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602-264-6768
4041 N. Central Ave. Building B, Phoenix, AZ 85012

Youth Development

PHOENIX INDIAN CENTER
Youth Programming

The health and well being of our American Indian youth is of vital importance. Our youth development, for middle school & high school youth, focuses on helping them learn the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to live a successful life, utilizing culture as the core of their identity and strength.

This year-round, open enrollment program is designed for students in high school to help prepare them for success in post-secondary education, the workforce and their personal lives. The program is centered around college, career, culture, and prevention. Components include college and career exploration, visits to local employers, college tours, guest speakers, and leadership training. Our staff are both mentors and coaches to the youth and are committed their success.

Sign up today for a workshop! Click here to view our calendar page. 

For more information, you email us at youthprograms@phxindcenter.org or call us at 602-264-6768.

Our 2024-2025 Future Inspired Native American Leaders Youth Council is our largest group yet with 38 members. They are a diverse group of high school students from across the Valley, representing different Indigenous nations. They continue to create positive change in the community, helping on different committees including youth prevention, community service, and culture and wellness. To learn more about joining the FINAL Council next fall, email YouthDevelopment@PhxIndCenter.org 

Youth Screen-Printing Workshop & Prevention Education Session

Join the Future Inspired Native American Leaders for an engaging afternoon focused on culture, creativity, and making a difference. Hear from Native high school youth about the impact of alcohol on our communities and how culture and learning our history plays a vital role in prevention. Then, collaborate with Indigenous art collective, Homeland, in a hands-on screen-printing workshop where you’ll learn to screenprint a unique design. Come for the inspiration, leave with your own custom art! For questions, call 602-264-6768

Register Today: Click Here
Date: Jan. 18, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Location: Phoenix Indian Center
Address: 4041 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012

See what's coming up...

Youth 2 Work

Youth Job Readiness Workshops & Youth to Work

 Youth Job Readiness Training 

Are you an American Indian high school student wanting to get your first job or internship? Attend our paid 2-day Youth Job Readiness Training to learn more about resume writing, interview skills, job expectations, and more! Be on the look out for future trainings offered in the Summer and Fall semesters. For questions or more information, please contact us at 602-264-6768 or youthprograms@phxindcenter.org

Employer Information

Are you an employer interested in hiring an intern through our Youth to Work program? We are offering virtual and in-person internships at no cost to interested businesses! Interns are high school juniors and seniors, with their time being paid by the Phoenix Indian Center.

To get information email bperatrovich@phxindcenter.org or email youthprograms@phxindcenter.org

For questions or more information, please contact us at (602) 264-6768. 

Youth Events

Youth Screen-Printing Workshop & Prevention Education Session

Join the Future Inspired Native American Leaders for an engaging afternoon focused on culture, creativity, and making a difference. Hear from Native high school youth about the impact of alcohol on our communities and how culture and learning our history plays a vital role in prevention. Then, collaborate with Indigenous art collective, Homeland, in a hands-on screen-printing workshop where you’ll learn to screenprint a unique design. Come for the inspiration, leave with your own custom art! For questions, call 602-264-6768

Register Today: Click Here
Date: Jan. 18, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Location: Phoenix Indian Center
Address: 4041 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012

Indigenous Combines

SAVE THE DATE! Our Fall Ball Showcase Combine returns on Saturday, March 15, 2025 for all high school volleyball and football players. This free, one-day event is open to all high school football and volleyball athletes. Participants will receive college/professional level coaching from mentors on-site. Free lunch and snacks will be included. Registration link is coming soon.

  • Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Location: TBD
  • Registration: Coming soon

For questions, contact call 602-264-6768 or email: youthprograms@phxindcenter.org

Football combine video

Volleyball skills video

College Prep

Virtual Tribal College Tours

Need help with getting your college journey started? Join our Youth Development team for our Virtual College Tours programs. We will highlight featured community colleges, universities, tribal colleges and offer tips on how to get started with school. Be on the look out for future workshops! 

Don’t miss out on our virtual college tours on January 23, 2025! Learn more about college admissions, campus resources, and support systems for American Indian students while pursuing higher education! Universities featured include the Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Grand Canyon University. Registration limited to 50.

  • Register Today: Click here
  • Date: Thursday, Jan. 23
  • Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
  • Location: Virtually through Zoom

For questions, call our Youth Development Team at 602-264-6768 or email youthprograms@phxindcenter.org.

Tribal Focused Virtual College Tour

Calling all Indigenous High School Scholars! Join us for virtual tour of tribal focused colleges. We will have representatives from TOCC, Navajo Technical University, Dine College, Fort Lewis, and Haskell! All representatives will be on zoom to help answer any questions you may have. Don’t miss this opportunity to ask questions, get insight of furthering your education!.

