Talon Jacobs: Gen-I Youth Ambassador

Talon Jacobs, the son of Chrissy and Gordon Jacobs was recently recognized as a Center for Native American Youth Ambassador. Talon was nominated by Madison White, a 2019 'Champions for Change Ambassador". In March, the Jacobs family received word that from the Center for Native American Youth (CFNY) that Talon had been chosen as one of their Generation Indigenous Youth Ambassador. Since then, the pandemic has hit and everything has been put on hold while families concentrated on surviving and programs concentrated on how to move forward.

The Champions for Change (CFC) program and the Gen-I Network is a Native youth leadership initiative under the umbrella of Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Instituite. Both programs are designed to highlight positive stories of impact from Indian Country youth. The program, inspired by a 2011 White House initiative, develops young Native leaders through experience-based learning and tailored advocacy training.

Generation Indigenous Youth Ambassadors "Gen-I Ambassadors" serve as spokespersons for the Gen-I initiative, and act as community liaisons to share resources and opportunities with peers and communities. The Gen-I Ambassadors develop their leadership and advocacy skills and provide national platforms for them to share their stories. Most importantly, Ambassadors inspire one another, creating ripples of positive change throughout the country in the following ways;

Elevate Youth Voices. Ambassadors will become recognized leaders. CNAY and other Gen-I partners regularly invite Ambassadors to speak publicly, assist with visits to tribal and urban Indian communities, and join communications efforts (op-eds, blog posts, social media campaigns) to elevate the youth perspective and priorities into media outlets.

Find Pathways to Opportunity. Ambassadors have incredible opportunities to develop and practice leadership skills, as well as receive up-to-date information about scholarships, internships, and job announcements.

Connect with other Native Youth. Building cross-cultural and inter-tribal connections between Native youth is an important element of the Ambassador network. Ambassadors will receive the tools to develop lasting relationships and create a strong foundation of young advocates across Indian Country.

Louise Wakerakats:te Herne stated in her recommendation, "If his emergence from his coming of age ceremony is any indication of how powerful he is going to be then we should steady ourselves toward a hopeful future for all mankind."

Teresa Van Dunk, SRCS High School Principal stated in her recommendation, "Talon will bring fresh perspectives and a genuine sense of kindness to any group that he is part of. Champions for Change will provide a venue for Talon's continued development as a leader."

The Center for Native American Youth mission as an advocacy organization is to improve the health, safety, and overall well-being of Native American Youth.

Talon plans to go into early childhood education program and a Mohawk immersion program, saying, "So that I can teach and help raise the future children of Akwesasne. Because to make a nation strong you have to raise up the youth in all the ways of our ancestors. That includes love, family and community and our language. We all have to take on responsibly for what we want the future to be."