Here’s how it works: Youth 14-24, Indian tribes, non-profits, and educational institutions are invited to join the National Native Youth Network by accepting the Gen-I Challenge!

Who: Individuals, youth councils, and youth groups can participate as Challenge Acceptors. Indian tribes, tribal leaders as well as non-profit organizations, Colleges, Universities, and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) can become acceptors by helping their youth and students complete the Gen-I Ch allenge!

Youth and others can accept the challenge by following this LINK and committing to take the following steps!

Step 1: ACT. Within 30 days of taking the challenge, youth should work with other youth in their community or at their school to do something positive of their choosing (for example: completing a volunteer project with a local organization or charity, hosting a meeting with other youth to brainstorm how to address an issue of concern in their community, or becoming a mentor to a younger person). The youth can use TOOLKITS from the National Native Youth Network and their partners to help you in this work. Their local tribal youth council, urban tribal youth group, or Native youth organization can also be a resource.

Step 2: CAPTURE. Document your community efforts through a short summary (3-4 sentences) and with photos and video!

Step 3: SHARE. Share your story online using #Gen-I and send the National Native Youth Network your story by clicking “Share Your Gen-I Story” on the left — http://cnay.org/ShareGenIStory.html. The National Native Youth Network or the White House may even feature your story!

Step 4: PARTICIPATE. By participating in the National Native Youth Network, you may be invited to apply to send a representative to the first ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2015.

Organizations, colleges, universities, and TCUs can take the Gen-I Challenge too by committing to help their youth and students complete the Gen-I Challenge! They just follow this LINK to get signed up!

The following organizations have already committed to take the Gen-I Challenge and get their youth on board!

Gen-I Native Youth Challenge Early Acceptors:

American Indian College Fund

American Indian Higher Education Consortium

Boys and Girls Club of America

Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute

National American Indian Education Association

National Congress of American Indians

National Indian Child Welfare Association

National Indian Health Board

United National Indian Tribal Youth

The information you provide is being submitted to the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute. The information and photos may be used for Network and Gen-I Challenge promotion and/or recognition and will not be shared with outside parties.