Teens Leading Change: Empowering Youth To Build Healthier Communities in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes

Claire Zak, Faust, Lauren

The impact of the Teens Leading Change initiative was significant: In a peer-led evaluation of 219 students, 93% reported learning something new about healthy food, felt more confident in making healthy choices and planned to continue those habits beyond the program.

Louisiana ranks 50th in the nation for overall health, with childhood obesity and chronic illness posing persistent challenges across the state. In response, the LSU AgCenter 4-H team launched the Teens Leading Change initiative in Jefferson and Orleans parishes — a youth-led movement designed to promote wellness, leadership and civic engagement through community-driven projects. This program is currently funded by a U. S. Department of Agriculture Children, Youth, and Families at Risk grant. Working in teen-led coalitions, participants identify health challenges in their communities and develop innovative solutions that foster long-term behavior change.

In Jefferson Parish, Riverdale High School youth tackled poor nutrition head-on through the Healthy Snack Swap Challenge. Teens developed a creative campaign to promote healthier snack alternatives. Their efforts sparked conversations about replacing unhealthy options in school vending machines and their snack shack — a process that continues to evolve.

One participant was very appreciative of the education saying, “I think about all the information I have about different choices.” These results reflect the ripple effect of youth-led education and advocacy on broader school culture.

In Orleans Parish, youth at Sarah T. Reed High School formed their Teens Leading Change cohort and immersed themselves in health promotion across school, parish and regional events. From organizing beautification projects and toy drives to leading hydration and fitness activities at AgMagic and Latin Fest, teens demonstrated leadership, empathy and cultural awareness.

The Teens Leading Change program showed strong results in helping youth grow and improve their communities. Teens became more confident in social situations, felt supported by peers and had more chances to show maturity. They improved critical thinking and openness to new ideas, and rated the program highly for safety, fairness and adult support. More than 90% joined other after-school programs, showing lasting engagement.

The Teens Leading Change program is more than a health initiative — it is a blueprint for empowering youth to lead with purpose. By combining education, advocacy and hands-on service, Jefferson and Orleans parish teens are transforming their communities and themselves. As Louisiana 4-H looks to expand this model statewide, the success of these pilot programs offers a compelling case for youth-led wellness as a catalyst for lasting change.

A group of students crowds around a table with healthy foods.