NCADD of Hudson County is leading this three-year project, in which a total of 30 youth from Secaucus, ages 14-21, are receiving guidance from trained community-based coaches, to better understand topics around population health, develop leadership skills, and implement self-designed projects to make their communities healthier. By the end of this project, the youth participants will have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to work with municipal governments, cross-sector coalitions focused on health, school boards, and other organizations to build healthier and more vibrant communities. The youth will also participate in a statewide alumni network to stay connected to their peers as they continue on their leadership paths and move into the next phases of their lives. To advance this work in Secaucus, NCADD of Hudson County is partnering with the City of Secaucus and the Secaucus Environmental Department, and leveraging its relationships with law enforcement, schools and other sectors to engage and equip youth to create positive change. These Secaucus youth represent one of 10 New Jersey communities supported by the NJHI: Next Generation Community Leaders initiative.
In the first grant year, a team of Secaucus youth worked to raise awareness about environmental health by partnering with the Secaucus Environmental Department’s Green Business Initiative, the school district and local businesses to create a composting system that would be sustainable beyond Summer 2018. In Summer 2019, a new youth team worked toward environmental change by auditing community parks and sharing recommendations with City Councilmembers about necessary changes that can improve residents’ access to parks and promote increased physical activity by park visitors. Follow the team on Instagram, plus
- See an overview of all of the Next Generation Community Leaders teams’ summer projects here. View a summary of their 2018 summer projects here.
Learn more about their 2019 summer projects here. - Get a statewide view of this work, and connect with the nearest team at #NJLeaders2030.
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Hear alumni from the first-year Next Generation Community Leaders teams reflect on their work, the value of meaningful experiences and authentic adult-youth partnerships, and share new insights that developed a broader perspective.
View the public service announcement the first Secaucus team produced in partnership with the Secaucus Environmental Department.
Click here to watch additional public service announcements developed by the team.
View recommendations from this initiative:
Atkins, B. and Hart, D. Principles for Engaging Youth as Partners to Build Healthier Communities. Grantmakers in Health – Views from the Field. January 28, 2020.
Follow the latest news coverage regarding NJHI: Next Generation Community Leaders:
Secaucus Teens Take Part in Three-Year Project
Hudson Reporter/ Sullivan, A. (2019, June 21).
Institute for Local Self-Reliance Trains Teen Leaders on the Basics of Composting
ILSR blog/ Streeter, V. (2018, July 26).
NJ.com. (2017, August 5).
Hudson Reporter. (2017, July 16).
NJ Spotlight. (2017, July 12).
SNJ Today. (2017, July 12).