The Peace and Balance Project is a Substance Abuse Prevention and
Gang Awareness Program of Native Movement.
The program is a creative and progressive project dealing with the problem
of drug and narcotic use by youth and gang activity in low-income
communities.
Currently, on and off reservations in Native communities, many youth turn to
gangs because of broken families, lack of positive role models, no place for
creative expression, and outlets for their energy.
The project is organized by youth who were able to transform their lives of
violence and gang activity, through personal growth and community support.
The project works with youth in the following areas:
Gang Awareness Program of Native Movement.
The program is a creative and progressive project dealing with the problem
of drug and narcotic use by youth and gang activity in low-income
communities.
Currently, on and off reservations in Native communities, many youth turn to
gangs because of broken families, lack of positive role models, no place for
creative expression, and outlets for their energy.
The project is organized by youth who were able to transform their lives of
violence and gang activity, through personal growth and community support.
The project works with youth in the following areas:
- Youth Leadership Development
- Educating and Healing Through Hip-Hop Tour
- Speaking and Listening Tours
- Sustainable Construction and Building projects
- Traditional Foods and Life skills
- School Programs
| Description of Problem: |
On Indian Reservations and concentrated urban areas all across the US and
Canada there are high rates of alcoholism, drug abuse, and violence.
The enormous rate of alcohol and substance abuse takes the lives of too
many of our young and old alike.
Gangs and violence on the reservations are mirrors of cities such as Los
Angeles, Brooklyn, NYC, and Chicago with incidents as brutal as that on
streets of these big urban areas.
This is very evident by simply driving through any Rez Town, or urban area
USA or Canada. Upon looking out your window you can take notice of poor
living conditions, the lack of basic necessities/ infrastructure, and the
feeling of despair and uncertainty.
There are many issues that need to be addressed on the reservation on a
day-to-day basis, but the focus of the Substance Abuse Prevention and
Gang Awareness focuses on the risk of “at risk” youth who have drug
problems or are involved with gang lifestyles.
Other programs of this sort are normally run by federal and state
institutions, often many times leaving the communities disempowered,
disregarding local knowledge and traditional values.
Our goal is to make our program one of the peoples, one that is created by
community members who see the need for this initiative and see the need
to approach our problems ourselves in innovative and creative ways.
Canada there are high rates of alcoholism, drug abuse, and violence.
The enormous rate of alcohol and substance abuse takes the lives of too
many of our young and old alike.
Gangs and violence on the reservations are mirrors of cities such as Los
Angeles, Brooklyn, NYC, and Chicago with incidents as brutal as that on
streets of these big urban areas.
This is very evident by simply driving through any Rez Town, or urban area
USA or Canada. Upon looking out your window you can take notice of poor
living conditions, the lack of basic necessities/ infrastructure, and the
feeling of despair and uncertainty.
There are many issues that need to be addressed on the reservation on a
day-to-day basis, but the focus of the Substance Abuse Prevention and
Gang Awareness focuses on the risk of “at risk” youth who have drug
problems or are involved with gang lifestyles.
Other programs of this sort are normally run by federal and state
institutions, often many times leaving the communities disempowered,
disregarding local knowledge and traditional values.
Our goal is to make our program one of the peoples, one that is created by
community members who see the need for this initiative and see the need
to approach our problems ourselves in innovative and creative ways.
Peace & Balance C/O Native Movement PO Box 896 Flagstaff, AZ 86002 928-699-9601 |
| Peace & Balance Project Overview: |