  • Register: Click Here
  • Date: Thursday, February 20
  • Time: 4:00 – 7:00 PM
  • Location: Virtually on Zoom 

In-Person University of Arizona Tour – Feb. 28

Join us for our upcoming University of Arizona College Tour! Open to all Indigenous High School Students. Tour will take place on February 28, 2025 from 7:30AM – 6:30PM. We will be traveling to U of A for this on campus tour, transportation is provided. We will meet at the Phoenix Indian Center and depart at 7:30 AM to the college. Virtual Orientation is MANDATORY, this will be held via zoom on February 20, 2025 from 6PM – 7PM.
Registration closes February 14, 2025. Register Today: Click here
Virtual Orientation
  • Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025
  • Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • Location: Virtually on Zoom
For more information, contact Taylor Susan at tsusan@phxindcenter.org or 602-264-6768

FAFSA Workshop

Are you a Native high school senior? Thinking about college? Wondering how to pay for it? Join the Phoenix Indian Center for our virtual FAFSA workshops. We cover the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application, the importance of completing it, and the benefits it can provide you and your family as you plan for college. Be on the look out for future workshops!  For questions call 602-264-6768 or email YouthDevelopment@PhxIndCenter.org 

F.I.N.A.L. Youth Council

Interested in joining our Future Inspired Native American Leaders Youth Council?
The 2024/2025  Future Inspired Native American Leaders Youth Council Application deadline was Friday, July 26th.

Requirements for F.I.N.A.L. Youth Council Application: 

  • Must be a high school student (Incoming freshman are eligible to apply).
  • Must reside within Maricopa County.
  • Must be willing to learn, develop leadership skills, and connect with other youth.

 Youth Council Application Deadline and Dates: 

  • Application Deadline – Friday, July 26, 2024 at 5:00 PM
  • Virtual Interviews for selected Youth Council applicants – August 05 –08, 2024
  • Selection Notification – Friday, August 09, 2024
  • Youth Council Orientation 1 – Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 10 AM – 5 PM (*Students attend only one orientation)
  • Youth Council Orientation 2 – Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 10 AM – 5 PM (*Students attend only one orientation
  • Parent Youth Council Orientation – Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 4 PM – 5 PM (Parents attend only one orientation)
  • Parent Youth Council Orientation – Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 10 AM – 5 PM (Parents attend only one orientation)
  • F.I.N.A.L. Youth Council Inauguration – Saturday, Sept. 07, 2024 

 Benefits of joining the F.I.N.A.L. Youth Council: 

  • Develop various leadership skills
  • Develop great self-esteem & self-confidence
  • Stay connected to your cultural identity through community events & activities
  • Build strong and lasting friendships with other youth
  • Learn to create and plan community events & activities
  • Obtain networking opportunities
  • Meet tribal leaders
  • Engage in College & Career Readiness Trainings
  • Contribute to making a difference in Indian County

What does the Youth Council do? 

  • The Youth Council members are youth ambassadors for the Phoenix Indian Center’s Youth Development Program. They help plan cultural, educational, and community-based workshops, events, and activities throughout the program year.
  • Youth Council members will work with other tribal youth, elders, and various tribal leaders.

For questions, call our Youth Development Team at 602-264-6768 or email YouthPrograms@PhxIndCenter.org

Youth Leadership Day

Annual Youth Leadership Day

Every year, our Youth Development Team organizes our popular Youth Leadership Day for American Indian high school students in Maricopa County. This high energy event focuses on networking, leadership skill development, with students taking part in activities that instill pride in cultural heritage.

We often feature dynamic guest speakers who speak from Indigenous perspectives. Past presenters have included Christian Parrish (Apsáalooke) known professionally as Supaman; Shawn Martinez (Diné) Entertainment Director for the Phoenix Suns and Red Heritage Indigenous Entertainment.

The 11th Annual Youth Leadership Day was a huge success!  This high energy, networking event focused on culture & leadership. Thank you to all of the presenters and partners for helping to make this event one to remember. Click here to view photos from this event.

Check this site often for information on the next Youth Leadership Day event. Join us at any of our other events through-out the year.

For more info contact our Youth Development Team by email at youthprograms@phxindcenter.org or phone at 602-264-6768. Space is limited!

Cultural Workshops

We are working diligently to organize future events. Please check this page often as information is updated regularly.

Living In Two Worlds

The Living in 2 Worlds curriculum was developed by the Phoenix Indian Center in partnership with ASU’s Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center using the Keepin’ it REAL drug resistance strategies project as a program for our American Indian youth. Living in 2 Worlds draws on American Indian culture and values as effective drug resistance strategies. We provide youth with different ways to say no to negative choices that confront youth every day, and at the same time, we give youth ample opportunity to express their pride in their American Indian culture(s) and teach them the positive value in the nurturing of that pride.

The Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe curriculum teaches children about personal safety. During two 40-minute sessions, a trained facilitator will present research-based, age-appropriate lessons to help children learn the skills to prevent or interrupt cycles of neglect, bullying and child abuse – physical, emotional and sexual. The Speak Up Be Safe curriculum includes information for children, parents, teachers, and communities to reinforce important safety rules. Because adults are responsible for keeping children safe, the lessons focus on helping children identify a safe adult and learn five safety rules the children can use to help their safe adults keep them safe:

  1. It’s MY body!
  2. Ask an adult if I am safe
  3. I have choices
  4. Tell someone
  5. It’s NEVER my fault!

 

Living in 2 Worlds, draws on Native culture and values as effective drug resistance strategies. The L2W also teaches, a variety of ways to say no to negative choices that confront youth every day, while learning about different cultures. The students take home Cultural Heritage projects to open communication with family and discuss lives in urban and reservation homes.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Prevention Services Team at 602-264-6768.

a 501(c) 3 non-profit recognized by the IRS. Tax ID Number: 86-6006566