- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
ZUNI, N.M. — The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, a leading initiative dedicated to the empowerment and holistic development of Zuni youth, has partnered with Everybody Solar to install a 26.88-kilowatt solar array at the Zuni Youth Center.
This collaboration represents a major stride toward environmental stewardship and sustainable community investment.
Serving more than 1,000 Zuni youth annually, ZYEP offers culturally rooted sports, arts and educational workshops designed to foster physical, mental and emotional health. Integrating traditional Zuni values with contemporary education, ZYEP provides a supportive space for youth to build resilience and a strong sense of identity.
The newly installed solar array, made possible with the expertise and partnership of Everybody Solar, is projected to generate approximately 48,250-kilowatt hours of renewable electricity per year, significantly reducing electricity expenses and the center's carbon footprint.
This initiative is expected to prevent more than 74,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually, with the cost savings invested directly into programming and facilities for Zuni youth.
“Our community’s growth demands creative solutions, and this solar project is a perfect example. It allows us to reinvest in our youth’s futures while caring for our environment - connecting our cultural values with real action” Tahlia Natachu-Eriacho, executive director from the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project said
Myriam Scally, executive director at Everybody Solar, added, “We are honored to support the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project in bringing clean, sustainable energy to the Zuni Youth Center. This project showcases how renewable energy can empower communities, support youth, and create long-lasting positive change.”
More Stories Like This
The Great Salt Lake, Water Injustice & The Promise of TEKHalf of Households on Native American Reservations Lack Access to Reliable Water Sources, Clean Drinking Water, or Adequate Sanitation
Tonawanda Seneca Nation and Sierra Club File Litigation Challenging Environmental Review Process of Massive Data Center
Oak Ridge Fire On Navajo Nation Grows to 9,846 Acres
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
