Community Engagement
Burgeoning effort to build a coalition of Native-led nonprofits in the area to make it possible to help and support each other, expand our community initiatives, and advocate as a united group. Though just getting off the ground, there are currently 10 Native-led organizations participating in coalition meetings and rotating hosting duties with an initial objective of assessing total capacity and identifying key coalition objectives.
Community Awareness Events:
Events to bring awareness to non-Native citizens about disproportionate impact of policing and crime on the Native community, such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Community Security:
Neighborhood security patrols in areas where Native relatives are the victims of crimes and police are absent.
Individual Relative Support:
COUP Board members and Staff provide support to community members experiencing harassment or discriminiation. Examples include helping coordinate volunteers for and participating in the boycott of the Grand Gateway Hotel (https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/boycott-continues-at-grand-gateway-hotel) and providing individual support to relatives and families during encounters with police or other state agencies such as Department of Social Services or Pennington County Housing.