NAVAJO YOUTH BUILDERS NEWSLETTER Issue 1

CBI NAVAJO YOUTH BUILDERS NEWSETTER

DECEMBER 2012 IN THIS ISSUE TODAY’S CHOICES =

TOMORROW’S LEADERS Wyman TOP® Framework Capacity Builders, Inc. is a NYB youth will have the Wyman TOP® works at providing communities, organizations, and schools with a tested framework for nonprofit organization with a opportunity to conduct awesome creating or enhancing local youth development efforts. mission to eliminate teen service learning projects that will

pregnancy on the Navajo Nation enhance their communities along and in the Four Corners area. We with talking to adult role models are inviting youth, ages 12-18, to and mentors about how they help achieve this mission by intend to avoid the teen participating in our Navajo Youth pregnancy trap. The TOP® Builders (NYB) Project. We have curriculum will teach participating partnered with the Wyman youth how to make the best Center to facilitate the Teen decisions possible regarding teen

Outreach Program® (TOP). pregnancy, risky behavior, and their wellness goals. TOP® teaches youth how to Navajo Youth Builders Staff Meet the Prevention Educators and Regional make the best decisions possible The Teen Outreach Program® is Coordinators that work to implement the Wyman TOP® and focuses on enhancing youth currently being implemented in program. development. TOP® Clubs are Central Consolidated School being held in select areas District Middle and High Schools throughout the reservation and in and at Window Rock High School. border towns during and after

school hours. CBI NAVAJO YOUTH BUILDERS NEWSETTER | Issue 1 2

MEET OUR PREVENTION

EDUCATORS Five TOP® - Certified Prevention Educators work directly with the teens participating in the Navajo Youth Builders Project.

Tiffany Dawes

Tiffany is from Gallup, New Mexico and relocated to Tanya works with Newcomb Middle and development, grassroots community Farmington, NM to High Schools and at Tse Bit Ai Middle organizing, and legislative advocacy to work with the Navajo School, facilitating nine TOP® clubs. ensure a voice for young people and Youth Builders Project. She graduated Tanya is also a trainer for the curriculum. Indigenous Peoples' throughout the from Fort Lewis College with a world. Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology and Nichole Alex Human Services. Tiffany recently Nichole works with Window Rock High worked with the Navajo Nation Office of Nichole "Nikke" Alex is School, facilitating twelve TOP® clubs. Youth Development in Fort Defiance, Diné (Navajo) originally Arizona. At OYD, she assisted in from Dilcon, Tina Gray planning and organizing youth activities Arizona. She has and events. She has also worked with worked with indigenous Tina Gray was born and the Del Alma program in Durango, communities around the raised in Kayenta, Colorado. She worked to improve the world to help address Arizona, and graduated quality of life for minority children in the fossil fuel development. Additionally, from Monument Valley Durango elementary school system. Nichole has worked with indigenous High School. She youth throughout the world developing currently resides in Farmington, New Tiffany works with Kirtland Middle leadership paths that value and reflect Mexico. Tina obtained a Bachelor’s School, facilitating eleven TOP® clubs sustainability. Nichole has carried out degree in Social Work, and her Master’s and co-facilitates at Kirtland Central independent research in both uranium degree in Clinical Social Work from New High School. and coal mining on the Navajo Nation. Mexico Highlands University. She also Her research focused on the social holds two Associate’s degrees from Dine Tanya impacts of mining on Navajo families. College in Social Work and Social Bochinclonny Nichole holds a Bachelor of Arts from Behavioral Sciences. Tina previously the University of Arizona in Sociology worked for Children Youth and Families Tanya was born in and Political Science. Nichole has as a placement worker. She also Ganado, Arizona and worked at the U.S. Department of facilitated group work in mental health recently relocated to Farmington, New Justice in the Radiation Exposure at San Juan Regional Medical Center Mexico to work with the Navajo Youth Compensation Program, and the U.S. Behavioral Health Unit; the psycho- Builders Project. She graduated from Environmental Protection Agency with education of domestic violence survivors Fort Lewis College with a Bachelor’s of the Tribal Science Council in and perpetrators with the Family Crisis Arts in Sociology and Human Services. Washington, DC. Upon moving back to Center; and has helped people address She worked with incarcerated youth at the Navajo Nation, Nichole became substance abuse issues while working the Robert E. DeNier Youth Services, a Youth Organizer, where she served as with the Navajo Nation Department of and at Chinle Youth Corrections. These a community resource for grassroots Behavioral Health in Shiprock, New experiences lead her to shift her focus to indigenous groups on the Navajo Mexico, as an Intern. Tina currently prevention and not intervention. Nation. When not in the classroom, she facilitates the TOP® program with four continues to utilize her skills in policy CBI NAVAJO YOUTH BUILDERS NEWSETTER | Issue 1 3

clubs in Kirtland Central High School and spring. Chelsea started with Capacity Builders Inc. in 2011, beginning her six clubs in Shiprock High School. career in internet research and nonprofit development. Seeing an opportunity to Chelsea Ben apply her newly acquired skills, she

