heathly lifestyles.
...emphasizing traditional Native teachings in our programs.
...learning by doing through outdoor adventure and service.LEADERSHIP
...placing youth as our highest priority in decision-making.
...teamwork, fairness, integrity, respect, courage, clarity, joy.
...active participation and consensus building.
...healthy and harmonious workplace relationships.ORGANIZATION
...the traditional value of giving back to one's community.
...safe positive environment for youth, adults and elders.
...innovation and perservence in achieving goals.
...balance between traditional wisdom and modern practices.
...the teacher and learner in all us.
...peace, honor and appreciation of differences in the world.
About NIYLP
2007 has seen major breakthroughs for NIYLP. We completed our new Strategic Plan, funded by the Healing Winds Foundation of Santa Fe, followed by a comprehensive Business and Sustainability Plan, with the Bridgespan Group, with funding support from the Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation. Based on the new plans, NIYLP will be expanding into nearly all of the schools in New Mexico and Arizona that have significant populations of Native mid school aged students, over the next ten years. We will also continue to work with our national replication sites. As part of the planning process, we have refocused our work on spreading our Project Venture model regionally and nationally and have spun off some of our other programs, including the Coalition for Healthy and Resilient Youth and our Sacred Mountain Search & Rescue program to other community based organizations in the area. Refocusing on our core mission will allow us to direct more resources to direct services with Native youth.
But what does this mean for Native American students? In a recent interview with a group of young people who participated in NIYLP programs in mid school and worked with NIYLP in high school, they had these comments about their experience:
“ NIYLP has changed my life, sometimes I can’t imagine what it would be like if I never joined this program….At NIYLP I feel free to follow my dreams, I feel safe, like I belong…I learned to control my emotions, I learned to care for people and not to bottle up my anger….Without NIYLP, I may have gone down the road of drugs, violence and jail, NIYLP helped me just like it could help others” Jennifer B. (Navajo, age 15)
“The NIYLP camp this year was tough but worth the time. It was an experience that I enjoyed and it seems to get better every year. I enjoyed teaching the campers about the outdoors and challenging themselves to try something new. They learned that they are a part of a new way of thinking. NIYLP is a good decision that I made and it’s constantly helping me learn and grow”. Alex B. (Navajo, age 18), Alex was an NIYLP Service Staff while in high school and is currently an Americorps member.
And how can you help? Your contribution will support high quality after school programs, mentoring and homework help, outdoor adventure programming (ropes course, backpack trips, rappelling and climbing, mountain biking, canoeing) service learning projects in the community and cultural activities. But no matter the amount of your gift, your involvement is what counts. Join us to help sustain one of the oldest and most successful Native American youth organizations. Thank you.
Highlights of 2007
- NIYLP conducted our 25th Annual National Indian Youth Leadership Camp
- NIYLP co-sponsored the National Service Learning Conference in Albuquerque, with Jane Goodall as the keynote speaker
- NIYLP is in discussions with the Jane Goodall Institute to become the Native American affiliate for Jane’s Roots & Shoots program
- NIYLP conducted the first annual Positive Youth Development in American Indian Communities conference, in Santa Fe
- NIYLP is implementing Project Venture school wide at the Laguna Mid School, as part of a 3 year grant from the Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation
- NIYLP completed its Business/Sustainability planning process