Contact: Erin Bailey, Director
Center for Native American Youth
The Aspen Institute
202-736-2521
erin.bailey@aspeninstitute.org
Erin Bailey, director of the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, was awarded the 2012 National Impact Award from the National Indian Health Board in Denver, Colorado on September 26, 2012.
Washington, DC, October 1, 2012 –– Erin Bailey, director of the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, was awarded a National Impact Award from the National Indian Health Board at the NIHB 2012 Annual Awards Gala. The Gala, held during the 29th NIHB Annual Consumer Conference, honored colleagues and friends whose outstanding service, sacrifice, dedication, and vision has greatly advanced the health of Native Americans.
“I am absolutely honored and humbled to be recognized with this award. Any success I or the Center for Native American Youth has achieved is a result of our strong partnerships with tribal leaders and organizations like the NIHB and its Board of Directors,” commented Erin Bailey.
Erin Bailey received this award on behalf of the Center’s efforts to reach out and improve the lives of Native American youth throughout the country. She was also recognized for her role as the lead staffer for Indian Health Care Improvement Act when it was passed as a part of health care reform in 2010, under then-chairman Senator Byron Dorgan on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in the 110th and 111th Congresses.
“I am proud of Erin’s work on Indian health issues while staffing me in the Senate, and I am pleased to have her running our program at the Center for Native American Youth,” said former US Senator Byron Dorgan.
The Center launched in early 2011 when Senator Dorgan donated $1 million of leftover campaign funds and hired Erin Bailey to start the new organization. Since its launch the Center has actively reached out to Indian Country as well as built a national policy program. To date, the Center has led over 40 outreach events and roundtable conversations with Native youth in 12 different states from over 100 different tribes.
Center for Native American Youth is dedicated to improving the health, safety and overall well-being of Native American youth through communication, policy development and advocacy.
Founded by former US Senator Byron Dorgan in February 2011, the Center is a policy program within the Aspen Institute, headquartered in Washington, DC. The Center works to strengthen and create new connections as well as exchange resources and best practices that address the challenges facing Native youth. Visit the Center’s website for a comprehensive list of resources available to young Native Americans, tribes and the general public. For more information, visit www.cnay.org
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