Community Programs

Recognizing and enhancing the leadership skills of Native youth inspired to make positive changes in their communities.  

The Champions for Change community-based programs are modeled after the Champions for Change national program. Five or more young inspiring leaders dedicated to creating positive changes in their community are selected to each cohort. For approximately one year, the Native youth leaders receive experience-based learning and tailored leadership, advocacy, community organizing and communications training. Throughout the program, each youth develops a community action project. These projects are designed to incite the positive changes in community that youth wish to see.  

Current community-based programs include the Calm Before the Storm and Growing into Wowachinyepi. 

Calm Before the Storm 

The Calm Before the Storm leadership program is housed at the Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College located in New Town, North Dakota on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The program is tailored to young Indigenous students enrolled at the institution.  

 

 

 

 

Growing into Wowachinyepi

The Growing into Wowachinyepi leadership program is housed at the Cheyenne River Youth Project located in Eagle Butte, South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. The word “Wowachinyepi” is of the Lakota language and translates to “those they can depend on.”  

Are you interested in bringing a Champions for Change program to your community? Contact Cheyenne Brady at cheyenne.brady@aspeninstitute.org to learn more.