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Conscious Alliance
Project Goal
$100,000.00 |
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Description of the problem:
It is estimated that over 31% of American Indians residing on reservations in the United States live in poverty. American Indians also have the highest rates of diabetes, alcoholism and tuberculosis of all ethnic groups in the United States. These disparate statistics are intrinsically connected to lack of substantial commercial and industrial enterprises on reservations. Few industries are willing to operate on reservation lands due to their geographic remoteness. Subsequently, there are few employment options. With limited income and reliance upon federal food assistance programs, there is limited access to sufficient amounts of healthy food. When these health conditions are examined in connection with the loss of cultural identity, language and fragmentation of community and family structures, it becomes apparent how the entire existence of our indigenous peoples is being threatened. The government programs designed to offset these social ills are failing to meet some of the most basic human and community needs. It has been left to non-governmental organizations to pick up the pieces.
Description of the
project / solution:
There may be no immediate solution to revert the disparities present on American Indian Reservations, but it is the belief of Conscious Alliance that truly effective assistance begins not only with an increased quantity of food, but an increased quality as well. Increasing the access to healthy food supplies can results in steady improvement of health of these peoples. This will allow individuals to more effectively break the cycle of poverty that plagues them. By creating an alliance between food distributors, community leaders and volunteers we are creating new channels for the distribution of much needed food supplies. However, without increased economic opportunities and community development, emergency food programs can become crutches rather than merely just assistance. To begin to address this concern we have created a service-learning project to harness the talent and ambition of our youth. We believe young people have the power to make a difference. By facilitating the implementation of new projects, we are simultaneously enhancing the community while creating jobs for residents who will work alongside the students. Granted the opportunity to experience the Third World conditions present in these communities, we hope the students will use their voice to bring further assistance and change.
Amount that Channel G seeks to raise in order to
help the organization achieve its goals:
Conscious Alliance is seeking $100,000 to support the construction of a second distribution facility on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer, MT. Currently, food is completely distributed during each visit, as there is no space, other than a small shed, for housing reserve supplies. The facility, which is already in design, will be built with sustainable materials and powered by renewable energy. We hope to use this project as a model for future construction in economically impoverished communities such as Lame Deer.
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