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

Annual MMIP Walk Hosted By the Future Inspired Native American Leaders Youth Council

Join the Future Inspired Native American Leaders Youth Council for the annual awareness walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Participants are encouraged to wear red for MMIP. Bring your own posters, signs, and images of loved ones. We will also have a poster-making station available on- site. Free MMIP Tee-shirts are available to those who register early and check-in at the event! Tee-shirts will be distributed beginning at 8AM, first come, first serve. Join us for this special event to honor our missing and murdered relatives and to bring awareness to our community.

Register today: Click here

For questions, call 602-264-6768 or email YouthPrograms@PhxIndCenter.org

Agenda

Registration: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Speakers: 9:00 – 10:00 AM
One-Mile Walk: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Event Details

Date: Saturday, May 03, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
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

Open to all Indigenous High School Students. Come join our FREE in-person 2-day paid Job Readiness Training. Learn how to build a resume, develop interview skills, and acquire professional work-setting etiquette. Lunch will be provided. For questions, contact Taylor Susan at tsusan@phxindcenter.org or 602-264-6768 Ext. 215.

Registration: Click here
Date: Tuesday, May 27 & Wednesday, May 28
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: TBD

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

Beading For Indigenous Excellence

Calling INDIGENOUS GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS!! Join us for a two-day, in-person graduation cap beading workshop. All materials will be provided. Let’s Indigenize your graduation regalia to showcase your cultural heritage. For questions, call 602-264-6768

Registration: Click here
Dates: Thursday, May 08 – Friday, May 09, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Phoenix Indian Center
Address: 4041 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85012

Indigenous Combines

Our Indigenous Fall Ball Showcase was held on Saturday, March 15, 2025 for volleyball and football players. This free, one-day event was open to all high school football and volleyball athletes. We want to thank all of our coaches, volunteers, students and staff for making this a great event! Be sure to look for upcoming Combines soon!

For more information, call our Youth Development team at 602-264-6768 or email YouthDevelopment@PhxIndCenter.org

Football combine video

Volleyball skills video

College Prep

College Prep Workshops & Events

Our Youth Development team is committed to providing educational pathways for students to find explore their next step after high school. Throughout the year, our team provides virtual and in-person sessions about various college prep workshops on topics that include Financial Aid, College Tours and Academic Resources and Preparedness for Indigenous students. For more information about upcoming workshops, contact Teanne Sandoval tsandoval@phxindcenter.org or 602-264-6768

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. Check back here for upcoming details and registration information.

For questions contact our Youth Development Team by email at youthprograms@phxindcenter.org or phone at 602-264-6768.

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.