As January draws to a close, the Cheyenne River Youth Project already has its eyes firmly set on spring — and on its beloved Passion for Fashion event. The nonprofit, grassroots youth organization announced today that this year’s event will take place on Saturday, Mar. 21, and the annual Dress Drive is now under way.
On the surface, Passion for Fashion might seem to focus primarily on providing the dresses, shoes, jewelry and other accessories the teens need for that quintessentially American rite of passage: the high school prom. Underneath the surface, however, this long-running program is about so much more.
“For decades, our role in this community has been to provide opportunities for our kids, and to plant seeds for a more secure and vibrant future,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “That’s the guiding principle for every program we create.
“In the case of Passion for Fashion, not only do we want our girls to share in the joy and excitement all American teens experience as they prepare for the prom, we also want to provide meaningful opportunities,” she continued. “In this program, we create safe and fun spaces to learn from other Lakota women, enjoy intergenerational bonding, build new relationships, and find personal empowerment through positive self-esteem, connecting with Lakota culture, and celebrating traditional values.”
In the spirit of planting seeds, CRYP has turned to Audrey Hepburn for this year’s Passion for Fashion theme. The famed Hollywood actress once noted, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”
“This year at Passion for Fashion, we’re looking forward to exploring that theme both figuratively and literally, giving our young women an opportunity to learn more about native food sovereignty and sustainability as they learn about their own growth at this important time in their lives,” Garreau said. “At CRYP, we’ve always understood that the seeds we plant today will mean healthy growth in the future, for those young people and for the Lakota Nation.”
At Passion for Fashion on Mar. 21, Cheyenne River’s teens will take part in icebreaking activities and a sit-down luncheon in the Keya (Turtle) Cafe; hear keynote speakers; receive manicures, pedicures, makeovers and hair styling; find their dream dresses, shoes and accessories; and celebrate their transformed selves on a formal catwalk. They’ll make memories and new friends, and they’ll support each other as they work through difficult issues such as bullying, low self-esteem and poor body image.
“We also encourage our young women to bring their mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters and cousins to Passion for Fashion,” Garreau said. “This is a major life experience, and each year, we witness the impact it has on these girls to share that experience with their loved ones. We also see how the girls quickly find common ground.”
All high-school girls on the Cheyenne River reservation receive personalized invitations to Passion for Fashion, and junior-high girls are welcome to attend as well. CRYP also welcomes teens from the nearby Standing Rock reservation, and from border towns such as Faith, South Dakota.
For this year’s Passion for Fashion event, the youth project needs new and gently used formal dresses in sizes 4 to 26, especially in sizes 16 to 26. It also needs shoes in all sizes, especially in sizes 9 to 12.
CRYP also asks for jewelry and hair accessories; makeup and bath sets; gift cards and cash donations. Staff and volunteers will take any contributed funds and make additional purchases based on need.
For details regarding how you can support CRYP’s Passion for Fashion program, click here. And to learn more about the program, check out this video!
Teenagers from the Cheyenne River reservation who would like to attend this year’s Passion for Fashion event at Cokata Wiconi on Saturday, March 21 should contact the Cheyenne River Youth Project to let staff know they plan to participate. RSVP as soon as possible by calling (605) 964-8200 or sending e-mail to youthpd.cryp@gmail.com.
To stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook (/LakotaYouth), Twitter (@LakotaYouth) and Instagram (@lakotayouth and @waniyetuwowapi).
The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.