Services
NFL Community Initiatives – Youth Development Programs for Peer Leadership
Downloads - Application and Flyer
Background
Since 2005, the FANtastic Kids program has recruited and trained over 60 young people to serve as peer leaders in community health centers and YMCAs. The program supports high school students to be leaders in promoting healthy-eating habits and increased physical activity for program participants (aged 8-12), family members, peers and community members. The program’s activities include facilitating nutrition-education lessons (e.g. healthy snack preparation and selection), physical activities (e.g. swimming, basketball and soccer) and attending family dinners and field trips.
Projects
FANtastic Kids Mentoring
The FANtastic Kids program is based on a peer leader youth-development model. FANtastic Kids peer leaders mentor program participants by teaching them fun and interactive nutrition lessons and physical activities, guiding them to make healthy choices, and modeling positive and healthy behaviors.
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Youth Development Sessions
Weekly Youth Development Sessions are an integral piece of the peer-leadership program. They provide a forum for peer leaders from all of the program sites to
- Discuss strategies for running a successful program
- Participate in trainings and workshops on issues related to food, nutrition, physical activity and health
- Work on a group project that increases community awareness of the issues central to the FANtastic Kids program
- Engage in additional opportunities for leadership growth, skill-building and professional development
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Photo Visioning Project
For the summer 2007 peer leader program, the peer leaders worked with an experienced photographer to learn basic photography skills. They took walking tours of Fields Corner in Dorchester to survey the food and fitness environment in the community. Based on their observations, they took photographs to capture interesting aspects of the environment related to the affordability and availability of healthy foods and access to safe places for recreation. At the end of the program, the teens presented their photo essays at a community event entitled Reality Check: A Food and Fitness Environment Photo Exhibit.
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Film Project
As the peer leader group project for Fall 2007–Spring 2008, the youth chose to create a film to help younger kids make healthier food choices. They spent nine weeks learning about food affordability and availability in their neighborhoods and the basics of media literacy and social marketing. The youth brainstormed, developed themes and wrote story boards. They spent an additional nine weeks filming each other, health experts, kids in their neighborhoods, corner stores and parks. We teamed up with a local professional production company, Affiliate Media, to edit the footage into a polished film. The result is a 15-minute movie entitled You Are What You Eat: An Everyday Choice, which depicts the reality in many Boston communities: fast food restaurants and small grocers on every corner offering the cheapest and most convenient food options. However, the film focuses on positive messaging. It acknowledges why many people have unhealthy eating habits, but also discusses the importance of a nutritious diet and offers practical steps for kids to make healthy choices. During the Summer 2008 peer leader program, the youth created an interactive presentation based on the themes in the film and screened it for community groups across Boston.
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Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness
The Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness (BCFF) is a city-wide partnership working to improve community health through a comprehensive initiative addressing issues related to food and fitness.
The BCFF Vision
- An increased community demand for, and availability of affordable, locally grown and healthy foods
- Easy access to safe and appropriate play spaces for all children
- The integration of physical activity in the daily lives of community residents
- Youth who are civically engaged and understand the connection between healthy food, physical activity and good health
Why are Youth Important to the BCFF?
- For the sustainability of creating healthy communities, it is essential that we create a Boston youth leaders’ network that addresses issues related to food and fitness at a city- and state-level.
- We need to continue to create meaningful opportunities for Boston youth to work on issues related to food and fitness.
- Engaging youth in policy-making and decision-making processes and giving them ‘a seat at the table’ is an important youth development and empowerment strategy.
- Young leaders offer perspectives and ideas that may otherwise not be considered and will inspire, and be inspired by, established leaders in Boston who work to create healthy communities.
BCFF Youth Advisory Board
The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) – a selected group of youth leaders – works with the Program Manager of the BCFF to engage in activities that contribute to the goals of the BCFF, advise the steering committee and work on a community-wide group project. Currently they are working to hold a public hearing event advocating for healthier food in Boston Public School cafeterias. Currently, three former FANtastic Kids peer leaders sit on the BCFF’s Youth Advisory Board.
Application Information
Who Should Apply?
Young males and females ages 16-18 from Mattapan, Roxbury, Dorchester, Allston/Brighton and surrounding neighborhoods who have at least a C+ average in school and who are motivated, responsible and interested in health, nutrition, fitness and working with kids are encouraged to apply! Apply now!
Why Apply?
Peer leaders will develop their leadership and public speaking skills, learn how to facilitate lessons, explore topics related to nutrition and physical activity and receive other professional and personal development opportunities. Pay is $8.00 per hour; peer leaders should expect to work 8 -10 hours per week.
Downloads
Peer Leaders Application
Peer Leader Flyer |
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