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ZUNI YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROJECT WILL HOST 2ND ANNUAL MISSING & MURDERED INDIGENOUS RELATIVES EVENT ON MAY 4

ZUNI, NM (Apr. 27, 2023) — On Thursday, May 4, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project will host its 2nd annual Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives event. Made possible by support from the Administration for Native Americans and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Ho’n A:wan Park.

The nonprofit youth project created this event in 2022 to recognize the MMIR social movement and emphasize the message that Native people are sacred. According to Tahlia Natachu, ZYEP’s executive director, the evening will include guest speakers, a 1-mile walk, a quarter-mile fun stroll on the Ho’n A:wan Park Trail, a Zumba session, and a youth art show.

“We must stop the violence and bring awareness,” Natachu said. “This is our attempt to do so in a strengths-based way by bringing together community, movement, and art.”

The youth art show will be a particular highlight. Featured artists are the young people who participated in the past four cohorts of ZYEP’s Emerging Artist Apprenticeship Program.

“This is an opportunity for them to show and sell their work,” Natachu said. “Many of them created art specifically to bring awareness to the MMIR movement.”

“This event brings to light the ongoing tragedy of our beloved missing and murdered indigenous relatives of all identities, from colonization to the modern day,” said Kandis Quam, ZYEP’s assistant art coordinator. “While we can’t fix this problem through one event, we’re doing what we can as an organization to bring our village together to honor our relatives.”

What’s more, ZYEP is hosting an “awareness fair” at the MMIR event. The youth project has invited other community programs to set up educational booths at Ho’n A:wan Park, providing yet another way for the community to come together on this important day.

The event is free and open to the public. To register, visit https://forms.gle/gZUVAMY2hTCd5bJg7. Participants can sign up for the 1-mile walk, the fun stroll, or the Zumba session; the first 100 adults and first 30 youth to register also have the option to receive a T-shirt.

To learn more about the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project and its programs, and for information about making donations, partnering with ZYEP, and volunteering, call (505) 782-8000 or visit zyep.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest news and events, follow the nonprofit youth organization on Facebook (/zuniyouthenrichmentproject), Instagram (@zuniyouthenrichmentproject), YouTube (/ZuniYouth), and TikTok (/zyep09)

Founded in 2009, the nonprofit Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is dedicated to promoting resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong, healthy adults who are connected with Zuni traditions. ZYEP fulfills its mission by providing positive role models, enriching programs, and nurturing spaces that contribute to the healthy development of Zuni youth. ZYEP strives to provide every child with the encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.