Bruce Long Fox of Rural American Initiatives speaks as Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender looks on during the groundbreaking of a $6.9 million Head Start and community center in Rapid City, South Dakota, on October 30, 2017. Photo by James Giago Davies / Native Sun News Today

Education | National

Native Sun News Today: Bruce Long Fox to join South Dakota Hall of Fame

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

By Travis Dewes

Native Sun News Staff Writer

nativesunnews.today

Bruce Long Fox, executive director of Rural America Initiatives (RAI), has been named an inductee to the South Dakota Hall of Fame in the class of 2020.

Long Fox is described on the Hall of Fame's website as having “developed and managed educational programs that have impacted the lives of approximately 9000 at-risk Native American children, from newborn through high school.”

RAI, having been founded in 1986, is the largest, non-profit, continuously operating Native American organization in Rapid City. RAI’s programming serves families and at-risk youth through education that addresses the needs of the whole family. The programming is rooted in the Seven Lakota Values of respect, generosity, wisdom, humility, compassion, service, and honesty.

Long Fox, along with 9 other inductees, will be celebrated with an enshrinement ceremony on September 11-12, 2020, in Chamberlain, South Dakota. The 10 inductees will join the over 700 current South Dakotans already enshrined.

Long Fox was awarded the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce’s George Award in 2017. He was the second Native American to receive the award. The George Award is the most prestigious award given by the chamber of commerce and recipients are described as “an individual who has, over a period of time provided leadership to our community in a variety of ways.”