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Zombies, Basketball & Gardening: California youth approaches to Wellness

Native youth from the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians joined the national UNITY Wellness Warriors movement by sharing traditional wellness teachings in creative ways. Learn more on how this Youth Council paired substance abuse awareness with community service projects to address community health.

The Coyote Valley Youth Council addressed Physical Wellness by participating in the 3×3 basketball and Opioid awareness promotions event called “Zombie Walk.” The event took place in Ukiah’s downtown area to spread awareness to the surrounding community. The youth council created posters for the event, faces were painted as zombies and we walked through the town holding their posters and informing others know about the epidemic facing Indian Country.

Indigenous food sovereignty efforts help promote Mental and Spiritual Wellness among Native youth. In efforts to bring these wellness teachings to the community, the Youth Council volunteered at the Coyote Valley Gymnasium Garden. The Youth Council began by picking weeds out of the garden beds, to ensure the garden was ready for the new plants’ vegetables and fruits that were to be planted. Coyote Valley Youth Council has taken the responsibility to help maintain the community garden, maintaining such as watering the plants,continue to clean out weeds and to make sure plants are growing properly.

The UNITY Wellness Warriors Program challenges affiliated youth councils to implement a Wellness Warrior event this year. Youth councils can join the initiative by utilizing the project planning tools offered through the free mobile phone app and on the UNITY website.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE:
Download the FREE UNITY Wellness Warriors App today! Use the mobile app to create a Action Plan for your next wellness event!
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A Special Thank you to the W. K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) for their ongoing support of the UNITY Wellness Warriors Program. WKKF supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society.