Chelsea Ben was born agreed to join the Navajo Youth Builders’ staff and now co-facilitates the in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but has lived Wyman TOP® program alongside our for most of her life on Prevention Educator team. Chelsea enjoys meeting new people, trying new the Navajo Nation in . Shiprock, NM. She recently graduated things, and hanging out with her family. from Shiprock High School and is looking forward to starting college in the

justice. She was an adjunct instructor at management, and organizational MEET OUR San Juan College for 10 years, teaching capacity building. She began her career the Juvenile Delinquency class and is a in purchasing and donor development REGIONAL member of “Who’s Who Among with the National Wildlife Federation in America’s Teachers.” Heather has been Washington, D.C. Moving to New COORDINATORS recognized for her work with gangs and Mexico in 1995, Rachel took advantage has served numerous local and state of the wide-open energy sector, Our two Regional Coordinators Gang Task Force committees. Her managing projects as Vice President and oversee the Navajo Youth Builders knowledge about gangs has been Director for an archaeology consulting project and provide technical recognized and serves as the basis for firm, and later as a Human Resources assistance to the Prevention numerous requests to make public Director in the construction industry. Educators presentations about gang lifestyles. Among her many responsibilities, Rachel Moreover, she has worked with works tirelessly to create lasting and Heather professionals on intervention and meaningful partnerships with agencies Faverino prevention programs for youth. In and organizations serving Navajo addition, Heather was involved in communities and Navajo youth. Heather Faverino is a implementing Girls Specific native of New Mexico, Programming, Teen Outreach born in Albuquerque Programs, San Juan County Compulsory and raised in Farmington. She School Attendance Task Force activities, graduated from Farmington High School and the San Juan Safe Communities and received a scholarship to Initiative. Heather is currently a Regional Eastern Arizona College where she Coordinator for Capacity Builder’s and is earned an Associates of Arts a trained TOP® facilitator as well as a Degree. Heather enrolled at New Mexico certified TOP® Trainer State University in Las Cruces, NM, where she earned her B.A. in Criminal Rachel Nawrocki Justice. Heather has spent the last 20

years working with youth as a Behavior Rachel Nawrocki Management Specialist in both currently serves the residential and out-patient settings. Navajo Youth Builders Heather also worked for the State of project as Lead New Mexico’s Children, Youth, and Regional Coordinator. Families Department, initially, as a Graduating Kutztown University with a Juvenile Probation and Parole Officer, Bachelor of Science in Environmental

and worked her way up to Supervisor Science and Biology, she brings over 20 and Chief of her Division. During her years’ administrative and project time in this field, Heather became a management experience to Capacity community leader in juvenile Builders, Inc. with expertise in many areas of nonprofit, project and staff CBI NAVAJO YOUTH BUILDERS NEWSETTER | Issue 1 4

WYMAN TOP® FRAMEWORK

Mission Statement Wyman’s Mission is to enable teens from disadvantaged circumstances to lead successful lives and build strong communities.

Wyman TOP® Framework

Wyman’s TOP® works by providing TOP‘s® youth development approach is communities, organizations and schools flexible enough to be used in various with a tested framework for creating or settings that serve teens. Wyman’s enhancing local youth development TOP® can be a/an: Wyman’s Vision efforts. There are three essential Is to foster communities where every teen is expected outcomes from which every teen in our . In-school strategy integrated and supported to thrive in life, work and learning so that program can build a foundation of with core subjects; they can become economically self-sufficient, leaders in success: their communities and, ultimately, break the cycle of . In-school elective; poverty. . Healthy Behaviors – Positive, . After-school program; constructive actions that allow young . Component of an out-of-school WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY? people to be successful now and later enrichment program, such as a in life. social clubs recreation program . Life Skills – Competencies necessary or other “gap” time activities. to grow into healthy, self-sustaining 52% adults. Leading researchers recognize Wyman’s LOWER RISK OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION . Sense of Purpose – An TOP® as a program that delivers real understanding of self-value and results. The program is grounded in worth gained contributing to contemporary research and community through meaningful, theory regarding the self-directed service on projects of developmental, social and 60% personal interest. educational needs of young people in 6th LOWER RISK OF COURSE FAILURE TOP’s® Changing Scenes© curriculum is to 12th grade. It packed in four age-appropriate levels, has been proven and includes: highly effective in increasing school 53% . Values Clarification success and . Relationships protecting youth LOWER RISK OF PREGNANCY . Communication/Assertiveness from risk factors that contribute to . Influence school dropout and teen . Goal-Setting pregnancy. TOP® is featured as a “best 60% . Decision-Making practice” or evidence-based program proven to work on over 20+ lists from LOWER RISK OF SCHOOL DROPOUT . Human Development and experts in the field. Sexuality

