UCLA Football, United Natives and Indigenous Health Host Inaugural Native Youth Football Camp at MCC
The following story was written by Public Relations Marketing Analyst Senior Jeremy Byrum of the MCC Office of Institutional Advancement.
Tempe-based affiliate organizations, Indigenous Health and United Natives, hosted an activity-filled day that a number of local Indigenous youth won't soon forget.
In mid-July, the organizations hosted a free football camp for native youth (between junior high and high school ages) at MCC's John D. Riggs Stadium.
"I was happy to give back to our community through our youth," said Erin Johns of Indigenous Health, an LLC that integrates traditional Native American healing practices and Western medicine to create solutions to issues impacting Indigenous communities. All staff from both organizations are 100% Native, as well as 95% of their clinical team.
The camp itself was not any ordinary football camp. It was coached by players from the UCLA Bruins football team: quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, running back Zach Charbonnet, and wide receivers Jake Bobo and Titus Mokiao-Atimalala.
Founder Brings the UCLA Connection
Dr. Crystal Lee, Ph.D. is founder and CEO of Indigenous Health and United Natives, a nonprofit. She completed her postdoctoral research at UCLA's Geffen School of Medicine, and is personally connected with Dorian Thompson-Robinson's family. His mother, Melva, was Dr. Lee's dissertation co-chair at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. For Dr. Lee, the football camp was a natural progression of her organizations' shared mission.
"What started with COVID relief efforts for tribal communities blossomed into purposeful intention to give our youth opportunities they normally wouldn't have," says the entrepreneur-scientist and once student-athlete of Scottsdale Community College. Dr. Lee also serves as Population Health Faculty at the University of New Mexico.
"With this camp, we wanted to use sports as a catalyst to produce good physical and mental health, along with self-discipline," she said. With UCLA teammates on board with this mission, they headed for the Valley.
The MCC Connection
MCC Athletic Director John Mulhern was asked if MCC could host the camp. A longtime supporter of The American Indian Institute (AII), John collaborated with Sam Stevens to find volunteers.
MCC alumni member from the class of 2022, Renae Blackwater, knows Sam from AII; Renae served at Indiginous Health as an intern for the summer. The alumni connection helped facilitate the process of finding volunteers.
"We were very excited to use this event to showcase MCC and highlight its commitment to Native American students and their presence on campus," Sam said.
Along with United Natives's own outreach, the group was able to secure volunteers from all across the state. Dr. Lee's longtime friend Tasha Washingon, Head Women's Basketball Coach at Scottsdale, brought her team to volunteer.
The event far exceeded expectations; the group even included the entire football team from Monument Valley High School in Kayenta, AZ on the Navajo Nation.
Fostering a Mission of Health Promotion
A health-centered event such as this one is a cornerstone for the physical wellbeing of Native youth, and also for a sense of community. "Opportunities for football camps like this one are rare for Indigenous youth groups," said Renae. "It was important that we made it free and accessible, and also representative."
In reference to receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalalam, who is native Hawaiian, Renae added: "Indigenous kids can look up to him and say, 'if Titus can do it [be a Division-1 college athlete], then I can, too.' Something like that can make a big impact. "
Participants and volunteers gathered in the Theo Heap Gym after the camp for a Q&A with the organizers and UCLA football team members. Their message was one of hope and inspiration. "The panel brought their experience to the group, and also stressed the importance of education, health, and community," Dr. Lee said.
A pow wow performance group ended the day's events, sharing the rich tradition and culture presented by the medium. (This performance was made possible by Indigenous Enterprise, another Native-owned organization).
The success of the football camp brings the hope of an even bigger turnout next time. The goal is making it annual.
"We are proud to use our platform to provide these kinds of opportunities to native youth," says Dr. Lee. "To bring them this experience…it gives them a sense of self identity and pride. Hopefully, they got an idea of how far they can excel."
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To learn more about both organizations, visit United Natives and Indigenous Health online.
Special Thanks for Their Contributions
- Dr. Crystal Lee of United Natives
- Alumna Renae Blackwater, along with Brooke Betsuie and Erin Johns of Indigenous Health
- John Mulhern and Sam Stevens
- MCC student volunteers–Annemarie Trojanovich, Xavierre Garcia, and Amber Means
- MCC Staff–Mariah Charlie, BethAnn Wright, and Tanya Smith
