Team 4: July 10-July 24

Adam Meeker, (MPLS) Jessica Lehman, (MPLS) and Sam Alley (St. Paul) arrived on the Cheyenne River Reservation on July 10th to begin their 15 day journey as Team 4.  They were immediately immersed in the Lakota culture as a Pow Wow was being held in Dupree where the Sioux YMCA is located on the night of their arrival.  They were able to connect with Sioux YMCA Board member, Mona, and Carol, from the Sioux YMCA Board of Trustees at the Pow Wow and ask questions and learn more about Lakota traditions and values right off the bat.  Dupree was celebrating 100 years since the establishment of the town so it was a busy, bustling weekend. Unfortunately, Bill Wetzel, Executive Director of the Sioux YMCA, passed away over the weekend of Team 3 and Team 4's transition. Though dealing with this very difficult situation, Team 4 discussed their "plan to move forward and continue the mission that Bill and all of us believe and support so much."

Team 3 prepared the youth for the transition of Team 4 coming in so they were happily greeted by many eager youth in all of the communities, making it easy for them to start right where Team 3 left off.  Adam and Sam proved to easily become positive influences and role models for the boys in the communities; many of whom do not have positive male figures in their lives.  Jessica seemed to be able to easily build rapport with the young people very quickly as well as she was receiving hugs from youth her first day in the communities!  In each community Team 4 did programming in, the youth did not want them to leave.  For Team 4 "It was easy to feel the impact that we have on these kids lives and how important it is that we are out here doing what we're doing."

Heather Patton and Megan Seibring, from the Sioux YMCA Initiative Leadership Team, were visiting the Reservation and conducting various youth and adult community dialogues in each of the four communities being served the first week of Team 4's stay.  Heather and Megan were able to provide some insight to Team 4 as to what the community members' identify as their hopes and dreams for their community and future, which helped to shape some of the programming for the last half of Team 4's stay.  Team 4 continued to lead intentional programming with the youth focusing on team building and team work, positive attitudes, following rules, and positive communication, all while working inside and out in 102 degree South Dakota heat!