Meet the 2025 California Native Youth Collective

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jamie Levitt, jamie.levitt@aspeninstitute.org

Indigenous Youth Leaders Advocate for a Stronger California
10 Fellows join the California Native Youth Collective – a movement to connect, engage and uplift Indigenous youth across the state.

SACRAMENTO, CA – April 17, 2025 – The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) is excited to announce the 2025 cohort of the California Native Youth Collective (CNYC). This year’s Fellows will join a growing network of Native youth leaders from across the state of California ready to hone their leadership skills, amplify their voices and advocate for their communities at the tribal, local, state and national level. 

Over the course of the year, CNAY facilitates opportunities for Fellows to grow their skills, connect with other youth leaders and amplify their platforms. CNYC Fellows also work to provide input on policy and develop interventions to improve outcomes in their communities. 

“We are so excited to welcome this cohort into the California Native Youth Collective. My hope is for the Fellows to fully embrace this journey of self-discovery and cultural connection, learning from one another and ultimately fostering positive change across the state and their Tribal communities,” said CNAY Executive Director Tracy Canard Goodluck. “This diverse group of young Californians is a true testament to the profound impact that can be achieved when we champion Native youth voices. I am personally looking forward to joining them for what will not only be their first meeting as a cohort, but my very first CNAY convening later this month.”

Meet the 2025 CNYC Fellows: 

2025 programming will kick off on May 1 with a convening of the full cohort in Los Angeles, CA. The two-day event will include networking sessions, cultural grounding and coalition building activities, and tailored leadership training from other engaged community members to help prepare the Fellows for a future in advocacy work. 

To schedule an interview with a 2025 CNYC Fellow or CNAY leader, please contact Jamie Levitt (jamie.levitt@aspeninstitute.org). Learn more about the California Native Youth Collective by visiting www.cnay.org/california-native-youth-collective.

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About CNAY: The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) at the Aspen Institute is a national organization that works alongside Native youth – ages 24 and under – on reservations, in rural villages and urban spaces across the country to improve their health, safety, and overall well- being. Rooted in culture, our vision is for all Native American youth to lead full and healthy lives, be honored for the leaders they are, and have the resources and agency to create the world Native youth are worthy of and deserve. Learn more: www.cnay.org