The Center for Native American Youth Congratulates Jazmine Wildcat, who will join next year’s Special Olympics as a Unified Partner for Team Wyoming Unified Softball Team
Contact: Ben Berliner
The Aspen Institute
Ben.Berliner@aspeninstitute.org
Washington, DC, October 22 —The Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute is pleased to congratulate Jazmine Wildcat, a member of the 2020 Champions for Change class, on being designated as a United Partner for the 2022 Special Olympics in Orlando. In her role as a United Partner, Jazmine will train and compete alongside Special Olympic Athletes.
“We are so proud,” says CNAY Executive Director, Nikki Pitre. “Jazmine continues to inspire us all. Congratulations Jazmine!”
Wildcat was named as a 2020 Champion for Change in part for her work volunteering for the Special Olympics for over five years, three of which were as a certified coach. An advocate for mental health awareness, she founded the Nii’ííniProject, which supports individuals with depression and anxiety to get involved in activism. The Champions for Change program is a Native youth leadership initiative designed to highlight positive stories of impact from Indian Country. The program, inspired by a 2011 White House initiative, develops young Native leaders through experience-based learning and tailored advocacy training.
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The Center for Native American Youth believes all Native American youth should lead full and healthy lives, have equal access to opportunity, and draw strength from their culture and one another. As a policy program of the Aspen Institute founded by former US Senator Byron Dorgan (ret.), we work to improve the health, safety, and overall well-being of Native American youth. We do this through youth recognition, inspiration and leadership; research, advocacy, and policy change; serving as a national resource exchange; and by building a Native-youth driven narrative. For more information, visit www.cnay.org.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.