Southeast Region
UNITY Regional Profile
The Southeast Region consists of geographical areas and the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, West Virginia and Virginia . The Western region has 20 affiliated youth councils in 12 states within the UNITY Network.
2024 Fall Native Youth Meetup
2022 SPRING SOUTHEAST VIRTUAL MEET-UP
UNITY News: Southeast Updates
Kaylee Evans Leads with Purpose Across the Southeast Leadership steeped in cultural pride and resilience drives Kaylee Evans as Southeastern…
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“Bridging Communities: Kaylee Evans Leads with Heart and Purpose” When Kaylee Evans speaks, Native youth listen. As the Southeastern Representative…
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For Kaylee Evans, a Haliwa-Saponi and Lumbee leader serving on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, leadership is about more…
Kaylee Evans, a proud member of the Haliwa-Saponi and Lumbee Tribes, embodies the transformative power of UNITY’s youth leadership programs….
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To highlight Leadership in the Southeastern Region, National UNITY Council Executive Committee Representative Thorn Grove interviewed individuals who positively impact…
Alitama Perkins, 17, Eastern Band Cherokee/Waccamaw/Mdewakanton/Equadorian, from Cherokee, North Carolina, shared her talents with UNITY‘s executive director Mary Kim Titla…
2023-24 National UNITY Council Executive Committee BIOGRAPHIES Jonathan Arakawa, UNITY Co-President Tribe: Lower Elwha Klallam, Washington Jonathan Arakawa is…
The 2023-24 National UNITY Council Declaration of Candidacy Petition Online Application process is now open. This petition is for National…
Your UNITY Executive Committee (EC) has been hard at work these past six months within their regions. Explore each youth’s…
Southeast Regional Representative: Kaylee Evans
Kaylee Evans– UNITY Southeast Area Representative
Tribes: Haliwa-Saponi/Lumbee
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Kaylee Evans, the 17-year-old daughter of Earl Evans and Amanda (Collins) Jacobs, currently serves as the UNITY Southeastern Representative. Through this Kaylee hopes to continue her passion of advocating for American Indian youth and communities. At the tender age of 7 years old, Kaylee walked the halls of the United States Congress with her father, then vice chairman of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe, in a unified push with tribal leaders from across the country seeking increased resources for Indian nations. There, particularly speaking about her experience as a student in the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School, Kaylee met with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. She also sent a letter to then-President of the United States Barack Obama, whom to her surprise, wrote back. President Obama encouraged her to “Always remember that nothing is beyond your reach as long as you are willing to dream big and work hard. If you stay focused on your education and remember to help others whenever you can, I know there are no limits to what you can achieve.” Kaylee has held firm to that advice. Kaylee’s commitment to school is just as furious as her community advocacy as she has continued to maintain a 4.0+ GPA. As the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic reached epic proportions in 2020, Kaylee and her family led multiple fundraisers to help community members in need. Bags filled with hand sanitizer, face masks and canned foods were distributed to dozens of Haliwa-Saponi elders before many government services mobilized. Now a rising senior at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), Kaylee endeavors to reinvigorate intertribal youth collaboration. Growing up in both the Haliwa-Saponi and Lumbee communities, Kaylee recognizes the importance of unifying youth from the different tribes around common concerns. With her titles held, Miss NC Native American Youth Organization (NCNAYO), NCNAYO Female Co-Chair, and NCNAYO secretary, Kaylee has committed to lead by example, staying involved in all facets of the organization and encouraging others to do the same. Her 2022 NCNAYO election speech invoked encouragement for conference attendees in fashion similar to inspiration she received from President Obama’s letter. “A wise person once told me, the change you wish to make is in your hands, so you have the control…” she shared with NCNAYO youth. “We as the next leaders of our communities hold the power of change in our hands, we just have to grasp it.” said Kaylee. Not being one to waste time, nor an opportunity, Kaylee is taking her message to tribal youth across the country.
SOUTHEAST REGION
Kaylee Evans, Southeast Regional Representative
National UNITY Council Executive Committee
Southeast Region Youth Councils
- Poarch Creek Youth Council
- Seminole Tribe Youth Council
- Yamassee Youth Council
- Tunica-Biloxi Youth Council
- Coushatta Tribe
- HUYGI Youth Coucil
- Sovereign Youth Council
- Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
- Rising Sun Youth Group
- Chahta Alla Youth Council
- Eastern Band of Cherokee Youth Council
- Talented American Indian Leaders’ Student UNITY Council
- NC Native American Youth Organization (NCNAYO)
- Red Earth Youth Council
- Haliwa Saponi Tribal Youth Council
- Waccamaw Siouan Drum Circle Youth Council
- Cherokee Youth Council
- NASA – Native American Student Association
Mariah Hernandez-Fitch, 23, Houma, Louisiana
School: 2nd year American Indian Studies Master’s program, University of California Los Angeles; Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Media Studies (2023), Dartmouth College
Platform: My dream is to combine the impactful medium of film with important issues like federal recognition, language revitalization, and coastal erosion through a youth program. This initiative aims to teach indigenous youth film production fundamentals, offering them a platform to tell their stories and contribute to meaningful projects. Recognizing the limited film production education in public schools, I want to fill this gap by introducing these skills at a younger age. Given my own challenges learning film production during college, I see the value in early exposure. However, access to necessary resources like computers, editing software, cameras, and lighting equipment is a significant barrier. To overcome this, I propose partnering with the library system to utilize their resources and create a supportive environment. The program could begin as a summer initiative, culminating in a community project. As the program director and instructor, I will share my passion for film and empower youth to use storytelling for positive change, fostering creative expression and technical skills for a more inclusive and empowered future.
“Being here with UNITY is such a great experience. You get to meet so many new people and learn more about different tribes and their cultures.””
“The gathering, the sharing of cultures, the UNITY of our people!”
“Our YOUTH is the future!”
“It’s the best place to be open about what you think and what you want to do for your school or community. They make you feel like family and welcome you openly.”
“Great organization that allows empowerment for the Native youth to excel in leadership skills, networking opportunity, and early professional growth.”
“Awesome for youth group & leadership.”