Ak-Chin Indian Community Youth Council offers leadership, service opportunities

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The Ak-Chin Youth Council helps young people strengthen their leadership skills and serve others while helping to preserve the traditions of the Ak-Chin Indian Community. Members are selected through an application process and represent the Ak-Chin Indian Community at different cultural and family events within and outside of the Community.

Ak-Chin Youth Council members also have opportunities to travel and interact with youth from different tribes around the country. This gives them open doors to seek out new ideas, viewpoints and create relationships with peers of all nations.

Ak-Chin Indian Community Youth Council members attended the Unity Conference in Orlando in July

Representatives of the Ak-Chin Youth Council attended the 2019 United National Indian Tribal Youth (Unity) Annual Conference in Orlando in July. Accompanied by Youth Council Coordinator, Marla Antone, and Ak-Chin Council Member, Lisa Garcia, the group had the opportunity to meet other Native youth from around the country.

Guest speakers at the conference included NASA astronaut John Herrington, the first Native American to fly in space, and former Idaho Governor candidate and Coeur d’Alene tribal member Paulette Jordan. Ak-Chin youth participated in a cultural presentation of the four O’odham tribes and a talent show, according to an article in the O’odham Runner newspaper.

Council Member Garcia sat in on a workshop related to tribal leaders providing a positive message to youth. It was an excellent experience for the Ak-Chin Youth Council members to travel and meet other youth leaders from around the country.

Members of the Ak-Chin Youth Council also participate in community service. Previous service projects included bringing back and sharing wellness information with the Ak-Chin Indian Community, which was taught to them by National Unity Council representatives. The goal was to promote physical, mental, spiritual, and social wellness in the Community.

Ak-Chin Youth Council officers are elected each summer by enrolled Ak-Chin Indian Community youth ages 13–25. The Youth Council are made up of enrolled youth members of the Ak-Chin Indian Community and other Native American youth who live within the Ak-Chin Indian Community boundaries.

Thank you to the members of the Ak-Chin Youth Council for representing the Ak-Chin Indian Community. For more information regarding the Youth Council please call (520) 568-1000 and ask for Marla Antone, Youth Council Coordinator.

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.