Running Strong for American Indian Youth has profoundly shaped education in tribal communities through educational programs that span generations and communities across more than 30 states, creating sustainable change in Native schools and families.
Youth-Led Education Initiatives
Since 2015, with Running Strong support and mentorship, dozens of Native youth and young educators have launched and expanded community-driven and school programs that strengthen culture, language, STEM, and environmental education.
Language and cultural education: From Cherokee and Hupa language immersion programs to Wailaki social media teaching and Catawba language apps.
STEM and higher education access: Initiatives like Warriors After-School Computer Science (Rosebud), Pathways College Readiness program (Inter-tribal) and REPRESENT (Navajo Nation) teach coding, robotics, and college readiness and exploration.
Indigenous science and environmental learning: Tara Rouillard’s Indigenous Science Lab at Pine Ridge Girls School integrates Lakota knowledge into science curriculum.
Souksavanh Keovorabouth (Navajo/Laotian) is founding the world’s first Indigenous Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit Research Center at Northern Arizona University to elevate intersectional Indigenous scholarship.
Warrior of Ancestral & Modern Medicine initiative, launched by Rose Quintana (Navajo Nation), bridging traditional healing with modern healthcare education.
These projects not only engage thousands of Native students but also model culturally grounded education—centering identity, community, and traditional ecological knowledge.
Dreamstarter Teacher® – Supporting Educators
Recognizing the vital role of educators, Running Strong created the Dreamstarter Teacher® program in 2017.
To date, we has supported over 140 educators in 91 schools, impacting more than 23,000 Native students through classroom innovation, cultural enrichment, and academic support.
Donald King (Menominee) – fostering Native identity and college pathways through “Nurturing Native Voices,” connecting students with Haskell Indian Nations University.
Joe Dukepoo (Round Valley Tribes) – integrating STEM and cultural knowledge through classroom projects and cultural activities.
Eileen Quintana (Diné) – leading Nebo School District’s Title VI program, where cultural curriculum increased Native graduation rates from 90% in 2017 to 96.5% in 2024.
Connie Michael (Crow Nation) – using Native-centered history and math curricula to reconnect students to their ancestors and community values.
Through these teacher grants, schools have established gardens, cultural clubs, and technology labs and more, providing hands-on learning and healing from intergenerational trauma.
Setting Native Youth up for Success with New Backpacks
At the start of each school year, we equip Native youth with brand-new backpacks filled with school supplies to ensure they are set up for academic success!
