MVSKOKE RESERVATION – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reintegration Program (RiP) currently offers a specialized program for youth aged 10-19 years who are justice involved or at risk. The services they provide are designed to lead young citizens to a better path.
According to MCN RiP Youth Advocate Kevin Green (Mvskoke), MCN RiP Manager Tony Fish wanted to break the cycle of generations going to prison. To do this, they began working with their clients’ children and other at-risk youth.
“We work with kids that their parents are in prison, had been in prison or where the kids have been in trouble at school and are at risk of going to juvenile,” Green said.
Green said that many of their clients come from areas in need of essential items, such as food, clothing, and hygiene. The program offers services including food/clothing, mentorship, career development, drug testing, community services, and program “speakouts.”
After noticing that many kids didn’t know their true potential or what they wanted to do after graduating high school, the program began offering career development. “A lot of times we help and focus more on school, focus on grades and focus on what are you going to do once you get outside of high school because a lot of these kids don’t have directions. So we do a lot of that,” Green said.
Program “speakouts” are a time for the youth in the program to hear firsthand from people who have gone through the system and have gotten their life back on track. “We’ll have those clients go out and speak to a lot of our troubled youth or even just the whole school system. They’ll go in and talk about their past, their mistakes, and how they corrected them,” Green said.
For Green, being part of this movement makes him feel great, especially since he was not always a good kid himself.
“I know the pitfalls and life is hard and life is not fair. But at the end of the day, you can make it what you want to make it. So if you want to get out of the cycle, we offer that. The program offers you the tools to get out of that and for them to thrive,” Green said.
“This program is growing. We’re just here to try to help make a difference.”
The RiP program aims to help young citizens navigate high school and get started on a path towards their future- whether that’s trade school, college, or wherever their path leads them. Green stated that MCN RiP wants to ensure they move in a direction rather than falling into the traps of past generations.
To participate in the program, you must be 10-9 years old, at risk or justice involved, an enrolled Creek citizen, and reside within the MCN reservation.
For any more information about the MCN RiP Youth Program, contact Kevin Green at 918-549-2620.
