The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is reimagining the way California serves young people and families. It’s a transformation that is created for, with and by our youth. Youth at the Center spotlights the many young people who are helping create that change through their involvement in CYBHI youth advisory groups and shaping this work at every level, from planning to implementation and evaluation.

This story focuses on a youth designer who used his skills to indigenize materials from the Office of the California Surgeon General’s Live Beyond ACEs and Toxic Stress Campaign.

Who is Nathan Lomayesva

Nathan (Cherokee/Navajo/Hopi/Shawnee/Creek) is a 21-year old who has been involved in supporting the Native American Health Center in Oakland since 2022. It is through this work that he learned about the California Surgeon General’s Live Beyond Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Toxic Stress Campaign—a campaign he has now influenced in order to bring it to life for Native and Tribal communities throughout California.

Spreading Messages of Living Beyond in Native Communities

As a member of the priority audience for the Live Beyond campaign—which is youth and young adults ages 16-25, Nathan was honored to give his voice, talents and perspectives to help indigenize many of the campaign’s resources – including stickers, a t-shirt and a photo backdrop – to help reach Native youth with messages of hope and healing.

Nathan designed this indigenized Live Beyond backdrop featured at the Native Youth Advocacy Statewide Conference in November’s Native American Heritage Month.

 “One of my favorites is the sticker with beadwork. That design is inspired from jewelry that my mom and I owned as well as a picture frame from my grandma that was beaded around the edge. Beadwork is so integral to Native design in general, so it was important to have that aspect represented in my work.”

The Live Beyond sticker featuring beadwork inspired by Nathan’s family jewelry and a picture frame.

Bringing Healing to Native Communities with Art

Nathan’s has always identified as an artist and comes from a rich tradition of artists. His dad used to paint murals including one that is still on display at The Intertribal Friendship House of Oakland—one of the oldest Native American-focused urban resource and community organizations in the United States. His grandfather used to carve Kachina Dolls and do basketweaving. This legacy made working with the campaign even more healing since it was an opportunity for him to honor not only his culture, but the many generations of artists that came before him.

“I always felt like design is the largest human language. We have language barriers and cultural barriers, but art and design are so integral to Native Culture and is one of the biggest ways for us to communicate and connect with others. The fact that I was able to use my talents to promote the importance of mental health in my community felt like I was honoring my own culture and family.”

Nathan on Managing Stress

Beyond his love of art and design, Nathan finds time to manage his own stress by getting lost in music or going for a run. Whether it’s listening to music or participating in a jam session with friends, music helps him tune out and ground himself. For other youth who may be struggling, he recommends reaching out to peers—especially if they don’t feel like they can reach out to their family members. Find an activity that makes you feel confident and cared for – whether its movies, walking, a unique hobby or skill-set – it’s something to be proud of and make time for.

Find examples of stress busters and hear from real California youth sharing how they manage their stress at livebeyondca.org.

Hope for The Future

Nathan is proud that California is putting funding toward a campaign that is prioritizing outreach to Native communities and it gives him hope that this focus will only continue to grow in California and beyond.

“California has always been a state that’s led in social impact. The fact that this campaign even exists shows that California is focusing on highlighting the importance of mental health in the Native Community. It gives me hope that it could help us make strides as a Country. “

Learn more about the CYBHI and the Youth at the Center at https://cybhi.chhs.ca.gov/ 

The Live Beyond ACEs and Toxic Stress Campaign is one of three public awareness campaigns made possible by the CYBHI. Each campaign engages youth advisors to shape the tone, messaging and design of each campaign to ensure it resonates with the youth of California. Learn more about each campaign at https://cybhi.chhs.ca.gov/resource-external/.