Youth Councils in Action
For Nathan Solorio, helping at a health fair was an opportunity to serve alongside his own youth council and contribute to a welcoming community gathering. On October 7, 2023, he joined the Lifelines Urban Native Alliance, or LUNA, Youth Council at the Native American Lifelines Fall Harvest Health Fair in Baltimore, Maryland.
“I was thrilled to work with my Youth Council to help put on a positive event in Maryland!” Solorio shared. His report focuses on the satisfaction of working collectively, placing local service alongside his responsibilities as UNITY’s Northeast Representative.
Solorio, a member of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, belonged to the 2023–2024 National UNITY Council Executive Committee cohort. That cohort brings regional representatives and co-presidents together to connect Native youth councils, represent youth perspectives, and support leadership through shared action. His work with LUNA illustrates how those national responsibilities remain connected to a local council.
Native American Lifelines hosted the Fall Harvest Health Fair, while LUNA members contributed their time and participation. Working with fellow council members placed youth involvement within a broader community effort focused on health and connection.
The partnership connects with UNITY’s emphasis on wellness and social development. A health-focused community gathering gives youth a setting in which service, relationships, and care for others can come together. Working beside fellow council members also provides experience in cooperation and contributing to a shared effort.
Solorio’s other 2023 reports show a similar commitment to being present in community spaces. He met youth interested in UNITY at a powwow, helped with regional outreach, and danced with Northeast participants at the World Cultural Festival. These were different kinds of involvement, linked by his interest in connection and participation.
At the Baltimore health fair, the contribution was close to home and collaborative. Solorio was not simply reporting on an organization from a distance; he was working with the youth council he identified as his own.
His reflection demonstrates why local service belongs in a national leadership story. Supporting a positive gathering with LUNA gave the Northeast Representative a concrete way to contribute while strengthening the relationships that sustain youth council involvement.
