Native Americans have the highest rates of suicide in our country. in 2023, American Indian or Alaska Native youth and young adults had a suicide rate of 36.3 per 100,000. American Indian or Alaska Native young adult males ages 15-34 had a suicide rate of 82.1 per 100,000. There were 28.1 completed suicides for every 100,000 people who were identified as American Indian/Alaskan Native. Because of this, I am raising money for the Moor Equity in Mental Health, a grant program that focuses on youth mental health issues.
In 2022, the community I served was devastated by a series of youth suicides. During that time, I started to feel burnt out and even considered retiring. So, I started researching's ways I could help and found the Moore Equity in Mental Health Community Grants. They give smaller targeted grants to help the community from within. This year, one of the recipients is Oakland Natives Give Back Fund Inc. They serve young women of color in the Oakland, California, area by incorporating culturally responsive mental health services, social-emotional learning workshops, and peer-led support groups. A large part of my Native American heritage is seven generations thinking, bettering the community not for you or your kids but, for seven generations down the line. To me, this grant provides the opportunity for the communities to help build up mental health services for the seventh generation. This way of thinking is something I am passing down to my kids by encourage them to join me in Stride!
This year, my son, Sky Gordon, is joining me in the 5th annual Moore Equity in Mental Health Community Grant 5k.
