Native Youth Leader to White House!

My name is Journey Mani Wanji Zephier, I am 15 years old and an enrolled member of the Ihanktonwan Dakota, Yankton Sioux tribe. I need your HELP to get to the WHITE HOUSE July 8-9th, 2015.  I have been honored as a Native Youth Leader, and invited to President Obama's White House Native Youth Leader gathering in Washington D.C.!!! This is a very special honor, and I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to represent the 7th Generation.

But if we don't raise the funds I won't be able to go, and this means a lot to me. Please let me share a little bit about me and why this trip is so important to me!

You see, I want to be able to go to the White House gathering and connect with other Native Youth Leaders from around the U.S. and also meet with political leaders and share with them the issues that are important to my generation.  President Obama says he wants to hear what issues are important to us, and I am excited to have the chance to share.

This is a dream and a goal of mine that has been on my vision board,  my vision board literally said 'White House' on it, and now I have manifested that opportunity, It's a dream come true for me to able to be of service in this way. I believe I can make a difference!  I believe my generation is the one that will change everything.

I am a member of the RYSE Global Youth Council, 16 youth leaders from around the world who are taking a brave step forward to find solutions to climate change, environmental, social and human rights issues in our communities and globally.    http://www.earthguardians.org/ryse 

I believe that as the 7th generation, it is our responsibility to stand up, and protect the planet for future generations. We are facing cataclysmic climate change, destruction of natural resources and pollution from huge corporate interests that are destroying our chance for survival in future generations. I hope to inspire other kids like me, to take action, and help them learn how to get involved and have their voices heard in the legislative and political process. It's OUR FUTURE, we must have a voice! We can BE the Change we want to see.

I get involved in issues that impact my generation, and future generations, and speak for us. So I am standing up as a voice for the 7th Generation and 7 generations beyond. Sometimes this is scary, but there is a saying, "Speak the truth, even if your voice trembles" - and someone has to do it, so I accept that responsibility.

I am one of many brave souls who stood up to the world's largest chemical corporations on Kauai to help pass a bill to create buffer zones from chemical pesticide testing near schools, hospitals and homes, and require disclosure.  The chemical companies in Hawaii where I live are Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont Pioneer, BASF, DOW and they test MORE chemical pesticides here per acre than anywhere else in the world.  We passed the bill, after many many days of testimony, sleeping outside the county building in line all night to testify, and putting up with being bullied by the chemical companies. 

I was willing to sleep outside on the ground, in the rain to TESTIFY for this legislation, to take part in OUR POLITICAL PROCESS because my generation, the 7th generation needs to be involved in politics. Laws are being made that impact US, our ability to live, breathe, have clean water and watch our kids and grandkids have the same... and our voices must be heard in the political process, which seems to only think of today. 

I am also the local Youth Director of Earth Guardians, Kauai,  and the founder of Earth 7.0  - both organizations dedicated to training and educating youth on how to get involved in their communities and create positive change for our future. 

Earth Guardians / RYSE Global Youth Council is working on gathering 1 million signatures to demand action on climate change, which will be delivered at the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Paris later this year. We are making a difference! 

I am asking you, humbly from my heart, to PLEASE help me get to the White House Native Youth Leader summit, and continue my mission to represent the 7th generation and next 7 generations to come.  

We estimate that we need about $3,800 for me and my chaperone to get to the White House. Airfare is expensive from my home on Kauai. Many of the hotels near the summit are booked, but My mom found some package deals on travelocity that seemed like the most affordable option.

 We are asking for a small food allowance of $200 total, and a small rental care allowance of $250.  That brings our total estimate to around $3,800  

$1,683 Airfare + Hotel for me
$1,683 Airfare + Hotel for chaperone
$200 Meals / Food / Miscellaneous
$250 Rental Car - We have to have a rental car because I have a joint / bone deformity in my knees that will make walking difficult even a mile or two is too much.

Again, I ask you from my heart to please help me achieve this dream. I worked hard for this honor, and although I do not 'need' to be recognized by President Obama for my work, I want to go so that I can LEARN and SHARE and become a MORE effective leader for my generation and the next 7 generations to come. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, even small donations will help me get to the White House.

Mahalo and Pidamaya ♥