For decades the General Convention of Sioux YMCAs and our Ys have been partners in the Y movement. Through this partnership Y staff, volunteers, and youth have traveled to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation for short-term service projects in the communities of the Sioux YMCA.
These trips offered youth and adults interaction with a culture and socio-economic reality they have little previous knowledge of. Their experiences developed an understanding of the global nature of the Y movement and ways of life for people very different from oneself. Youth and families in Cheyenne River communities face extreme health challenges stemming from generational poverty and have little programming to help them address their needs.
Teams of Y staff stay for two-week periods on the reservation working on behalf of the Sioux YMCA. The Sioux Y’s service area covers over 4400 square miles, and includes 18 communities. Its staff team is small, often three, or fewer staffers.
This initiative is now offered to other YMCAs around the country. The growth in national participation engaged a broader number of Y staff with different perspectives and experiences. Staff participants have gained a broader network and greater understanding of the Y movement through their interactions with Y professionals from across the nation.
To date, over 60 YMCA staff have developed their leadership, technical abilities, cultural competency, and commitment to the mission of the Y, all while providing invaluable service the Sioux Y community.