Our Vision

Enriching the physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health of Indigenous youth.

Our Mission

Our goal is to empower Indigenous youth by providing positive athletic and educational experiences.

We will meet this goal by:

  • Providing sports seminars, led by professional athletes to Indigenous and other youth free of charge;
  • Challenging Indigenous and other youth to improve themselves physically through exercise and education;
  • Making educational, substance abuse, nutritional and other forms of counseling and advice available through seminars and other educational platforms, and;
  • Making athletic and non-athletic role models available to Indigenous and other youth.

Our Board

Johnny Hughes
Founder & Board Member | Fight Coach | Gym Owner | Advocate for Native American Youth & Indigenous Children

With 24 years of experience in boxing and MMA, I have dedicated my career to training and mentoring athletes at both entry and professional levels.

As the Founder and Owner of North County MMA and Ultimate Fitness, I provide specialized coaching in multiple disciplines, working with elite fighters while also developing the next generation of talent. My extensive experience includes training professional fighters who compete in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)Bellator Fighting Championship, and Strikeforce, ensuring that they are equipped with the physical, mental, and strategic tools needed to succeed at the highest levels of competition.

In addition to my work with professionals, my approach to training emphasizes physical, emotional, and spiritual growth. I believe in developing athletes as whole individuals—both inside and outside the ring—instilling discipline, confidence, and resilience to help them navigate life’s challenges with strength and clarity.

As a committed advocate for Native American youth, I strive to create opportunities and provide the resources and support they need to thrive. I have collaborated with the City of Escondido to develop after-school programs for middle school students, using boxing as a tool to promote discipline, confidence, and leadership.

As a Founder and Board Member, my ultimate goal is to create opportunities for our community and its youth, ensuring they have access to the training, mentorship, and support necessary to reach their full potential—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Nelletta Reed – Rincon Tribal member
Board member

Nelletta Reed is a dedicated and passionate advocate for Native American youth and athletics. As a proud member of the Rincon Tribe, she brings a deep sense of cultural heritage and community commitment to all her endeavors. Nelletta serves on the board of the Native Youth Foundation, where she works tirelessly to support and empower Native youth through various programs and initiatives.

In addition to her board membership, Nelletta is the co-founder of the California Indigenous Athletes Football Program. This groundbreaking initiative aims to provide opportunities for Native youth to excel in sports while fostering a strong connection to their cultural roots. Through her leadership and vision, the program has become a beacon of hope and inspiration for young athletes across California.

With her unwavering dedication and impactful work, Nelletta Reed continues to make significant contributions to her community, ensuring that the next generation of Native youth have the resources and support they need to thrive.

Lorraine Orosco
Board member

I am a member of the Kumeyaay Nation and am Kumeyaay-Ipai from the San Pasqual Band. I grew up on San Pasqual Indian Reservation and I continue to live on the reservation with my family. Growing up on the reservation I had the honor of learning my culture from my family, community and especially the elders of the local tribes. My family instilled the values of our culture, education and giving back to the community. My grandfather taught my father, and he taught me to contribute to the tribe, for the betterment of our Tribe and community. He taught us that a tribe can only survive and be strong when its members contribute and work together. This is why I serve on the Native Youth Foundation Board.

I studied at the University of California, San Diego. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Ethnic Studies. I also have a Master’s degree in Education.

I have been working in Native American Education in Southern California for over 30 years and currently work for my Tribe. My passion is to encourage and support higher education to the Native American community and all underrepresented communities, while preserving and promoting Kumeyaay traditional knowledge, language and history. As a Kumeyaay person I feel it is important to tell our story. It is important to serve and develop programs which will empower and contribute to the development of our Native Youth.

During my career I have been instrumental in developing an array of sustained Native youth programs, such as the Southern California Tribal Graduation Feather Ceremony. I also coordinated Native Youth Leadership programs and Reservation based sport programs. Currently I serve on the following boards: the University of California, San Diego Chancellor’s Community Advisory Board, California State University San Marcos Native American Advisory Board, Kumeyaay Community College Board of Trustees, the Native Youth Foundation Board and Inter Tribal Sports Board.

I currently teach college courses for Cuyamaca Community College in the Kumeyaay Studies Department. I have been published in the Oxford Encyclopedia of Race and Education: Language Revitalization TACKLE and Kumeyaay affiliation confirmation. I am part of the Kumeyaay Visual Storytelling Project (KVSP) and with this project I co-authored Beyond Gaming, and Our Past, Present, and Future.

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