SHIPROCK — Navajo Nation President Nygren delivered a message of perseverance, leadership, and self-belief to young workers participating in the Shiprock Workforce Development Summer Youth Enrichment Conference on Tuesday, encouraging them to embrace opportunities and prepare for the future.
Hosted by the Navajo Department of Workforce Development (NDWD), the conference brought together approximately 80 youth and young adults enrolled in the Summer Youth Employment Program. Guided by the theme “Arise and Soar,” the event focused on leadership development, workforce readiness, cultural awareness, and building the skills needed for future success.
President Nygren was invited to serve as the conference’s Special Welcome Speaker, where he shared personal experiences from his own journey growing up in Red Mesa and the lessons that helped shape his path to leadership.
Reflecting on his early years, President Nygren spoke about growing up without many of the conveniences others often take for granted and the importance of making the most of every opportunity. He reminded participants that he is a proud product of workforce development programs himself, sharing how one of his first jobs was working as a janitor through a youth employment program.
That experience, he said, taught him responsibility, discipline, and the value of hard work—lessons that continue to guide him today.
“Do not focus on what you do not have. Focus on what you have and work with what you have,” President Nygren told the audience.
Throughout his remarks, he encouraged youth to develop strong habits, surround themselves with positive influences, seek mentors, and remain committed to continuous growth. He emphasized that success is not determined by where someone starts in life, but by the choices they make each day and their willingness to keep moving forward despite challenges.
President Nygren also challenged participants to think boldly about their futures and recognize the opportunities available to them across the Navajo Nation.
“The next contractor, the next engineer, the next doctor, the next software developer, the next inventor—why not you?” he said.
In addition to his address, President Nygren distributed and signed Navajo-language books and spent time reading with participants, promoting literacy, education, and the preservation of the Navajo language.
The conference marked the fourth year NDWD has hosted a dedicated enrichment event for youth participating in the Summer Youth Employment Program. Through presentations, workshops, and team-building activities, participants gained valuable knowledge and experiences designed to help them prepare for future careers and leadership opportunities.
President Nygren thanked the Navajo Department of Workforce Development, conference organizers, mentors, and families for their continued investment in Navajo youth.
The Summer Youth Employment Program continues to provide a strong foundation for young people across the Navajo Nation by offering meaningful work experience, professional development, and opportunities to build confidence as they pursue their educational and career goals.
