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.

ASU Inspire Applications Open!

The application for ASU INSPIRE 2024 is now open! This annual no-cost, week-long, college readiness program is open to American Indian students. The program will take place June 16th – 22nd, 2024 at the ASU Tempe Campus. Participants will focus on building academic and personal success through culturally relevant, project-based learning while connecting with other Native students, staff and faculty. The deadline is April 22nd. Apply today: https://eoss.asu.edu/access/programs/summer/inspire

The Phoenix Indian Center is excited to collaborate once again with Access ASU and the Office of the President American Indian Initiatives at ASU, for this outstanding program!

For more information email Sahmie Joshevama at Sahmie.Joshevama@asu.edu

For Questions Contact Lolan Lauvao: llauvao@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! Youth are to attend only 1 of the 3 sessions. Stay tuned for future workshop trainings in the future!

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/work-from-home or COVID-safe work environment internships at no cost to interested businesses! Interns are high school juniors and seniors, with their time being paid by the Phoenix Indian Center.

Click here to access the application

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

Youth Events

Indigenous Combines

Join us at McClintock High School for a day of football and volleyball drills and info sessions! This FREE event is exclusively for American Indian/Native Hawaiian High School Athletes (Grad class of 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027). Meet with real college coaches and recruiters to learn all you need to know to prepare yourself for the next level! Registration is required for attendees. Lunch will be provided. Register today, click here.

Who? American Indian/Native Hawaiian High School Football and Volleyball Athletes

What? Phoenix Indian Center’s Indigenous Fall Ball Showcase

When? Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 3 PM to 7 PM

Where? McClintock High School

For more information, contact Lolan Lauvao at 602-264-6768 or llauvao@phxindcenter.org

Football combine video

Volleyball skills video

College Prep

ASU Inspire

The Phoenix Indian Center is excited to collaborate once again with Access ASU and the Office of the President American Indian Initiatives at ASU, for this outstanding program!

For more information email Sahmie Joshevama at Sahmie.Joshevama@asu.edu

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? Watch for applications to open in 2023!

Youth Council membership provides high school aged youth with opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, public speaking skills, community engagement and networking.

What does the Youth Council Do?

The Youth Council determines its activities based on its own needs. Needs can be identified through discussions with members, interviews, surveys, and other types of research. Once needs are determined, the youth council develops their own action plan to implement their activities.

Benefits of Joining The Youth Council

Benefits you gain from participating in the Youth Council depend on what each member puts into the Council. If youth make the most of their opportunities, they will:

Learn how to work with other young people
Build strong and lasting friendships
Develop greater self-esteem and self-confidence
Develop communication and leadership skills
Develop organizational skills
Develop winning attitudes
Learn how to take responsibility for their actions
Contribute to making a difference in Indian Country

For more information or questions about how to join, contact our Youth Development team at (602) 264-6768 or 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!

“Remembering, Honoring, Healing: A Cultural Walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples”

Join the Future Inspired Native American Leaders Youth Council for the annual awareness walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.

Register today, click here.

Date: Saturday, April 27th, 2024.

Time & Location: 4041 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85012

For questions call 602-264-6768

Kick Fentanyl Out Of Our Communities Kickball Event

The F.I.N.A.L Youth Council Prevention Committee will be hosting a substance community education workshop on fentanyl. Following the presentation, participants will play a kickball game! Winners of the kickball game will receive a prize. Family-friendly and open to the community. Join us! For information call 602-264-6768.

Date: Sunday, April 28, 2024

Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Location: Kiwanis Park, Tempe, AZ Ballfield 04 SW

Cultural Workshops
Living In Two Worlds

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:

It’s MY body!
Ask an adult if I am safe
I have choices
Tell someone
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.