Laurie York has had a lifelong involvement in caring for youth and helping to enable and empower them to achieve greatness. A White Earth enrollee, Laurie also recently received the Award of Honor at the Women of Color Recognition Celebration for her unselfishness and creativity in the work she is doing.

York is the Peacemaking Circle Coordinator for the Mahnomen County Weed and Seed Program on the White Earth Reservation. While in this position, she has demonstrated extremely strong aptitudes to the success of the circle process. According to her nominator, Sue Trnka, when Laurie sees a youth in need of help or simply an understanding ear, she truly goes the extra mile to see if there is some way she can of assistance. In her nomination application, Trnka wrote, "She works to bring all groups together around a common interest, finding ways to trouble shoot and make services easier for youth to obtain."

Examples of York's creativity and persistence are demonstrated with three programs that have been implemented in the Mahnomen County and White Earth Reservation area. The youth program called "Bagosendaan" that works with at-risk youth in a peer group setting was implemented with her help. Bagosendaan uses horses and riding lessons as a draw to involve and reward youth participants, but its primary purpose to organize a positive peer group for youth using circle techniques to address issues.

The White Earth Wellbriety Movement was begun on the White Earth Reservation, and York was trained to instruct a course, "Daughters of Tradition," where York teaches girls regarding the dangers of substance abuse. She has worked with as many as 60 girls on a weekly basis, using cultural tradition and ceremonies that provide a framework for healthy lifestyles.

A juvenile alcohol offender diversion program has been designed by York, the Mahnomen County District Court, and local chemical dependency programs to address youth alcohol offenders. In a letter of support, Assistant County Attorney Darlene Rivera wrote, "Laurie is extremely innovative about finding solutions to youth issues and in helping youth become accountable for their choices and decisions. "York's leadership and ability to respond to the needs in her community have truly made a difference for many youth and the entire community.
She hopes to continue working on the issue of underage drinking, educating youth and stopping them before they can get started. York said, "Underage drinking is the source of many crimes and problems in our communities. Stopping the drinking will make a big difference. We need to get everyone involved and groups working together."

It is very likely that with York involved her ideas for this program will be successful.