Cecelia Fred ,ThinkFirst Navajo VIP, explains to the fifth-grade students at Baca School the impact of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries as the result of an injury.
Eve’s Fund for Native American Health Initiatives has received a $14,000 Quality of Life Grant, for injury prevention education, from the New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability (NMGCD). This funding will expand ThinkFirst Navajo, an established injury prevention education program serving Native youth across New Mexico and the Navajo Nation.
The funded initiative, titled Use your mind to protect your brain, will include two powerful video components. The new media will strengthen ThinkFirst Navajo program in two key areas:
- Recruiting and training Native adults with disabilities to serve as Voices for Injury Prevention (VIP) . These speakers—adults living with traumatic brain and/ or spinal cord injuries—will share personal stories to teach youth about the real-life consequences of preventable injuries.
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Producing a culturally relevant educational video featuring Native children and teens. This video will help at-risk Native youth understand how to reduce risky behaviors and prevent serious injuries or fatalities.
Improving Quality of Life: Real stories, Real impact
A central element of this Quality of Life initiative is a new video series, VIP: Native Life Lessons. These short testimonials will spotlight three new VIP speakers living with acquired disabilities. Specifically, each speaker will share how their injury occurred, what could have prevented it, and how it affects their daily life.
More than just educational tools, these videos will offer hope, resilience, and perspective. At the same time, they will provide meaningful roles for the VIPs as mentors and community leaders. Additionally, senior VIP’s will help create a peer support and mentoring group to continue long after the grant ends.
The second component of the is a student-created video focused on key injury prevention topics such as bicycle safety, distracted driving, pedestrian awareness, water and sports safety, and firearm safety. What sets this apart is authenticity. The new media will feature Native children from rural communities to make content more relatable and culturally aligned.
Currently, the ThinkFirst curriculum needs additional media that reflects the lived experiences of Native youth living in rural areas. Now, this project addresses that gap, ensuring young viewers see themselves and their communities represented—crucial for making safety messages resonate.
Injury prevention education: accessible and inclusive by design
All video content will follow universal design principals. They will feature closed captions, American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, and voice narration. This ensures accessibility for students with diverse needs. Further, it aligns with Eve’s Fund’s mission to deliver inclusive, community-rooted education.
“This Quality of Life Grant will allow us to extend the reach and depth of our most impactful teaching resource—real stories from Navajo community members living with preventable injuries,” said Barbara Crowell Roy, President of Eve’s Fund.
This initiative supports two underserved groups. First, Native youth will see themselves represented in the educational content. Second, Native adults with disabilities will feel empowered, recognized and uplifted as community leaders and teachers.
Use Your Mind to Protect Your Brain builds upon ThinkFirst Navajo’s proven success. It will introduce new media that combine cultural relevance, emotional storytelling, and accessible design.
Cecelia Fred with students wearing new sports helmets at Zuni (Shiwi Tsana) Elementary School in Zuni, NM. Helmets provided by the NM Governor’s Commission on Disability.
Eve’s Fund is grateful for this Quality of Life Grant
Eve’s Fund sincerely thanks the New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability for its ongoing support. Together, we are improving the lives of Native youth and adults with disabilities.
Call to Action: Bring injury prevention education to your school
Injury prevention for Native youth begins with early, effective safety education.
The ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention program teaches safety through storytelling, hands-on activities, and proven lessons.
With NMGCD’s support, ThinkFirst Navajo will now reach more rural schools and communities across New Mexico and beyond.
Eve’s Fund invites educators, tribal leaders, and youth organizations to schedule presentations and bring this life-changing to their students.
Contact us to learn more or to book a free ThinkFirst presentation.
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