TEEN and YOUNG ADULT Holiday Party: Summer’s Paying it Forward

When LCE Youth Board member Summer Montileaux won the ABC Summer of Service Award for her work with Lakota Children’s Enrichment, she won a $1,000 grant to engage in more service…. and she is doing just that.

“My idea was to hold a Holiday Party for teens and to include community in the party — like the LCE Summits do — but with an added holiday bonus of gifts for teens who participate” said Summer. “Donations of toys from around the world arrive on the Reservation around the holidays –which is great– but teens largely are overlooked. I wanted to do something to lift everyone’s spirits and to give more teens and young adults a chance to help the community.”

On December 21 2014, LCE will host a Holiday Party for teens and young adults, from 3-6 PM at the Rockyford School’s small cafeteria. The party for youth ages 13-24 will reflect Summer’s passions: health and wellness, service and music.

The party will feature the Reservation’s own Alter-Native rock band Scatter Their Own,  a healthy meal and gifts specifically targeted to the young adult audience. VolunTEAMS will package food for local families, distribute boots and sneakers to local youth AND they will all receive an AIDS/HIV Awareness T-Shirt, an AIDS flyer and a nutrition flyer, designed by Summer.

“I am passionate about helping my community and among other things, I want to encourage people to talk about important issues that threaten the community’s health. Due to food shortages and lack of healthy food options, we don’t always focus on things like food strategies and nutrition. It is not impossible to eat well, but it is a challenge that we all need to address.  As to AIDS/HIV awareness, some of my peers have no idea that we are at risk in our community– but we are.  Being informed is a first step towards wellness.”

LCE President Maggie Dunne said: “I am so moved by Summer’s quiet passion and determination. She is a beautiful person inside and out.  LCE is proud to support the efforts of Summer and others, and we’re excited to help turn their ideas into action.”

If you would like to support this party, please send items through our teen party WISH LIST on Amazon.

Coming Soon:

• The LCE VolunTEAM will run an information table at Lakota Nation Invitational on December 19.
• Youth Board member Bobby Pourier will run a mobile Education Summit at Middle Schools in January, as part of his role as South Dakota’s Youth Service Ambassador for National Child Awareness Month.
• LCE’s Third Annual Writing and Art Challenge is around the corner. Theme this year is #WeAreHere and the Deadline for entires is February 13, 2015… SO, get working now! Great prizes, judges and award ceremonies!
• LCE’s Spring Youth Summit: Coming in April, in honor of Global Youth Service Day!