By Lila Mehlhaff 

RAPID CITY, South Dakota — Certainly, any one of us can recount a person close to us who has lived a life of trial and hardship, but who has gone on to build a life that contributes to the sustenance and promotion of some segment of society.

Many of us can recall a person, or if we are so fortunate, many people, who pointed us in a good direction and made us believe that we were talented, gifted, smart, beautiful, unique, worthy, or able.  It could have been a parent, grandparent, or teacher.  Or it could simply have been an adult who came into our lives when we needed it the most, for however brief a time, but who impacted us so that we can recall that experience to this day.

Sequoia Crosswhite, Cultural Relations Advisor, just may be that person for many American Indian youth who come to the Children’s Home Society in Rapid City, South Dakota.

(Read more in the Spring 2009 Issue…)