$149,424 raised by 1,465 donors
7% complete
$2,000,000 Goal
Spirit of the Sun is an Indigenous & women led organization serving Native/BIPOC youth in Colorado through a variety of youth programming, land stewardship, and food access offerings. We provide cultural resilience programming that impacts hundreds of diverse members of our community, and we're actively involved in community spaces to amplify Native voices.
We’re working towards a critical goal of raising $2,000,000 for LandBack. Your donation would go towards helping us purchase our own land to grow our traditional foodways and raise Bison in alignment with our own cultural practices. We want this space to also hold a building for programs where under served communities and youth can connect with their cultural lifeways and each other without barriers imposed by landowners. For this reason, we’re relying on individuals who have an invested interest in localized community care. Your support would provide essential funding and resources, while showcasing your dedication to fostering reciprocal partnerships and uplifting Indigenous-led initiatives for rematriation.
To learn more about the organization listen here: Behind the Mic: Spirit of the Sun (Denver 89.3 Radio Interview).
Spirit of the Sun is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to work in partnership with Native /Indigenous communities in urban areas and on reservations to boost the resilience of Native/Indigenous people, especially youth and young adults.
Our vision is that the Native youth of today become the next generation of Native leaders, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals who will help guide their communities toward wellness, prosperity, and cultural revitalization.
Spirit of the Sun was founded in 2002 on the belief that effective and sustainable community development work recognizes the intersections of culture, community, economy, and health. In their previous work with Native communities, our founders saw that attempts at economic development were often unsuccessful, as they did not take into account the cultural needs of the community. After its founding, SOTS worked primarily on reservations, assisting various communities with economic development. In 2010, our strategic focus shifted to include programming in the Denver area, as we saw a need to empower the growing number of Native youth and young adults moving to urban areas.
Our programs are designed to boost the resilience of Native youth, and help them to become leaders in both the business world and their communities. Currently, our programs include Red Earth Yoga, Mentorship, Environmental programs such as mycelium workshops, corn harvesting and seed workshops. We have a partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to operate the Native American Community Development Program and hire on VISTAS (volunteers in service to america). Please check out our programs page for more information!
Organization name
Spirit of the Sun
other names
SOTS
2002
Tax id (EIN)
03-0442292
Category
Community Improvement & Capacity Building
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
1400 N Williams Street Suite #204Denver County, CO, US