4KINSHIP, FS Inspiring Children Foundation
Grants Awarded
This program aims to expand free weekly skateboard classes at the Two Grey Hills Skatepark in Newcomb, NM, creating safe outdoor spaces for Navajo youth. By promoting skateboarding, the initiative seeks to enhance the physical and mental health of Native young people, fostering a culture of well-being that overcomes economic and cultural barriers for both participants and the local community.
Make Life Skate Life (MLSL) and 4KINSHIP, two organizations with shared values and a profound commitment to empowering communities, have come together in a remarkable partnership that promises to make a lasting impact on skateboarding culture and the lives of underserved youth in New Mexico. Make Life Skate Life, founded in 2013, is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to building skateparks in communities lacking access to safe skateboarding facilities. Their mission is to use skateboarding as a tool for positive social change, fostering a sense of community, and creating opportunities for personal growth. MLSL has already completed numerous skatepark projects, transforming underprivileged areas into vibrant hubs of creativity, athleticism, and camaraderie. 4KINSHIP, is a Native lead organization rooted in a mission to serve the tribal people in the Navajo Nation. With a diverse range of projects spanning education, health, culture, and sustainability, 4KINSHIP brings a holistic approach to creating positive change within the Navajo community. Their dedication to fostering human connections aligns seamlessly with the inclusive and community-building aspects of skateboarding. The partnership between Make Life Skate Life and 4KINSHIP is driven by a shared vision of enhancing the well-being of the Navajo community through the unique power of skateboarding. Make Life Skate Life and 4KINSHIP have already began joint projects, combining their expertise to develop a free, weekly skateboarding class at the Two Grey Hills Skatepark. The skatepark is situated within a larger project, The Diné Skate Garden, operated by 4KINSHIP, which is a project of love for the community of Toadlena or rather “Tóhaaliní” (Where the Water flows Out) located in the Two Grey Hills chapter of the Navajo Nation. This is a remote community nestled in the Chuska Mountains between Shiprock and Gallup, that has no outdoor sport recreational facilities.