Urban Native Youth Association

UNYA offered its first program to Native youth in 1988 with the Native Youth Job Corps. Unfortunately, this program is no longer in existence. We became a non-profit society with the addition of the Aries Project in 1989. We have since grown to include eighteen programs including four residential programs, sixty volunteers, over eighty full and part-time staff, and ninety community partners.

We believe that Native youth have the right to live safe, healthy, and positive lives that are free from negative influences. We strive to address issues that negatively affect the lives of Native youth through providing a good continuum of care with a large focus on prevention-based activities such as our homework clubs, peer leadership, and sports and recreational activities.

Our main goal is not only to assist Native youth to leave their street lifestyles, but to deter our children from ever entering street life. We do this by offering preventative programs to meet youth's immediate and long-term needs. We will continue to adapt to the ever-changing needs of Native youth to ensure that they have the best chance possible to lead safe, healthy, and positive lives.