Following the youth policy discussion, the panelists, CARE attendees, and students added their signatures to a "Student Bill of Rights" to show their support for more physical activity, clean environments, nutritious food and healthy lifestyles. In addition, CARE members signed "I CARE Cards" to pledge their continued involvement in the effort to prevent childhood obesity and smoking in adolescents to ultimately eliminate health disparities in Generation With Promise communities.
At the May 7th meeting, the CARE committee listened as a panel of young Student Action Team members from several Generation With Promise schools voiced their concerns about health issues in their schools in front of a panel of state officials. Their concerns and ideas ranged from the need for more nutritious food on school lunch menus, to more time for gym class, to making all school districts smoke free 24/7. Among those hearing their testimony were State Sen. Martha Scott (D-District 2), Rev. Gregory Roberts, director of Governor Granholm's Office of Community and Faith-Based Initiatives, and Kyle Guerrant, Supervisor, Coordinated School Health & Safety Programs Unit of the Michigan Department of Education.
"If you smoke, that is unhealthy and it can cause a lot of problems for you and other people around you," said 8th grader Dante Batiste at the second statewide CARE Committee Meeting, held on May 7 at the Lansing Center. The Community Advisory Regional Experts (CARE) committee consists of more than 100 professionals in the fields of youth development, healthcare and education from throughout Michigan, chosen to help guide and support the goals of the Generation With Promise project.
