Engaging youth to work across sectors advocating healthier environments for food and physical activity

Community-based public requires that those intended to benefit from the changes take active and leading roles in directing the change. When the goal is to improve food and physical activity environments for children, engaging youth advocates becomes a powerful way to assure that changes meet the needs of those affected, and that changes have buy in. The Baldwin Park HEAC collaborative has given youth the tools and opportunity to become involved in advocating for policy and institutional change to improve their environment, not only within their schools, but in the community at large. This presentation discusses how Baldwin Park HEAC engaged youth advocates, and presents the results of their ongoing efforts. Youth, working along with parent groups and other key stakeholders, have educated the city and the school district about the challenges they face when trying to make healthier lifestyle choices. Baldwin Park youth have participated in advocacy trainings, conducted audits of neighborhoods and parks, and developed youth-led Photovoice displays that visually demonstrate challenges and opportunities to improving the community of Baldwin Park as seen through the eyes of youth. They have also contributed to the City's Parks Master Plan and the school district's wellness policy. A new teen center has become a focal point for youth-led programming. Current efforts include a youth led marketing and advertising strategy to support the implementation of state nutrition standards (SB12 and SB965) and a community-led effort to ban transfat in Baldwin Park restaurants.