PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: Cheyenne River Youth Project

The Cheyenne River Youth Project® was founded in January 1988 to address the community’s need for more services that support struggling children and their families. Originally housed in a defunct bar on Eagle Butte’s Main Street, the organization created a safe place for children to come after school; it offered activities such as arts and crafts, intramural sports and volunteer mentorship,and it provided a healthy meal and snack each day. The volunteer-run youth center, known affectionately as “The Main,” quickly became a vital part of the Cheyenne River community. Despite its small size, and few resources for programming, the center was filled to capacity each day.

The grassroots, nonprofit youth project has come a long way since that modest beginning. In 1997, CRYP built a new youth center that would be able to support continued growth. The new Main opened its doors in May 1999, and it features a recreation room, library, family room, commercial-grade kitchen, office space, and residential quarters for long-term volunteers.

CRYP continued to expand. In 2004, with input from Cheyenne River’s young people, it began work a dedicated facility for ages 13-18. Cokata Wiconi (Center of Life) opened in 2006 and is a tremendous achievement for CRYP, with more than 25,000 square feet of space and many exciting new opportunities. The teen center has a full-size gymnasium, computer lab, dance and art studios, library, and private apartment for long-term volunteers. It also is home to the Keya (Turtle) Cafe and Keya Gift Shop, as well as the Family Services program, the innovative Teen Internship program and the Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Lakota Arts Institute.

Poverty has a profound effect on family structure and self-esteem, which contributes to a variety of social ills. Located in one of the nation’s five poorest counties, CRYP serves the community by offering safe and healthy spaces, fostering healthy choices and life practices, strengthening connections to Lakota culture, teaching valuable job and life skills, and creating opportunities for a more vibrant and secure future.

Daily, CRYP lays the groundwork for long-term solutions. Each program is carefully designed with a purposeful foundation, cultural relevance, and potential for longevity. Our vision also includes critical infrastructure to accommodate our growth as we work to meet our community’s needs today and in the future.

CRYP has been recognized for its achievements locally, regionally and nationally, indicating that participants and supporters agree on its efficacy and importance. Executive director Julie Garreau has received several awards for her work with CRYP, including the South Dakota Volunteer of the Year Award in 1992, the Presidential Points of Light Award in 1993, the Garden Supply Company’s Garden Crusader Award in 2005, and the Spirit of Dakota Award in 2009. The South Dakota Coalition for Children named CRYP its “Champion for Children” in 2002, and the youth project’s RedCan invitational graffiti jam received the prestigious Robert E. Gard Award in 2017.

Source: https://lakotayouth.org/about/