NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
 
Contact: Angel Charley, 505-243-9199 or acharley@csvanw.org

CSVANW Kicks Off 7th Annual Native Youth Summit and Convenes Dozens of Youth to Address Violence, Movement Building and Cycle Breaking
 
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - May 29, 2018 -  Focused on investing in Native youth who are community change makers and leaders, the annual Native Youth Summit provides a unique opportunity for the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW) to inspire and support the next generation of New Mexico's tribal leaders in the movement to break cycles of violence within tribal communities.
 
CSVANW is hosting its 7th Annual Native Youth Summit, May 27-30, at The Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza, in Santa Fe, N.M. The Coalition sees the theme for this year, "Change Grows Through Us," as an extension of the youth-led community mobilization occurring on a national scale.

Native youth exposure to violence and/or perpetuation of violence is a persistent and complex problem within the state of New Mexico. According to The National Council on Crime and Delinquency Focus, one in three teens is a victim of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner (Davis, 2008). The Teenage Research Unlimited also reported that only 33% of teens say they told someone after experiencing dating violence (Claiborne, 2005). The New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey reports that New Mexico LGBTQ youth who were unsure about their sexuality were three times more likely to be forced to have sex, or experienced physical dating violence. Additionally, more than 50% of Native LGBTQ students reported experiencing physical violence at school because of their sexual orientation and more than 1 in 3 reported missing class at least once a month for fear of being bullied or harassed (Tomedi, 2017).

"Young people have a very innate sense of fairness and can lead us to solutions when they are given the right tools and framework to sustain their passion," says lead organizer and CSVANW Native Youth Coordinator, Keioshiah Peter (Dine`).
 
The annual Native Youth Summit aims to provide an engaging opportunity for addressing the issues youth face in their communities. Workshops this year are focused around breaking cycles of dating and domestic violence, cyber-bullying, internet safety, and bystander violence. Upon completion of the summit, CSVANW hopes that youth will be inspired and prepared to return to their communities to support and empower their peers to join the movement to end violence through positive value-based and community led strategies.
 
"The Native Youth Summit, to me, means to make a change in my community... to stand up, fight for what we believe in. And I know that I have a voice that I can use to help my tribe. I am proud that I came," says a previous participant of the 2017 Native Youth Summit.
 
The summit has ushered in nearly 40 Native youth from across New Mexico. Participants range in age from ages 12 to 17 years old and represent over 20 Pueblos, nations and tribes in this year's cohort. In a highly selective admissions process, selected applicants were selected based on one criteria: being directly affected by violence and wanting to help break cycles of violence within their families and communities.
 
"Our Native youth are the leaders in this movement to end violence that our communities need- they are their change makers, movement builders and community organizers. They are brilliant and innovative. They are mobilizing their communities to think differently about violence prevention and are creating spaces to support, honor and affirm truth-telling in culturally responsive forms of intervention. At CSVANW, we know the impacts that violence has on our young people, yet they are resiliently pushing back and leading this movement to break the cycle of violence by starting with themselves," CSVANW Executive Director Deleana OtherBull stated.
 
OtherBull said past summit participants have created tribal youth councils across the region, presented to and advised their tribal leadership, and leveraged social media to reach out and build a network of support with their peers. "Our Native youth (and young people) are passionate. They are the growth from which change is taking place. They are taking this movement to the next level," she said.
 
Summit participants receive an all-expenses-paid scholarship of nearly $1,500 to cover their attendance for four days and they are made possible from generous contributions, foundation grants and sponsorships. Funders and sponsors include the NoVo Foundation, New Mexico Indian Affairs Department, Verizon Wireless HopeLine, New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, The
Bernard Eggertsen Charitable trust , and the Santa Fe Mountain Center.
  
CSVANW will also
discuss gaps and challenges in addressing violence within LGBTQ2+ communities.  
 
For more information on the 7th Annual Native Youth Summit, go to   www.csvanw.org 

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About the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women
 
CSVANW is a member-driven tribal coalition that represents the broadest and most unified voice in advocating and collectively addressing violence against Native women and children across the region.
 
An alliance of more than 50 passionate, distinguished and highly committed organizations and individuals, the CSVANW team of staff, Board ofDirectors and committed membership works aggressively to raise awareness about the safety of Native women and children at the state, tribal and federal levels, in addition to providing the utmost critical lifeline services to those affected by violence. CSVANW provides training, advocate support, and technical assistance for tribes and law enforcement seeking help in working with tribes. The Coalition also offers policy advocacy on behalf of tribes.
 
For more information about the CSVANW, go to www.csvanw.org.
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