I want to invite all of you to my humanities TED Talk. The 20% project that my organization has grown from, is coming to an end and to wrap up the project the sophomore class will be giving TED talks to tell a story about how and where their project took them. I will be presenting on Friday the 22nd at 1:45 but these talks will be held for a majority of the afternoon from 12:20-2:20 so if you can make it, they will be at Animas High School.
Thanks, McKayla Lee
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Since my last blog post I’ve spent a lot of time outside of school, networking. During school, I’ve been working on the first event that the Native American Youth Leadership will be holding. I’ve been able to connect with founders of a lot of organizations that are geared and focused towards empowering Native Americans, just as I am trying to do. Some major challenges I have faced since my last blog update have been, getting the word out about my event and also trying to get tickets sold. This past week I have learned that I can handle a lot of chaos. I am dealing with some personal family issues, going to school, holding down two jobs, and getting this organization started but all this stress is making me a stronger person and it’s teaching me that I can accomplish whatever is set in my path. I hope to see you all Friday the 22nd at Animas High School (6PM-10PM)!
Tomorrow I have a meeting with Nicole at Animas. Nicole is the current 2016-2017 Fort Lewis College princess, also known as Miss Hozhoni. During the meeting I want to get some more feedback on my proposal and to set up the mentorship with a few clubs that she participates in. I want to get a better understanding of where and how she can help me with the project--- My meeting with Nicole was very beneficial. I now have a better sense of what I should do as a “pre-meeting” type of gathering. Nicole suggested finding a venue and then making sure that I am not the only person stressing about the organization. I want to be able to say at the end of the project that I have been given the huge blessing of getting native youth interested and educated about their culture. I know that this club has already inspired me to go out and be even more out there
To stay up to date with what is happening and why, go like the Native American Youth Leadership page on Facebook.
My meeting with Christian Gerring went AMAZING! I was able to get some feedback that has helped me broaden my horizons in the sense that I should be planning a small informal get together, so that I do not “scare” anyone wanting to join the program. I am now in the process of starting to research the question: “What makes an event successful?” And “What is the point of my event?” I want to find a neutral setting for the first meeting. Neutral in the sense that kids from all the schools can gather and meet at a venue that will be convenient and acceptable. From the meeting I was able to get new contact information for networking and for new people to meet with that could support my program. I sent a lot of emails out and Nicole Lovato was one of the few to email me back and set up a date to meet. Nicole is the current 2015-2016 Fort Lewis Miss Hozhoni.
Tomorrow I have a meeting with Nicole at Animas. Nicole is the current 2016-2017 Fort Lewis College princess, also known as Miss Hozhoni. During the meeting I want to get some more feedback on my proposal and to set up the mentorship with a few clubs that she participates in. I want to get a better understanding of where and how she can help me with the project---
My meeting with Nicole was very beneficial. I now have a better sense of what I should do as a “pre-meeting” type of gathering. Nicole suggested finding a venue and then making sure that I am not the only person stressing about the organization. I want to be able to say at the end of the project that I have been given the huge blessing of getting native youth interested and educated about their culture. I know that this club has already inspired me to go out and be even more out there Today I met with Yvonne Bilinski. Yvonne is the director of the Native American Center, and during our meeting at Fort Lewis College I was able to get in contact with a lot of new people. I was given a tour of the Native American Center by Yvonne and afterwards we sat down and I pitched her my proposal. She seems to be in support of my program and has put me in contact with Joey Dell, he is the resource specialist and success coach for the Native American Center. I am also trying to reach out to Bruce LeClaire, he is the boys and girls club director in Ignacio. Yvonne had some questions about where and why I’m starting this project. I told her that two years ago when I moved to Durango I searched for a club that would make me feel like I belonged. I also told her that I have still yet to find that club, but with the help of my peers and teachers I plan to develop a program that will give all native youth a place to feel the acceptance that I had once yearned for.
I’ve left Lilah’s project. I feel like the communication we had was overlapping with a lot of ideas we were trying to bring all together. I feel this is the best option for me at this point. Now I will be focusing on a new idea that I had. I want to start a Native American Youth Leadership Program for all middle and high school students in Durango, CO. I want this program to give a safe place for youth to meet and strengthen as a whole and individually. This week I spent my time researching the different programs that are offered locally and nationally. I found out that there are thousands of Native Youth going out and gaining ground on environmental, political, and traditional concepts. Ohhh! I also found a mentor, Jessica McCallum. I feel she has a strong grasp of cultural intelligence and also respects all cultural immersions that have been brought to her. I think she will help me along my way and also give me the feedback that I will need during this project. My next step of action will be meeting with Yvonne Bilinski next Wednesday and getting some questions answered.
Lilah and I met today to discuss the upcoming meeting that we have set up with the junior teachers. In the short discussion we had I gathered that we are moving in the right direction and that I’ve been really excited to see what will come out of this project. I know that our end product will be a good representation of how hard we have worked in the past few days and I know it will show a lot of growth from when we started. I am however a little thrown off on some of the points that my partner brings up. We have discussed these problems and have come to an understanding on the points I brought up. We have also set up a day to meet with the junior teacher’s next week about our proposed class camping trip. I am also having doubts about whether this specific project is really for me.
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AuthorMy name is McKayla Lee and throughout this project I am going to be working with my classmate Lilah. Together we hope to bring awareness to Nature Deficiency Disorder. Jk I'm actually starting a Native American Youth Leadership Orginization for all youth in the Durango, CO area. Archives
April 2016
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