What is the Generation With Promise Project?

The Generation With Promise project is a $5 million initiative funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and led by Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Michigan Surgeon General. This project links Governor Granholm's Cities of Promise initiative in vulnerable communities with the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Steps Up healthy lifestyles initiative. Schools with middle school grades from Benton Harbor and Southeast Michigan will participate in a three-year project that will empower and support Student Action Teams to be actively involved in making decisions, planning actions, prioritizing needs, and promoting new opportunities for students to make healthy choices.

What is the goal of this project?

This unprecedented project aims to achieve and sustain change at the policy, environment and individual levels in schools/communities with racial and ethnic health disparities by empowering middle school youth, with the guidance of school and community mentors, to become change agents. Youth will acquire the knowledge, skills and resources needed to eat better, move more and not smoke.

Which schools can apply for the program?

All schools with grades 6-8 that are involved in the Cities of Promise (Benton Harbor, Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park and Pontiac) may apply for a grant that will be implemented during the 2007-08 school year. Additionally, schools from the other Cities of Promise (Saginaw, Flint and Muskegon Heights) will be invited to apply for grants during the second and third years of the project and to participate in a Youth Summit and Student Leadership workshops that will be held each year.

What are the school selection criteria?

The scores for each application will be averaged and the 14 schools with the highest scores will be awarded the grant (ten in year one and four in year two). To be eligible, middle schools must:

• Have an existing Coordinated School Health Team or form one by December 1, 2007, that includes: building principal, foodservice director, parent, physical education teacher, health teacher, community member and at least one student from each grade level.
• Have a physical education teacher and program.

How much funding is available to schools?

A total of 14 schools will receive Level I grants of $25,000 for up to three years. The other schools may apply for a $5,000 award for up to two years to form a Coordinated School Health Team, complete the Healthy School Action Tool and conduct the Student Health Survey at their school. The timeline is as follows:

Year I
2007-08
$25,000
Ten schools (two in Benton Harbor, eight in SE Michigan)

Year II
2008-09
$25,000: Four additional schools for a total of 14

$5,000 for all schools that did not receive the $25,000 award

Year III
2009-10
$25,000
All 14 schools with awards from Year I & II

$5,000 for all schools that did not receive the $25,000 award

For more information: Contact Stella Christian, Office of the Michigan Surgeon General at surgeongeneral@michigan.gov.