Media Mentions

Article, The Hilltop, Washington, DC

Off-Campus Adventure Highlights Outdoor Recreation for HBCU Students

CNAY joined Howard University students, HBCUs Outside and REI at the 2025 Welcome Outside Yard Fest to promote “closing the nature gap” and expanding outdoor recreation opportunities for BIPOC youth.

Events, Staff

Article, The Aspen Institute

How Young People Are Powering the Future of the Aspen Institute

Kaya Henderson, Executive Vice President and Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Center for Rising Generations, introduced CNAY and fellow programs as part of a new communal hub for youth-powered change in her recent blog post.

Partners, Staff

Article / Press Release, United National Indian Tribal Youth, Arizona

Mazie Countryman: Leading with Purpose, Uplifting Native Youth

2024 Brave Heart Fellow Mazie Countryman has been elected as UNITY’s 2025–2026 Female Co-President, where she will continue building on her CNAY experience to strengthen Native youth leadership, wellness and climate advocacy nationwide.

Brave Heart Fellowship, Fellows, Eastern Shoshone, Navajo, Northern Arapaho, Shoshone-Bannock

Article / Interview, The Imprint

Native Foster Youth Survey Reveals Lessons for Child Welfare Professionals, Advocates

Senior Program Manager Katy Stewart was featured alongside alumna Roxy Sprowl in a recent story on CNAY’s Native foster youth survey, sharing preliminary results that underscore the importance of culture, identity and youth voice in shaping child welfare practices.

Staff, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe

Article / Interview, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Hownikan

Lynch named Champion for Change

2025 Champion for Change Katie Lynch was recently interviewed by her Tribe about her advocacy journey and experience in CNAY’s Champions program—sharing how she’s working to advance Indigenous access to health care and strengthen Native youth leadership.

Champions for Change, Fellows, Potawatomi Nation

Article / Interview, MSU Exponent, Montana

‘Unapologetically Indigenous:’ How journalist Jarrette Werk reclaims the narrative

Looking back on his career path, Werk credits much of his growth to the... Generation Indigenous Movement Builders Fellowship through the Center for Native American Youth.

“That fellowship literally changed my life,” Werk said. “I had been in spaces that I'd never knew really existed.”

Fellows, Aaniih Nakoda

Interview / Newsletter, American Indian Law Center (AILC)

AILC June 2025 Newsletter: Tracy Goodluck

"Now, I am about to embark upon a new opportunity to serve Indian Country as the Executive Director of the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) at the Aspen Institute. The mission is to improve the health, safety, and overall well-being of Native American Youth through youth leadership and fellowship opportunities, as well as, provide national policy advocacy on issues that impact our Native youth."

Staff, Mvskoke Creek, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin

News Roundup, Tribal Business News

People on the Move in Indian Country

Center for Native American Youth at The Aspen Institute named Neely Bardwell as program coordinator.

Staff, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Press Release, National Organization for Women

NOW Honors the National Day of Awareness for our Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR)

From the Center for Native American Youth and Sage Chief (Oglala Lakota and Diné), a 19-year-old student at Oglala Lakota College, on Fighting Against an Epidemic of Injustice on the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons. 

“We are given so many excuses as to why these cases are not handled correctly,” she writes, “it’s time somebody starts giving us solutions.”  

Remembering Our Sisters, Fellows, Diné, Oglala Lakota

Article, The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Philanthropy Opens the Vault: Payouts Are Surging in Response to Trump

"The Center for Native American Youth, a grantee of Weissberg Foundation, works to improve health, safety, and well-being."