Sarah Schilling, of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, is one of five 2013 Champions for Change chosen by the Center for Native American Youth. The 18-year-old is a recent high school graduate from Charlevoix, Michigan who was inspired by her participation and the youth-based efforts at a National Congress of American Indians conference to create her tribes’ first youth council back in 2009.

To create the council, Schilling worked with the tribal council, her peers, and youth programs in the community to organize and create their own constitution, bylaws and a code of conduct. The youth council became affiliated with the United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) organization.

Under Schilling’s leadership, the youth council has hosted youth retreats, talking circles and other events to address underage drinking prevention, anti-bullying and suicide prevention. As a junior advisor, she engages younger students and encourages them to make a positive transition into new leadership roles...