The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has selected Erik Okino, 17, of Los Alamitos, to serve a second year as a Youth Ambassador on its Youth Advisory Board. Erik, a senior at Los Alamitos High School, was chosen based on his commitment to health and wellness in the Los Alamitos community, helping to reverse the nation’s childhood obesity epidemic. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, is one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations working to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and empowering kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits.
The Alliance’s Youth Advisory Board distinguishes itself as one of the only youth-led advisory groups in the country focused on the issue of childhood obesity. Youth Ambassadors serve as thought-leaders to both the Alliance and external stakeholders, offering valuable perspectives on childhood obesity through internal conversations and major public speaking engagements across America.
In addition to their role as thought-leaders and public speakers, Youth Ambassadors develop a campaign to organize and activate their communities to support policies and programs to promote kids’ health and wellness.
Seventeen-year-old Erik’s greatest accomplishment over the past year in creating a healthier generation has been sharing his passion about health with his community including speaking at an event for the Clinton Foundation where Erik shared why it was important for young people to have a voice in the fight against childhood obesity.
“I do not want anyone to be incapable of doing something they want to because they are overweight,” said Erik. “People just feel better when they are in good shape. It is important to be healthy in both body and mind.”
Dr. Howell Wechsler, CEO of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, emphasizes the important role of the Youth Advisory Board. “The Alliance believes that young people must have a seat at the table with adults to address the childhood obesity epidemic. Our Youth Ambassadors are inspiring communities across the country to build healthier environments for their generation and many generations to come.”
The fight against obesity requires contributions from kids, parents, schools, teachers, and communities. Visit HealthierGeneration.org to learn about the work of the Alliance’s Youth Advisory Board and discover what you can do to inspire kids to live healthier and reverse the childhood obesity epidemic.
About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, empowers kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits. The Alliance works with schools, companies, community organizations, healthcare professionals and families to build healthier environments for millions of children.