Kids’ Movement
Since 2005 the Alliance has been working to create an on-air, online, and grassroots movement to reach millions of kids with “cool” messages about healthy living. Kids across the country have heard our message and to date over 1 million have made commitment to dedicate themselves to a healthier lifestyle and to help their families, friends and communities make healthy changes.
After two successful on-air seasons of the Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge on Nickelodeon and some amazing grassroots events, we’ve created awareness of our movement. Now it’s time to take it to the next level. In addition to engaging kids with cool and healthy messages, we’re inviting them to use their own voices, speak to each other, get educated and get activated. Our “by kids, for kids” movement will empower millions more kids to make healthy behavior change and become leaders and advocates for physical activity and healthy eating.
Over the next three years, the Alliance will be rolling out messages, programs and opprtunities to ENGAGE, EDUCATE and ACTIVATE youth across the country to join the empowerME Movement.
Engage
We’re creating messages, informed by kids, that make healthy lifestyles “cool” and encourage kids to act on their interest by making a commitment to be healthy and defining why their health is important.
Educate
We’re developing tools, inspired by kids and parents, which will instill the basic skills for good nutrition and daily physical activity into kids’ lives and homes. Once they learn it they can do it. Each and every day. One day at a time. For the rest of their lives.
Activate
We’re building a platform for youth activism by helping kids tell their stories, identify the hurdles to good health, understand the appropriate tools to make change, and organize with peers and in their communities to fight this epidemic of childhood obesity - and win.
In order for kids to lead and then sustain change in their communities, they need a continuum of opportunities to learn healthy living skills and use those skills and others to help activate their family, friends and communities. The Kids’ Movement Cycle of Engagement is a model developed by the Alliance that every community can replicate to nurture the next generation of empowered kids fighting for their own health and for a healthier generation.
PROFILE
Students at this school want to confront the problems of obesity and diabetes within their community, within their families, and within themselves. A new School Wellness Council brings them together to vocalize and act upon their concerns.
