Contact us
8301 Richmond Highway
Ste. 200
Alexandria, VA 22309
Toll Free: 1-888-491-9859
(703) 317-9881 | Fax: (703) 659-6231
info@indianyouth.org
Running Strong for American Indian Youth® is cultivating the next generation of Native leaders. We believe in the dreams of young Native Americans to create stronger communities and build a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
Fifty-eight years ago, Billy Mills achieved his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal, and since then, he has used that victory to help him give back to the Native American community. To celebrate Billy’s dream and his leadership, Running Strong launched the Dreamstarter® Academy Grant program to help the next generation of American Indian youth make their dreams come true through a combination of financial support, hands-on mentorship, networking, and communications training.
Successful applicants will be announced March 29th!
Thank you to everyone who applied, check back soon to meet the class of 2024!
2025 marks the 10th anniversary of Dreamstarter Academy! This year we are offering 10 new Native Youth $20,000 to pursue their dreams. Learn how to apply to be part of the Dreasmtarter Class of 2025 today.
Applications Open October 14th, 2024-January 3, 2025.
Since 2015, Running Strong has cultivated a network of 90 Native youth leaders who are part of the Dreamstarter Academy. Each year, Running Strong awards Dreamstarter grants to 10 Native youth and their non-profit Mentor organizations each year to implement a project inspired by a dream they have for their community.
In 2021, we developed Dreamstarter® Creative to invest in Native artists who are upholding generations of culture and tradition through their artwork.
In 2017, we launched Dreamstarter® Teacher, a companion program designed to support educators who work in majority-Native classrooms with unmet needs.
In 2020, we selected five Dreamstarters to receive $50,000 to expand upon their original dreams for Indian Country.
In 2022, we began working with Dreamstarters to develop new Running Strong programs inspired by their dreams through Dreamstarter® Incubator.
Check out the most recent updates on your favorite Dreamstarters as they report on their projects, submit photos of their progress, and keep the dream alive.
8301 Richmond Highway
Ste. 200
Alexandria, VA 22309
Toll Free: 1-888-491-9859
(703) 317-9881 | Fax: (703) 659-6231
info@indianyouth.org