Who We Are
The LAGBRAU is a not-for-profit bicycle ride and a not-for-profit corporation formed to handle funds raised from the bicycle ride. These funds will be used primarily to set up and fund a new foundation that will focus on teaching, industry, vocations, and employment services for young Native Americans. In fact, it will be called NATIVES, an acronym for Native American Teaching, Industry, Vocations, and Employment Services. Some funds will be used to cover administrative costs and some funds may be donated to help other organizations that also help Native Americans, such as AIS or American Indian Services, an organization that raises scholarship money for worthy Native Americans who have qualified for higher education, but need help with the cost. However the primary focus will be to help younger Native Americans who otherwise would probably fall through the cracks. For example, recently a local school district should have had 77 Native Americans graduating from High School; only eleven did.
NATIVES will facilitate a system developed primarily by Native Americans to help mentor young Native Americans with the help of mentors who are successful Native Americans or individuals with strong interest in the welfare of Native Americans. One of the goals will be to help young Native Americans to apply positive Native American values to prepare for careers in teaching, business, vocations and professions. Another goal will be to get corporations involved in this process by providing summer time internships that will help raise the visions of Young Native Americans and help them prepare for careers where they can develop their talents and make great contributions to society. Many Native Americans who have already achieved this career satisfaction want to reach back to give a hand up to others just as someone somehow did for them.