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Engaging & Elevating Youth

GENYOUth Insights

GENYOUth Insights elevates youth voice through original research on some of Gen Z’s greatest health and wellness concerns. We conduct national surveys of students ages 13-18, which reveal their knowledge, feelings, perspectives and behaviors. We then translate students’ opinions into issue-framing reports and opportunities for action. GENYOUth Insights research generates ideas, builds awareness, and channels actionable intelligence to strengthen our programs, and inform partners, youth stakeholders, and policymakers.

Uncovering and sharing knowledge and information that matters to students and schools enables us to engage stakeholders – corporations, health and wellness organizations, and individual donors – with opportunities to advocate for and fund our mission, ensuring all children are well-nourished and physically active to be their best selves.

VIEW OUR LATEST GENYOUTH INSIGHTS REPORT

GENYOUth’s Insights Advisory Council

 

David Bersoff, PhD, Head of Research, Edelman Trust Institute

Katie Brown, EdD, RDN, President, National Dairy Council (NDC)

Michelle Carter, Director, Education Content and Programs, SHAPE America

Judi Brown Clarke, Chair, National Fitness Foundation (NFF)

Jada Curd, Lived-experience Student Expert (Vanderbilt U.; former Public Information Asst, Burke Co. Public Schools

Laura DeFina, MD, FACP, FAHA, President & Chief Executive Officer, The Cooper Institute

Amanda Edelman, COO, Gen Z Lab & Associate Director, Edelman

Karen Ellis, Principal, MMS Education

Rachel Fisher, Senior Advisor, President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition at ODPHP

Jayne Greenberg, EdD, North America Chair, International Sport and Culture Association

Clarissa Hayes, Deputy Director, School & Out-of-School Time Programs, FRAC

Erin Hysom, Senior Child Nutrition Policy Analyst, FRAC

Kayla Jackson, Project Director, American Association School Superintendents (AASA)

Sarah Lee, Team Lead/Lead Health Scientist, CDC

Donna Martin, RDN, LD, SNS, FAND; Leading School Nutrition Authority; Past President, GENYOUth Board Member

Megan Mendoza, Manager, Community Relations, National Football League (NFL)

Caitlin Merlo, Health Scientist, CDC

Andjelka Pavlovic, PhD, ACE-CPT, NASM-CPT, Director of Youth, The Cooper Institute

 

GENYOUth Insights
Surveys & Reports

GENYOUth National Youth Council

GENYOUth’s National Youth Council is a group of 18 middle and high school students from around the nation who amplify the voices, opinions, perspectives, and insights of Gen Z.

MEET THE MEMBERS OF OUR NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL

“This program believes in me in a way I did not know was possible, giving me the confidence & courage to follow my dreams.” 

– Kayla

“I get to help kids just like me, making sure they have access to nutrition and physical activity to thrive.“

– Riley

“I work with some of the brightest young minds in the country. It gives me a feeling of belonging and inspiration to make an impact in our communities.”

– Taylor

“We can change ourselves and our school communities!”

– Harmony

Youth-Led Solutions

Students bring perspectives that lead to new and innovative approaches to school-based health and nutrition challenges. GENYOUth, with partner support, provides opportunities and resources for youth-led solutions in schools across the U.S.  Through design thinking, project management, teamwork, leadership and communications skills, students have successfully implemented initiatives reaching over 15,000 students each year, and creating change in schools and communities that last the school year and beyond. 

Check out our featured projects from students across the country.

Spicing Up Your Options

School: Merit Academy (UT)

Challenge: With lunch lines too long and the lunch period too short, the team wanted to make the most of students’ time and the great meal options offered by the school.

Solution: An innovative lunchtime grab-and-go cart also surveyed students on their meal preferences. Domino’s Pizza was served twice a month, which the students loved! A new logo contest resulted in the kitchen being more open to students’ feedback. On days when the program’s food was served, fewer students left school to go to local food stores for meals and soda.

The SOAR Program

School: Gilford High School (NH)

Challenge: Embracing their role as athletes, the team encouraged kids to play sports and try new ways of being active, which positively impacted social and emotional health.

Solution: SOAR “soared” – connecting high school student athletes as mentors with 60 middle and high schoolers, and encouraging peer involvement with team building, mental health-boosting activities. New England Dairy Council provided physical activity and mental wellness handouts. SOAR’s sustainable model will continue to positively impact students for years to come.

ConNEXTion:
Connecting the Next Generation to Sustainability

School: Audubon Park School (FL)

Challenge: Team ConNEXTion tackled their peers’ lack of understanding of where their food comes from in a new and engaging way.

Solution: An interactive magazine was created featuring food-journey stories of Florida farmers and their sustainable agriculture methods. Available in school and online for students to bring home to their families, the magazine emphasized the farm to table process in school and at home.