This summer we launched our Leadership Academy, a 4-week program that develops leadership skills within middle school-aged Apsáalooke (Crow) Native youth through basketball training and community activism. 

 

Students partook in community action projects, where they used the dedication and teamwork practiced on the court to identify a social issue in their community, research the issue, create a plan of action to address the issue, and carry out their plan as a team. One group of students made a documentary film to help community members understand and deal with depression in their families. Another created a mural related to drug abuse prevention. 

 

Students also had loads of fun through other games and activities. Their "final exam" was a massive obstacle course that included shooting hoops in a pool, busting out some dance moves, and testing their knowledge of basketball skills, concepts related to social change, and school study habits.  

 

Take a moment to view photos from our Leadership Academy