Greetings from the team at Today’s Native Leaders and United National Indian Tribal
Youth, Inc. (UNITY, Inc.). We hope you’re as excited as we are about the upcoming event in
Fort Lauderdale, FL. To make sure we have a productive training session and that all
participants have a positive learning experience, it’s important that everyone
understand and abide by common expectations.
Our goals for the TNL Training are:
 To engage youth and youth serving programs in efforts to reduce risk factors in
youth, schools, communities, and families.
 To empower Native youth to become leaders in their communities.
 To help Native youth strengthen the UNITY network.
To meet these goals, participants are expected to:
 Positively represent your tribal community and treat fellow TNL participants, staff,
and guests with courtesy and respect.
 Attend and participate in all training sessions. This includes remaining on-site at all
times.
 Be on time and prepared with materials and assignments.
 Uphold the TNL Code of Conduct at all times, including appropriate dress.
Today’s Native Leaders Training promises to be a fun and empowering experience. While we
are still working to fine-tune the details of the Training, listed below are the topic areas we will
be covering during our time together.
 Team Building Exercises
 Action Planning and Event Promotion
 Developing a Community Service Project
 How to Establish a UNITY Council
 Opportunities to Present in a National Forum
Please take a few minutes to read and review the contents of this packet. Pay particular attention
to the forms that require signatures. If you are under the age of 18, please make sure your
parents or guardian sign your registration forms. Please FAX or email the forms that require
signatures by Friday, October 10, 2014.
Remember to bring the originals to Ft. Lauderdale when you come for the TNL training.
FAX: 480.773.6369
Email: L.yazzie@unityinc.org
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BACKGROUND ON TODAY’S NATIVE LEADERS
Native youth face challenges such as bullying, substance and alcohol abuse, domestic, violence, teen
dating violence, teen pregnancy, school dropouts, gangs, suicide and unemployment. All can limit
their opportunities to make healthy life choices. Many Native youth are looking to make changes in
their communities and are taking steps to facilitate positive change.
Last October, UNITY entered into a partnership with the US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention to conduct regional and national gatherings to help prepare
youth gain valuable real life experiences that will help prepare them to succeed in future leadership
roles. Youth at the 2014 Mid-Year meeting in Washington, DC adopted a resolution to endorse and
support this important project. They named the project Today’s Native Leaders (TNL), so it could
be easily recognized and grab the attention of Native youth.
The Initiative’s primary goal is to “Engage youth and youth serving programs in conjunction in
efforts to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors in youth, schools, communities and
families.” Over the next three years, UNITY staff will be visiting locations around the country to
conduct Leadership Training sessions on how to plan and implement Community Service projects.
At a special pilot-planning meeting in June, held at the UNITY headquarters in Mesa, AZ, youth
teams completed the steps required to complete a community service project and presented
reports at the end of the meeting. They also provided feedback about the training materials so
UNITY can produce a training manual that really works for youth.
The first regional training will be in the Southeast Region in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, October, 2014.
Native youth from the Southeast area of the country will participate in this exciting event. In April,
2015, we will conduct a TNL Training session for the Great Plains Region.
TNL’s first National Forum will be held next July in Washington, DC, where teams from the West,
Southeast and Great Plains regions will present their completed Community Service projects to a
national audience.
.
This project was supported by 2013-TY-FX-K008 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs
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Southeast Regional Training Session
October 24–26, 2014 (Friday–Sunday)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Working Agenda
FRIDAY, October 24, 2014
3:00 p.m.
Participants arrive/check-in at hotel
Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel
1140 Seabreeze Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Phone: 954.524.5551/ Fax: 954.523.5376
Reservation email address: FTLreservations664@sheraton.com
4:00 p.m.
Opening prayer/Welcome/Introductions
4:30 p.m.
Team Building Activities
5:30 p.m.
Establishing Norms
6:00 p.m.
Dinner (on your own)
7:00 p.m.
How to Build an Effective Youth Council
7:45 p.m.
Overview of Training
8:00 p.m.
Announcements/Adjournment
SATURDAY, October 25, 2014
8:00 a.m.
Participants arrive/Energizers
8:30 a.m.
Training session begins/Mind-mapping exercises
10:00 a.m.
Break
10:15 a.m.
Training session continues
12:00 p.m.
Luncheon “Why are youth led service projects important?”
