Keith Martinez: In the News

 Posted on January 6, 2014

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Keith Martinez, the Youth Advisory Board Chair for Lakota Children’s Enrichment, was profiled in the Villanova University News for being one of 51 students from across the country selected by Youth Service of America (YSA) and the Festival of Children Foundation to serve as a state Ambassador for National Child Awareness Month (NCAM).

YSA received thousands of applications and selected only one representative to serve as each state’s youth representative!

Please join us in cheering Keith on!

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Keith (far right) helped give awards to Tiny Tots at the Oglala Lakota Pow Wow, August 2013. From left, Stryker T., Jetta T. and Maggie Dunne

Keith also launched a personal fundraising page to fund projects proposed by the LCE Youth Board.

Keith told the Villanova News that in order to change the future for youth on Pine Ridge, they must:

[be] given the motivation and support they need. Knowing the[ir] potential is what keeps me motivated and striving for a better future for those on the Reservation. Receiving this award as Youth Ambassador has been a true accomplishment; I never thought I would become the representing figure of my state for such a program, at least not this early in my life…. [I am] very excited to see what we will accomplish in this upcoming year and years to come.
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Keith and LCE President Maggie Dunne at LCE’s offices in NY

LCE President Maggie Dunne said about Keith:

We are so proud of Keith for applying for and receiving the NCAM Ambassador position. It is gratifying to see Youth Service America and other national organizations focusing on the positive and talented youth from Pine Ridge. When Keith spoke at LCE’s Youth Summit [last] summer, he encouraged teens to follow their dreams and to ignore negative forces that may surround them. We look forward to Keith’s continuing success and can’t wait to see what the future brings….

LCE has been designated a Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency by YSA and will produce youth programs in April of 2014, funded in part by a grant from State Farm Insurance.

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