Future Inspired Native American Leaders

Future Inspired Native American Leaders is a program designed for American Indian high school students in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The project partners are the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Mesa Public School District, Native American Connections, Native Health, Phoenix Indian Center, and the Phoenix Union High School District. The purpose of the program is two-fold. First, to provide interventions focused on dropout prevention and increasing high school graduation rates. Second, to promote career training initiatives that empower students to be college and career ready. In short, our program expects to equip its participants with the knowledge and resources they need to achieve success--both during and after high school. Program activities include a two-week “Summer Academy”, mentoring, monthly "Saturday Academies" which focus on academic skills, college/career readiness topics, and strengthening cultural identity as well as tutoring and College Fairs. Last, Staff Youth Development Specialists provide individualized opportunities for participants to increase knowledge of pathways to college and career, and they meet directly with parents/guardians to assess issues and provide navigation to customized social services and other resources that will eliminate barriers for the students and their families.