MARSHALL, Ill. - Youth between the ages of 13-19 have an opportunity to make a big impact in their communities. Fifteen Illinois teens will be chosen to become 4-H Healthy Living Teen Ambassadors, a program sponsored by Illinois Extension and funded by the Wal-Mart Foundation.
“As the local coordinator for this program, I am excited to see our teens step up and lead programs in their own communities that promote healthy living,” says Susan Sloop, 4-H educator, University of Illinois Extension.
Not only will communities benefit, but teens will also gain public speaking and leadership skills, and even more importantly, have fun learning about health-related topics, says Sloop.
This program is made possible due to a $3 million Wal-Mart Foundation grant to National 4-H Council, which includes Illinois. Youth are often the influencers in their communities, which is why the 4-H Healthy Living Teen Ambassadors program uses teens to educate other youth and their families to make healthy food choices.
Teen ambassadors can expect to work closely with other teen ambassadors and local 4-H staff, facilitate workshops and activities using 4-H curriculum, and promote their county’s wellness programs on social media.
4-H Healthy Living Teen Ambassadors can be current 4-H members or teens new to 4-H. Interested teens may apply by visiting the website go.illinois.edu/HLTA. The application deadline is January 4, 2021.
If you will need a reasonable accommodation in order to participate, please email ssloop@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
SOURCE: Susan Sloop, University of Illinois Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
WRITER: Darra Walker, Publicity-Promotion Associate, University of Illinois Extension
ABOUT EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.