Announcing the 2026 Champions for Change!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jamie Levitt, jamie.levitt@aspeninstitute.org

Center for Native American Youth Proudly Announces the 2026 Champions for Change
Six Indigenous youth leaders from across the country join together to represent their communities and affect change on a national scale.

WASHINGTON – January 27, 2026 – The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) at the Aspen Institute is thrilled to announce the Champions for Change class of 2026 – a cohort of six remarkable Native youth who are leading impactful change within their communities.

“Our team is so proud to recognize the largest class of Champs in the program’s history. The wide range of experience and passion these six young leaders demonstrate is a true testament to the depth and breadth of Native youth leadership happening across the nation,” said CNAY Executive Director Tracy Goodluck (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin & Mvskoke Creek). “It is our privilege to facilitate this work and uplift the young people who will collectively shape our futures. Congratulations to Sebastian, McKaylin, Zianne, Kaylah, Summer and Moses!”

The 2026 class joins the decade-strong Champions for Change (“Champs”) program, inclusive of nearly 60 active alumni. This year’s class reflects the diverse cultures, bright futures and overall resiliency of the Indigenous Peoples of the United States. Their focus areas include economic development, mental health, education, language revitalization, financial literacy and Tribal sovereignty. 

Meet the 2026 Champions for Change:

• Sebastian April (Mi’kmaq) – age 21, of Connecticut – is studying Plant Science with a minor in Cannabis Cultivation at the University of Connecticut.
• McKaylin Peters (Menominee) – age 24, of Wisconsin – is pursuing a Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership at Johns Hopkins University and serves as the Executive Director of the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin. 
• Zianne Richardson (Haliwa-Saponi) – age 24, of North Carolina – is a second grade teacher at the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School, with a Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 
• Kaylah Toves (Kanaka Maoli & Acoma Pueblo) – age 22, of Hawaii – is studying Government & American Studies with a minor in American Indian & Indigenous studies at Cornell University. 
• Summer Wildbill (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation) – age 21, of Oregon – is studying International Relations at New York University. 
• Moses Wiseman (Village of Chefornak) – age 24, of Alaska – is pursuing an Executive Masters of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership at Alaska Pacific University.

Launched in 2013, Champions for Change is a Native youth leadership initiative designed to highlight positive stories of impact from Indian Country. Each year, CNAY selects inspirational youth (ages 14-24) from across the country to serve as Champs, supporting their development through experience-based learning and tailored advocacy training. In 2026, CNAY’s goal is to ground all its programming through a lens of Tribal sovereignty. These young leaders are united by a desire to better their communities, and it is CNAY’s charge to ensure they have the tools to progress on their respective paths – equipping Champs to serve as advocates for sovereignty and self-determination.

The Champs’ yearlong partnership with CNAY begins next month with a series of events in Washington, DC – known as ‘Champs Week.’ You can hear the 2026 Champions for Change speak publicly for the first time at a panel discussion on February 10. For more information, or to schedule an interview with Champ or CNAY leader, please contact Jamie Levitt (jamie.levitt@aspeninstitute.org). Learn more about the Champions for Change program and Center for Native American Youth by visiting https://www.cnay.org/champions/.

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About CNAY: The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) at the Aspen Institute is a national organization that works alongside Native youth – ages 24 and under – on reservations, in rural villages and urban spaces across the country to improve their health, safety, and overall well- being. Rooted in culture, our vision is for all Native American youth to lead full and healthy lives, be honored for the leaders they are, and have the resources and agency to create the world Native youth are worthy of and deserve. Learn more: www.cnay.org