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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 

Register today for our Inaugural 2024 Spring Ball Showcase

Experienced level coaching, recruiting info session, college recruiters will be on-site. No on-site registration, space is limited to 60 athletes per sport. Please bring your own equipment (bats, gloves, helmets, catcher’s gear) Open to all Indigenous high school baseball and softball players Dress Code for baseball: Grey or White Baseball pants.

  • To register: Click here
  • Dress code for softball: Softball pants of any color
  • Saturday, November 23
  • Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • Location: Accelerated Learning Academy (Salt River High School) 4827 N Country Club Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85256

Contact call 602-264-6768 or email: youthprograms@phxindcenter.org

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, acing the interview, job expectations, and more! Be on the look out for more workshops coming soon.

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

Navajo High School students are invited to join us for our Navajo Nation Chief Manuelito Scholarship Workshop, happening on Tuesday, October 29, from 5:30 – 6:30 on Zoom.

Indigenous Combines

Join us for our Inaugural 2024 Spring Ball Showcase!

Experienced level coaching, recruiting info session, college recruiters will be on-site. No on-site registration, space is limited to 60 athletes per sport. Please bring your own equipment (bats, gloves, helmets, catcher’s gear) Open to all Indigenous high school baseball and softball players Dress Code for baseball: Grey or White Baseball pants.

  • Dress code for softball: Softball pants of any color
  • Saturday November 23
  • Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • Location: Accelerated Learning Academy (Salt River High School) 4827 N Country Club Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85256

Contact call 602-264-6768 or email: youthprograms@phxindcenter.org

Football combine video

Volleyball skills video

College Prep

Navajo Nation Chief Manuelito Scholarship Workshop

Navajo High School students are invited to join us for our Navajo Nation Chief Manuelito Scholarship Workshop, happening on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 5:30 – 6:30 on Zoom. This is an opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about the Chief Manuelito Scholarship from the Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship and Financial Assistance (ONNSFA).  Topics covered include:
  • Academic Requirements: GPA, Standardized Test scores (ACT or SAT), Navajo Language and Government requirements
  • Agency details: Where do you apply to?
  • ACT and SAT details: Test breakdowns and test dates for current school year
  • Fee Waivers for tests and college applications: What are they and do I qualify?
  • Guaranteed Admission Requirements for ASU, NAU, and U of A
  • How can you fulfill the Navajo Language and Government requirements if your school doesn’t offer them
  • Rosetta Stone, Online school, Community College
  • Commonapp.org: Discover over 1000 colleges and use a shared application to save time applying to multiple colleges -Native American Tuition Waivers: NAU, U of A, and Fort Lewis have them.

To register, click here

For questions, contact Samuel at 602-264-6768 or email SLeonard@PhxIndCenter.org

Phoenix Indian Center & Phoenix College present Hoop of Learning Information Session

Local Native American students are invited to join the Phoenix Indian Center & Phoenix College for the Virtual Hoop of Learning Information Session. The Hoop of Learning program is an early-college program present across the Maricopa Community Colleges that provides Indigenous high school students with the opportunity to take college level classes before graduation at no cost. This Information session is open to any Indigenous high school students curious about the Hoop of Learning Program. Learn more about the benefits of the program:

  • Earn college credit while still in high school
  • Learn about the college experience
  • One-on-on advising, workshops, field trips, and meet a community of other passionate Indigenous youth

Starting in your freshman year of the spring semester, you have the opportunity to apply for the program. Program requirements include having a 2.0 GPA and being a member of a federally recognized tribe on track to graduate on time.

To register for the Info Session: Click here

Date: November 25, 2024

Time: 5pm-6pm

Location: Virtual via Zoom

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! 

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