Speakers: James Billie, Chairman, Seminole Tribe (invited)
Colley Billie, Chairman, Miccosukee Tribe (invited)
Stephanie Bryan, Tribal Chair, Poarch Band of Creek Indians (invited)
1:00 p.m.
Energizers/Training session continues
3:00 p.m.
Break
3:15 p.m.
Training session continues
5:00 p.m.
Dinner Break
6:30 p.m.
Energizers/Training session continues
8:00 p.m.
Announcements/Adjournment
SUNDAY, October 26, 2014
8:00 a.m.
Participants check out of hotel/Arrive at meeting room.
8:30 a.m.
Project Presentations
10:00 a.m.
Break
10:15 a.m.
Wrap up presentations
11:00 a.m.
Talking Circles - Participants provide feedback on training session
11:30 a.m.
Complete evaluations
12:00 p.m.
Training session concludes - Safe travels home!
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OJJDP/UNITY
Southeast Regional Training
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, October 24, 25, 26, 2014
REGISTRATION FORM
First Name: __________________________Last Name:_____________________________
Mailing Address: (Street/PO Box)_______________________________________________
City: ______________________________________State: ___________ Zip:_____________
Birth date: ________________Tribal Affiliation:____________________________________
E-mail Address: ______________________________________________________________
Phone: _________________________________Cell:________________________________
Youth Council/Group:_________________________________________________________
Advisor:____________________Cell:_______________Email:_________________________
Emergency contact:_________________________________ Relationship:_______________
Emergency contact phone number:_______________Email:___________________________
COMMITMENT TO PARTICIPATE AND LIABILITY RELEASE
If participant is a minor, a parent or legal guardian as well as the participant must sign this form
You can count on my participation in ALL sessions and activities of the TNL Regional Training. I pledge to
conduct myself in a manner that will bring honor to my tribe, community, and myself. In the event of illness
or accident, I give my consent to receive medical attention. Also, I will not hold liable OJJDP/United National
Indian Tribal Youth, Inc., nor any of its agents, volunteers, or other organizations involved in this event.
Participant Signature _________________________________________
Parent Signature_____________________________________________
PHOTOGRAPHIC/VIDEO/AUDIO RELEASE
Participant agrees to be photographed or videotaped during the training session and gives permission for
his/her photo to be used in UNITY/TNL promotional materials as well as reporting materials with the US
Department of Justice, OJJDP.
Signature of Participant/Parent ________________________________________
PLEASE BRING THE ORIGINAL SIGNED FORM WITH YOU TO THE TRAINING
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MEDICAL RELEASE FORM
Participant Name:__________________________________________
Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy): _____________________
Address:_______________________________________________________
City:__________________________________State:_________ Zip: _______________
Allergies:_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Other Medical Conditions (including pregnancy):
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Mother’s Name: ______________________________________Home: __________________________
Work: ______________________________________________ Cell_____________________________
Father’s Name: _______________________________________Home: __________________________
Work: _______________________________________________Cell: ____________________________
Guardian’s Name: _____________________________________Home: __________________________
Work:_______________________________________________ Cell: ____________________________
IN AN EMERGENCY WHEN PARENTS/GUARDIANS CANNOT BE REACHED, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: ______________________________________________Home: ___________________________
Work:_______________________________________________ Cell: ____________________________
Name: ______________________________________________ Home: __________________________
Work: ______________________________________________ Cell: _____________________________
Youth’s Physician: ______________________________________________________________________
Physician’s Phone:______________________________________________________________________
Medical and/or Hospital Ins. Co: __________________________________________________________
Phone:_______________________________________________________________________________
_
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(ATTACH PHOTOCOPY OF INSURANCE/MEDICAL CARD)
Policy Holder’s Name: __________________________________________________
Policy Number: ________________________________________________________
PARENT/GUARDIAN APPROVAL AND MEDICAL RELEASE
Recognizing the possibility of physical injury associated with the Today’s Native Leaders Training, I hereby
release, discharge, and/or otherwise indemnify United Tribal Indian Youth, Inc.; their employees and
associate personnel, including the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel and facilities utilized for the daily
leadership sessions and activities claimed by or on behalf of the registrant as a result of the registrant’s
participation in the Today’s Native Leaders Training, and/or being transported to or from the same, which
transportation I hereby authorize.
I hereby give consent to have an athletic trainer, nurse, and/or doctor of medicine or dentistry provide
my son/daughter with medical assistance and/or treatment and agree to be responsible financially for
the reasonable cost of such assistance and/or treatment if needed.
