UNITY Youth Highlight Katy Johnston’s first UNITY conference as Female Co-President carried both a leadership milestone and a personal sense of connection. At the February 2024 Midyear Conference in Arizona, being surrounded by Native youth and the UNITY community was an important part of what she took from the gathering. Johnston, a member of the […]
UNITY Youth Highlight Three days of art, medicine, and time in her home valley gave Katy Johnston a meaningful experience during a difficult March. Alongside UNITY alumna Jeri Bruno, she helped facilitate the We Are Living Arts event, connecting cultural expression with opportunities for healing. Johnston, a member of the Bishop Paiute Tribe, served as […]
UNITY Youth Highlight Keeping up with college assignments and making room for her own well-being became connected priorities for Katy Johnston in April. Her report described a deliberate effort to practice the care she often encouraged other people to give themselves. Johnston, a member of the Bishop Paiute Tribe, served as Female Co-President in UNITY’s […]
Youth Councils in Action Marla Mesarina’s March work connected youth voice with tribal decision-making, environmental leadership, mental health, and cultural learning. Her Midwest update described a month of bringing young people into conversations about their communities while supporting opportunities for them to develop and share solutions. As Midwest Representative in UNITY’s 2023–2024 National UNITY Council […]
Youth Councils in Action Jalen Harvey’s September 2023 activities connected youth wellness, cultural learning, and opportunities to practice public leadership. Between a prevention webinar, youth council inauguration, community presentations, and her first emcee role, she encountered several ways young people were supporting one another. Harvey, who identifies as Navajo, Acoma Pueblo, and Hopi, served as […]
Youth Councils in Action Moderating a panel on mental health and substance abuse at the White House Tribal Youth Forum gave Jalen Harvey an opportunity to bring youth leadership into a national conversation. Her November 2023 report connected that experience with extensive community service and outreach across Arizona. Harvey, who identifies as Navajo, Acoma Pueblo, […]
UNITY Youth Highlight Chenoa Scippio’s fall 2022 speaking engagements brought Native youth leadership into conversations about community advocacy, data, cultural celebration, and public service. As a National UNITY Council Co-President, she moved between webinars and in-person gatherings while reflecting on how UNITY had prepared her to represent others. Scippio served in the National UNITY Council […]
UNITY Youth Highlight Ajah-Rain Yellowhair brought a youth advocacy perspective to the International Initiative for Mental Health and Disability Leadership Exchange in Arlington, Virginia, on October 26–27, 2022. The experience prompted her to consider how cultural knowledge, respectful relationships, and youth participation belong in conversations about community wellness. Yellowhair attended on behalf of Youth MOVE […]
UNITY Youth Highlight A Southwest Youth Meet Up became a starting point for conversations about forming youth groups in Santa Ana and Tesuque Pueblos. For Derek Capitan, the value of the October 2022 online gathering was in the relationships and follow-up it made possible. Capitan served in the National UNITY Council Executive Committee cohort as […]