. Community Service Learning

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WHY TOP® WORKS: The Essentials Program Elements . Teen participation in group . Teens have a choice in selecting . The TOP facilitator is perceived discussion is high. their service work. as someone who is sensitive to . Teens contribute a significant the feelings and needs of the number of hours (at least 20) in teens. their service placement. . Teens feel the social FOR MORE INFORMATION . Teens feel their service work is environment of the program is www.capacitybuildersinc.org engaging. emotionally supportive and safe. . Teen talking time in the group www.wymantop.org discussions is high, facilitator . Teens believe the TOP talking time is low. facilitator like the TOP teens or call (505) 326-4245 and care about them.

Training of Facilitators

Event Highlights July/August 2012 Upcoming Events

Kirtland Middle School TOP® To better the overall quality to the Winter Break WRHS Basic Training program, NYB provided training to the classroom teachers to be trained TOP® December 22, 2012 – January 4, 2013 facilitators. This provided the teachers with the better understanding and Winter Break CCSD contributes to the success of the December 22, 2012 – January 7, 2013 program. Spring Break March 11 – 15, 2013

TOP Club Celebration Week May 13 – 17, 2013

Students from Kirtland Middle School School Ends WRHS who participated in the program during May 23, 2013 the summer chose to do a camp for their local community kids as School Ends CCSD May 24, 2013 their Community Service Learning  Project. Teen Outreach Program 2012-13 School Year The students all shared a love of basketball and were passionate about Sessions for this school year began the Donations teaching their acquired skills to a first week of school and the clubs have younger audience to get them been meeting weekly. Service learning Parents/Guardians, interested in the game and for wellness projects are being selected and many and health benefits. During the three- clubs are moving into the planning If you have old magazines laying around day camp they worked on basic phase. So far students have enjoyed the the house that you can donate to NYB, basketball skills such as dribbling, program and are engaged. There are send them in with your teen. Magazines shooting, and passing. They worked over 800 students currently participating are needed for the students to use to hard on this project and were excited in the NYB project in 43 TOP clubs at 8 make collages during the program. about the event. schools located on the Navajo Nation. Thank you.

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“Teen Outreach Program® has helped “What I learned from this class is that, it me grow and challenged me to become a better person. Many things teaches me about how to be prepared that I didn’t know of such as building for life, it lets me know what challenges goals and values that I needed help to overcome and to be careful. with. In some ways, it changed me Everything in this class is helpful and I and made me see a whole point of learned some great information.” view on things. It is a terrific program -Teen, Shiprock High School for all teens.” -Window Rock High School “I’ve grown from my involvement Participant TOP® because I’ve learned a lot of

things like communication.” “This program changed me physically, “This class is actually my most -Teen, Newcomb High School mentally, and emotionally. It changed favorite class of all time. I like me emotionally in how I act and how I expressing my opinions.” “My serving learning experience treat others and myself. It changed me nd mentally in how I have grown in -Teen, Kirtland Central High was very fun. The 2 Graders coming out of my comfort zone and School were very happy to see us and getting to know new people and to talk they were also funny because to more people. It also changed me “I really like and enjoy this class they are small.” physically in how I think like when I’m because it exposes me to a lot of -Teen, Newcomb High School topics I’ve heard of, but it was never ready which is until marriage. So over all explained to me well enough to get this program was an awesome and I “I like this class a lot. It’s very fun. it. I also enjoy all the fun activities. wouldn’t change anything about what Every week I look forward to coming -Teen, Kirtland Central High School to this class on Fridays.” she was talking about.” -Teen, Kirtland Central High School - Window Rock High School “My service learning experience Participant was a great experience that I will “From this program I have learned a “Well first and foremost the TOP® has cherish for the rest of my life.” lot from my health to mental being. It been very eye opening. I learned -Teen. Newcomb High School showed me it’s okay to be who you from Tanya that everyone had the are.” - Window Rock High School right to speak up for themselves and “This program taught me to be more Participant as we grow, our lives will change responsible.” (good or bad) and we need to learn -Teen, Shiprock High School “I have changed by getting over my to expect/accept a lot of things. shyness and participating in - Window Rock High School “One way to become involved with activities.” Participant community is by helping others.”- - Teen, Newcomb High School Teen, Shiprock High School

418 w. Broadway Ave Farmington, NM 87401 CBI If you have any questions feel free to call us at: NAVAJO (505) 326-4245 YOUTH BUILDERS NEWSLETTER

NAVAJO YOUTH BUILDERS NEWSLETTER Issue 1