Adon J. Vazquez
is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He is currently attending Wayne State University pursuing his Bachelor's in Social Work. Adon has been a part of the Native community in Detroit since he was a baby, attending powwows and gatherings with his mother.
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Since then, Adon has been an advocate for youth, mental health, and suicide prevention services across the state of Michigan. Â Adon is trained in Adult and Child CPR, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, and SafeTALK.Â
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Adon currently serves as a Youth Program Coordinator for the Dream Seekers Youth Program at American Indian Health and Family Services. He also serves as a SafeTALK Instructor. His hope is that no matter what community he is working in, the youth within feel empowered to seek mental health services without the fear of judgment and that each community is suicide safe.
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In his spare time, Adon still enjoys attending powwows with his family, taking drives with good music and the windows down, and playing with his dog, Daisy.
National Indian Child Welfare Association ................................... 2017 - Present
National Council of Urban Indian Health
Inaugural Youth Council ................................................................................ 2018 - 2019
National Council of Urban Indian Health
Alumni Network ................................................................................................... 2018 - 2019
Society for Community Research and Action .............................. 2025 - Present
Memberships
Adult and Child CPR
and First Aid
Trained in how to respond to medical emergencies, perform chest compressions, use an AED, and perform basic first aid.
Applied Suicide InterventionÂ
Skills Training
LivingWorks ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is an intensive, two-day interactive workshop that teaches suicide first aid. It trains participants to recognize when someone has thoughts of suicide, talk about it directly, and work with them to create a clear plan for immediate safety.
SafeTALK Instructor
SafeTALK is a four-hour, in-person suicide alertness training program that teaches people aged 15 and older how to recognize signs of suicide, ask about it directly, and connect individuals in need to life-saving resources.