Voices of Indigenous People

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Voices of Indigenous People began in 2002 in Southern California as a volunteer group of Native Americans assisting fellow Native Americans with emergency food, clothing relief, as well as a resource for accessing community services. Plans are also being developed for a full Cultural Center to link Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people, to improve self awareness, communication and direct services with the following programs: a Youth Center with after school tutoring and cultural activities, a computer lab for literacy, learning workshops and Internet access to improve community resources, a museum and library for shared history of Indigenous populations, as well as cultural information, open to the public.

In the first two years, V.I.P (Voices of Indigenous People) grew from a five person volunteer effort of emergency relief to Native Americans, to an organization with dozens of volunteers; giving fifty hours each week. V.I.P has increased their service population to include senior citizens, youth and low income individuals, with an emphasis on those without transportation to access services. Although there are organizations in the High Desert/Inland Empire offering food and clothing assistance, there are no other organizations taking emergency assistance to house bound individuals; low income persons unable to access emergency services due to the lack of transportation, Native Americans, but also house bound senior citizens, low-income individuals and youth. In 2004, V.I.P served one hundred and eighty-one individuals with emergency food and clothing assistance, as well as back to school supplies for under privileged children and holiday gift/food baskets.