Wings of America

Child and youth development program: program expense 315,545 Wings leadership academy- leadership and facilitation trainings for native young adults and educators that go on to lead summer camps and flight clubs. In 2023, Wings trained 30 former participants to work as summer camp facilitators during a four-day retreat hosted at The beginning of june in The manzano mountains. Summer camps- one, two and three-day "running & fitness" camps which encourage and motivate native youth to take charge of their health and well-being through running and group games (at no costs to participants). Soon after attending leadership academy, Wings facilitators coordinated camps in 22 tribal communities across new mexico, Arizona and Utah throughout june and july 2023. These camps served 666 unique participants. Flight clubs- extracurricular running programs that offer elementary and middle school students with a space to stay healthy & active year-round. During 2023, Wings maintained one active flight club site in partnership with The native american community academy in albuquerque, nm, serving approximately 50 students. Student-athlete empowerment program: program expense 95,609 Wings national team- Wings selects an intertribal mixed team of talented young runners to represent native communities in key regional and national races. The 34th Wings team travelled to richmond, va to compete in The usatf cross country championships held on january 21, 2023. The 8 young men and 8 women selected for The team were also invited to a three-night training camp hosted in albuquerque to help them prepare for competition. A total of 61 student-athletes representing 14 native american tribes registered to be considered for selection for The team. 52 of these runners eventually posted qualifying times at regional races. Wings provided dozens of these deserving student-athletes with travel and race registration assistance to attend their regional qualifying race. A caravan of 10 Wings athletes attended The nike cross southwest regional in tempe, az on november 19, 2022 with Wings staff. Dozens of others made The trip with their families, with race registration and lodging covered by The organization. Eight of The sixteen athletes selected for The national team received some form of assistance to attend their qualifying race. Boston marathon pursuit- in partnership with The boston athletic association, harvard university native american program (hunap) and northeastern university, Wings brings native high schoolers to boston during marathon weekend to visit colleges, learn more about The college application process, spectate The marathon and learn how to navigate The city as a group. With The help of two former Wings participants as chaperones and fundraisers, Wings ushered a group of 5 students to boston april 13-17, 2023.