The
United Methodist Native American International Caucus is the recipient
of faith-based grant to support "at-risk" youth though a nationwide
youth network.
The
caucus, which is the advocacy arm of Native American United Methodists,
was awarded a $30,800 grant from Institute for Youth Development in
Washington, making it the first United Methodist native or other Native
American denominational ministry to receive funding from President
Bush's faith-based and community initiative program.
The
Institute for Youth Development is among 81 organizations awarded more
than $30 million, to increase the capacity of faith-based and community
organizations that work with the homeless, addicted and other Americans
in need. The institute awarded the caucus with the grant from its share
of the funds.
The
Rev. Alvin Deer, caucus executive director, said he believes theirs is
the first church-related native grant. He bases his conclusion on
conversations with the Health and Human Service Department
Administration on Aging and the ecumenical Council on Native American
ministries, a coalition of denominational staff people working with
native ministries.
"Neither
the Presbyterians, American Baptist, Lutheran, Reformed Church of
America nor Episcopal church representatives (on the council) knew of
any of their constituencies that have received faith-based funding," he
explained. "Because native ministries are struggling just to be
congregations, 99 percent of them are not knowledgeable about the
faith-based initiative of the government."
NAIC
will begin a nationwide Native American network connecting youth
through education, counseling and support on March 31. The goal of the
Native Dimensions Network is to "significantly reduce the number of
Native American youth at risk for substance abuse and suicide within the
Native American communities where Native American congregations exist,"
Deer said.
At-risk
youth are described as those individuals prone to or involved in
situations that would put them at medical, social and emotional risk.
The idea for such a network is based on the denomination's own
connectional system.
"I
see this as an opportunity to help churches be more intentional in
helping our native communities impact the needs of our youth through
networking intentionally," he added.
NDN,
which is the network's acronym, is headed by 10 youth who would be
"peer" leaders in their communities, with guidance from NAIC board
members.
The
plans are for NDN to be a way for local church youth workers to find
resource links, including an online and monitored "chat" room on
subjects pertinent to youth.
Negwes
White, a Chippewa and Navajo youth from Chicago said the network would
serve as a place to connect with youth from across the country. "It
would be great for teens who have a lot of issues to go to a place to
talk to others with similar issues," he noted.
White,
a youth leader, is counting on the network to expand his own horizons. "
I love the network idea, he said. "I want to talk to Native American
youth from across the country. There are not a lot of Native American
youth in Chicago."
The
network is significant to Native American youth "because it provides
the opportunity for us to share ideas, concerns and challenges facing
native youth," said Ashley Lynn Hunt, another youth leader and Lumbee
from Pembroke, N.C.
"It
is a program that offers peer support, and allows youth to have a voice
and have that voice heard. It is a group effort to advocate for
healthier and stronger Native American communities," she added.
"Faith-based"
is a federal term created in 2001 to allow churches and religious
entities eligibility for federal funding in specific social programs.
The NAIC is eligible for this funding because of the caucus is involved
in advocacy.
"We
feel that we can advocate for Native American youth through these types
of grants . . . to activate the natural network created through the
polity of the United Methodist Church . . . (which) has always existed,
but without the financial ability to be intentional," Deer said.
Korean News
