“I believe that the youth in my community have great potential and could benefit greatly from having access to a support system that helps them navigate their prospects after high school. My dream is to establish a Wind River Pathways project to help youth navigate their transition into early adulthood.”
Phyllis Gardner, 26, is a scholar and nurturer of the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming. Born, raised, and currently living on the Wind River Indian Reservation, located in Central Wyoming, Phyllis has deep ties to her family and greater community. After graduating high school, Phyllis attended Darthmouth College where she studied Creative Writing and now works as a Grants Specialist for Wind River Family and Community Health Care.
In the state of Wyoming, graduation rates for the Native American population is nearly half of what the graduation rate is for Non-native students. This is due to social and economical disparities, resulting in a lack of resources that support Native youth and their families. Having grown up on the reservation, Phyllis has seen and experienced these disparities first-hand. She is dedicated to using her leverage in the community to create a better path for Native youth to pursue higher education and start their career paths.
“The Wind River Pathways Project” will inspire and support a new generation of up-and-coming Tribal Leaders. Through her partnership with Wind River Family and Community Health Care, Phyllis will lean on her network of trusted adults to provide guidance, mentorship, and vocational training to Native youth. Alongside them, Phyllis will provide college readiness trainings and develop and comprise resources for Native youth to explore and reference through their journey into adulthood.
