AHS cohosts statewide gathering of future leaders in food and agriculture
Introduction
In collaboration with the World Food Prize Foundation, AHS cohosted the inaugural Illinois Youth Institute, an event that engaged high school students in important conversations and experiential learning focused on the future of food and agriculture.
The daylong event held on May 12 at Student Center East gathered students from Chicago Public Schools and across the state for workshops and roundtables with experts on topics from sustainability and climate resilience to agricultural innovation, nutrition education and food equity.
To attend the Illinois Youth Institute, high school students were required to write a research paper on food security under the supervision of a teacher or mentor. For their research and participation at the institute, the students were recognized as Borlaug Scholars and made eligible for the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa and the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship.
In addition to sparking conversations about agriculture, food security and sustainability, the May 12 event exposed Illinois high school students to diverse career paths and insights from experts committed to shaping the future of global food systems. Several members of the AHS community who are involved in this work led workshops and roundtable discussions with the students.
The first workshop, led by KN instructor and assistant director of the dietetic coordinated program Tina Lam and KN clinical assistant professor Sofia Cienfuegoes Muzard, taught students how to make evidence-backed nutrition choices in a world full of social media – fueled food noise.
Another workshop coheld by KN community nutrition instructor Sherri Ambrose explored food access and fairness, revealing how a person’s neighborhood shapes what food choices are available, affordable and realistic.
Roundtable discussions were led by PT professor and AHS’ associate dean for strategic initiatives Sangeetha Madhavan, KN professor and head David Marquez, KN associate professor Eduardo Bustamante ’13 PhD KN and OT clinical assistant professor and coordinator of student outreach and enrollment Dalmina Arias.
Tami Craig Schilling, a member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, delivered a keynote address on students’ roles in the future of food.
The World Food Prize Foundation's mission is to stimulate innovation and impact around the quality, quantity and availability of food. In addition to cohosting 40 youth institutes in various countries and 22 U.S. states, the foundation administers the World Food Prize, often likened to the Nobel Prize in the field of food and agriculture.