Leadership Lessons

Leadership. Leadership. Leadership. We must develop our young people into youth leaders demanding healthy communities to grow up in. Then we shall see young people who can think and act critically to nourish their bodies and minds. Educating cohorts of youth leaders, communities will see a new style of educating. Critical education paired with community action will ensure a relevancy students will respect and respond to as nutrition materials are learned and applied. It is the application of nutrition knowledge that must be emphasized and the leadership required to encourage others to use their resources to better their own health and the health of their community. A well organized and motivated community will use the nutrition education to it's maximum potential.

The issue with our traditional nutrition education is that once the students leave the classroom the picture we paint has a very small chance of impacting their future health choices. This is because our illustration, our work, does not take leadership into account. Not unless we put young people in a position to see the food system and their built environment for themselves, and consider creating an alternative, will we find young people ready to advocate and take seriously the challenge that lies ahead.

We ought not kid ourselves in thinking that these obstacles to health will be solved by those already in power. In fact, a top-down approach will face a great deal of resistance from those young people who already feel disenfranchised and want nothing more than a chance to speak for themselves. The issue of our national health crisis could see these young people as passionate actors rather than disinterested reactors if we can educate them as youth health advocates standing up and demanding a healthy future for their communities.

In order to prepare these future leaders, I will conduct lessons on nutrition, cooking skills, food safety skills, and community health systems (food systems and built environment) so that when they plan an appropriate action to educate and mobilize their community, they will factor as much community data in as possible. With research, passion, and food on their side these young people will be poised to make a real positive impact in their communities.