Signature of Parent/Guardian:______________________________________________________
Date: __________________________________________________________________________
Attach copy of Insurance card here:
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CODE OF CONDUCT FOR YOUTH
All participants of the Today’s Native Leaders Training must abide by the following guidelines
and agreements. The TNL/UNITY Code of Conduct is intended to foster a safe environment that is
conducive to optimal learning and growth. Toward that end, Native youth are expected to behave in a way
that respects the rights and property of others, and that will not disrupt or interfere with TNL goals.
General Guidelines:
1. Participants are expected to conduct themselves, at all times, as respectful guests of the
Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel and Today’s Native Leaders/UNITY.
2. Participants are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that proudly represents their
respective team, tribe, and state and will not bring discredit upon the Sheraton Fort
Lauderdale Beach Hotel and Today’s Native Leaders/UNITY.
3. Respect for the property of others, adherence to these agreements, and inobservance of state
and federal laws is required for participation in Today’s Native Leaders Training.
Agreements:
a. Substance use and/or possession of drugs, alcohol, and/or tobacco are cause for immediate
dismissal from Today’s Native Leaders Training.
b. Persistent irresponsibility and disrespectful behavior (as determined by TNL staff) are cause for
immediate dismissal from Today’s Native Leaders Training.
c. Destruction of property and/or violation of state and/or federal laws are cause for immediate
dismissal from Today’s Native Leaders Training
d. Participation in all planned Today’s Native Leaders Training activities.
e. Adherence to curfew rules established by Today’s Native Leaders staff.
f. Adherence to the established dress code at all times. Dress is casual, however, clothing that has
inappropriate slogans or designs, is prohibited. Skirts and shorts, necklines must be modest and
excessive showing of skin is prohibited.
g. Participants may not leave the premises unless for Today’s Native Leaders activities or
emergency when accompanied by an adult.
Please Note: If dismissed from Today’s Native Leaders, the entire team may be dismissed immediately
from the premises and must make consequent travel arrangements at their own expense.
AKNOWLEDGEMENT/AGREEMENT TO ADHERE TO CODE OF CONDUCT/DRESS
CODE
I have read the Code of Conduct and Dress Code and agree to abide by the points outlined.
Signature of Participant______________________________________________
I hereby approve the participation of my son/daughter in the TNL Regional Training. I have read
the Code of Conduct and Dress Code and agree to its points outlined.
Signature of Parent/Guardian ____________________________________________
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Today’s Native Leaders…National Youth Leadership Initiative
Southeast Regional Training Session
October 24–26, 2014 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Scholarship Application
First Name:___________________________Last Name:__________________________
Mailing Address: (Street/PO Box)____________________________________________
City:_____________________________________State:_________Zip:____________
Birth date:_____________________Tribal Affiliation:___________________________
E-mail address:_________________________________________________________________
Phone:_______________________Cell Phone:__________________________________
Youth Council/Group:___________________________________________________________
Advisor:_________________________Cell number:___________E-mail:____________
Emergency Contact:_________________________________Relationship:_________________
Emergency Contact Phone number:_________________E-mail:____________________
In the space provided below, please discuss your Youth Group’s desire to attend the TNL Leadership
Training and what you hope to bring away from this experience.
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Today’s Native Leaders…National Youth Leadership Initiative
Southeast Regional Training Workshop
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 24, 25, 26 October, 2014
Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Memorandum of Agreement
Between
Today’s Native Leaders…National Youth Leadership Initiative
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, OJJDP
United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc., UNITY
And
Names of Youth Council members:___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Agree to participate in ALL sessions of the Today’s Native Leaders Training Workshop in Fort Lauderdale,
FL, October 24-26, 2014. I/We pledge to conduct myself/ourselves in a manner that will bring honor to
my/our tribe, and my/our community and myself/ourselves. I/We agree to participate in the
implementation of a community service project in my/our home community following the training
received at Today’s Native Leaders Southeast Regional Training Meeting.
The signatures below acknowledge the acceptance of a $300.00 USD scholarship from UNITY, Inc. to be
used towards hotel accommodations while attending the TNL Training, October 24-26, 2014 in Fort
Lauderdale, FL.
Youth Council representative
Date
Youth Council Advisor
Date
____________________________________________________________________________________
TNL/UNITY representative
Date
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