Running Strong for American Indian Youth’s mission is to strengthen Native American youth by creating sustainable generational change and giving families the tools and hope to build better lives.

We believe in the power of Native youth to strengthen their communities, overcome poverty and systemic challenges, and deepen their cultural identities. 

Through programs in areas such as youth development, health and wellness, food sovereignty, environmental justice and clean water access, and cultural revitalization, Running Strong empowers Native youth to dream, lead, and create meaningful, lasting change in their communities. At its heart, Running Strong embodies the Lakota principle of giving back — a legacy of co-founder Billy Mills — by investing in the next generation of Native leaders, our youth, who are running strong for their people and their future.