Our Approach
We Put Youth
First
Our focus on youth programs fosters change across age groups and entire communities.
American Indian-Led
Our leadership is committed to preserving the traditions, languages and sanctity of American Indian communities.
We Help Where Needed Most
Rather than coming into a community and announcing what we will do, we listen to what our partners tell us they need.
Billy Mills
Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota (Sioux) is Running Strong’s National Spokesperson. An Olympic gold medalist at the 1964 Olympics, Billy has dedicated his life to serving Native American communities.
Running Strong Changes Lives
"We were so grateful to Running Strong for the school supplies and backpacks. Our local programs are operating on limited budgets and were not able to help this year. Running Strong filled a void and helped families who would not have been able to get help."
Running Strong Changes Lives
"We were so grateful to Running Strong for the school supplies and backpacks. Our local programs are operating on limited budgets and were not able to help this year. Running Strong filled a void and helped families who would not have been able to get help."
Running Strong Changes Lives
"We were so grateful to Running Strong for the school supplies and backpacks. Our local programs are operating on limited budgets and were not able to help this year. Running Strong filled a void and helped families who would not have been able to get help."
Program Spotlight
Organic Food and Gardens
Our organic gardens and food programs tackle malnutrition by providing healthy meals and fresh produce to Native American children and their families. We help to establish community gardens, household gardens, and communal greenhouse programs while also integrating educational and cultural aspects and how to plant traditional gardens.
Program Spotlight
Clean Water
When Running Strong for American Indian Youth® was formed in 1986, getting clean, safe drinking water to the residents of Pine Ridge was one of our top priorities. Previously, Running Strong satisfied this need by drilling water wells. However, the need for wells declined as the Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System was created and water lines were laid providing access to water. This past year through Diné NaabehóTó (the Navajo People’s Water Challenge), Running Strong connected 13 households to water in these communities, providing 92 individuals with access to clean, running water.
Dreamstarter
When Running Strong for American Indian Youth® was formed in 1986, getting clean, safe drinking water to the residents of Pine Ridge was one of our top priorities. Previously, Running Strong satisfied this need by drilling water wells. However, the need for wells declined as the Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System was created and water lines were laid providing access to water.
find us wherever you use social media!
#DreamLikeBilly Virtual 5K & 10K Run/Walk To support a healthy tomorrow for Native American Youth
Run, Walk, or Sponsor a native youth to do so! From ensuring students have school supplies to providing a community center for the youth of Pine Ridge to funding teachers who work with majority-Native classrooms, Billy Mills and Running Strong are committed to helping this next generation of Native youth.
You can help!
Proceeds for the Dream Like Billy Virtual 5K and 10K Run/Walk will support the programs of Running Strong for American Indian Youth to raise happy, healthy Native American youth, including ensuring students have school supplies, to providing a community center for the youth of Pine Ridge, and even to funding teachers who work with majority-Native classrooms.
Your support of $28.24, Billy’s winning race time, will be recognized with an autographed racing bib from Billy, a medal and the appreciation that you have helped Running Strong continue our mission of meeting critical and long-term needs of Native American communities across the country.
Visit here to register/sponsor: events.elitefeats.com/23billy
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The food insecurity faced by many Native American communities has numerous implications for the health and welfare of families.
To date, Running Strong has delivered 35,700 food boxes to the Eagle Butte Food Pantry, totaling over 680,000 pounds of food, and has distributed nearly a million pounds of food to other communities nationwide.
We are pleased to report that we are distributing 700 food boxes each month, with another set going out in early June. 📦
Help American Indian Youth by donating today: runningstrong.harnessgiving.org/donate/?campaign_id=0&selected-method=monthly&amount=50
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We’re inviting Educators, Administrators, and Teachers that serve at schools with a high concentration of Native students to apply for a grant of up to $5,000.00 to use in their schools. Follow the link to learn more!
indianyouth.org/dreamstarter-teacher-apply/
#nativeeducators #nativepride #native ... See MoreSee Less
Apply to be a Dreamstarter Teacher! - Indian Youth
indianyouth.org
How to Apply: We’re inviting Educators, Administrators, and Teachers that serve at schools with a high concentration of Native students to apply for a grant of up to $5,000.00 to use in their school...Comment on Facebook
Native Americans have a long history of service to our country.
Nearly 45,000 of 350,000 Native Americans enlisted in WWII, making them the highest-rated demographic to enlist throughout the entire war.
42,000 Native Americans served in the Vietnam War - 90% of which were voluntary.
Thank you to all the brave men and women who have served our great nation. Today, we honor you.
Happy Memorial Day!
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Photos from Piscataway Conoy Tribe's post ... See MoreSee Less
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We are so grateful to Billy Mills and Pat Mills, as well as Sydney Mills Farhang, our own Kyle Swann, Macie, Daffne and all the Running Strong for American Indian Youth staff for supporting our tribe and our youth. ❤️❤️❤️
In honor of Native mothers and women, Running Strong created WičhičhaǧAStrong (“they all grow, they thrive, they prosper, they are the generation” in Lakota), to focus on issues of women’s health on native reservations.
The first action of our program is to help overcome “Period poverty" - the inability for people who menstruate to purchase sanitary products. It is a pervasive problem throughout Indian Country.
Our goal this month is to provide 3,000 feminine hygiene kits to 15 tribal communities across the country. Each kit is $22. Tap on the following link to help us provide a kit for young native women who need it most: runningstrong.harnessgiving.org/campaigns/10739
Link to Harness Giving page:
runningstrong.harnessgiving.org/campaigns/10739
Link to blog:
indianyouth.org/addressing-period-poverty-in-native-american-communities/ ... See MoreSee Less
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I just donated to these Women and children. No one should be made to feel the way society make’s different cultures feel. They shouldn’t have to be a shamed of their rituals . Just because others don’t understand. I hope more will donate to this cause.