BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – National 4-H Council today announced Avani Rai of McLean County is a runner up for the 2023 4-H Youth in Action Pillar Award for Healthy Living. She is recognized nationally for her commitment to addressing food insecurity in her community and state.
Avani, 17, found her passion for food security when she first served as a Teen Teacher through 4-H. Later joining the Illinois 4-H Food Advocacy Ambassador team and Healthy Living Delegation, Avani’s interest focused on accessible and nutritious foods across the state. Avani also assists in the Illinois Food Ambassador Summit, facilitating grant funded programs addressing food insecurity across the state.
Avani recently took her interest in addressing food insecurity to the national stage where she joined Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, White House Domestic Policy Advisor Ambassador Susan Rice, and Joshua Williams, founder of Joshua's Heart Foundation, on stage at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, Health.
Avani was invited to share her perspectives and experiences on these issues and how she's driving innovative solutions to address issues of hunger, nutrition, and health in her community and how she's mobilizing other young people to help with these efforts.
A rising high school senior, Avani dreams of pursuing law and utilizing legislation to bring the topics of Healthy Living and food advocacy into the spotlight.
The 4-H Youth in Action Awards began in 2010 to recognize 4-H’ers who have overcome challenges and used the knowledge they gained in 4-H to create a lasting impact in their community. To learn more about the 4-H Youth in Action program and the 2022 runners up, please visit http://4-H.org/YouthInAction.
For more information, contact: Jenna Braasch, Publicity and Promotion Program Coordinator, jb8@illinois.edu
ABOUT 4-H NATIONALLY: 4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for career tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA, and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3,000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The research-backed 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.
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