Youth video in the making

The youth of Dream of Wild Health have decided to make a video based on the tale of the The Tortoise and the Hare mixed with the Native American tale of Great Race.  Although the tale of the Great Race differs from tribe to tribe the overall theme of the Great Race is a man racing a buffalo and the outcome would be who would eat who.

The youth have come to the decision that by incorporating the two stories they would show their heritage along with showing that eating healthy will win in the long term.

They will accomplish this by filming someone eating healthy foods and someone eating the quicker option of fast food.  At the end of the race the healthy choice will be the only one left to finish the race because the fast food will be too tired from all the “bad” stuff to finish. 

The youth are really excited about given the opportunity to make the choices and even what to bring in someone from the “outside” to eat the fast food because they do not want to eat it. 

Mother Earth Festival

Celebrate your Earth Day weekend perusing Saint Paul's west side at the Mother Earth Festival. Visit the family area to see live animals and obtain healthy snack ideas. Become mesmerized by the cultural entertainment and explore the variety of vendors in the green market. This festival inspires guests with new ideas to sustain our natural world and tips to obtain a healthy life style.

Sounds like the perfect environment for FOOD JUSTICE! You can bet DOWH youth leaders will be joining this event to educate the public about making the right choice around nutrition. Find them at the rotunda 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Make sure you eat some brain food for their Food Justice Jeopardy game!

Rooted in Community (2013 Conference)

Producing an entertaining YouTube video is fun - a great way to let out creative energy and in the case of Dream of Wild Health Youth Leaders, an opportunity to help the community wise up about food justice.  These Youth Leaders have decided to take the production to the next level by registering to showcase their video at the Rooted in Community's 15th annual youth leadership conference.
The conference will be held in Los Angeles this summer (July 2013) which is slamming excitement into the mix.

Rooted in Community focuses on empowering youth to create healthier communities. DOWH youth focus on 'food justice', but this national network also honors topics related to agriculture, food security, community gardening, and environmental justice.

This national conference is an opportunity for amazing leaders like the youth from Dream of Wild Health to collaborate with peers that are also challenging change. It is also a great way to recognize the impact these teams will contribute toward future generations. I noticed the conference also has room for an open mic night with dance party.

Get DOWH youth team to California by donating to Dream of Wild Health.

Face it, the dance party will suck without them.

Try Something Fresh This Summer - Saint Paul Farmer's Market

Selling fresh food at the Saint Paul Farmers market is one of the benefits of being part of the Dream of Wild Health youth leadership program. I asked Brianna, one of the youth leaders, why she enjoyed time at the farmer's market the most.

"It's fun hanging out there. I like talking with all the people."

Brianna also says that a lot of people use expense as an excuse to not eat healthy. She went on to point out that the Farmer's Market is very affordable and probably provides foods that are fresher than what would be paid for in a high end grocery store because they are grown locally.

For those of you that like to buy local - here is another great place to contribute.

The Saint Paul Farmer's market is a great excuse to spend a day in this historic city to explore fruits and vegetables from other cultures. Unlike a grocery store that only provides only the name of an exotic vegetable that caught your eye, the farmer's market provides face to face consultation as to what the produce is and how to use it. Brianna and other Dream of the Wild youth leaders have been educated about the produce they grow and how to prepare it and are more than willing to share that knowledge. 

Ultimately the youth team hopes to continue to support the inner city community by providing outreach around food justice. This location serves as an enjoyable platform for that community exchange.

If you plan on checking out the Saint Paul market this summer make sure to review FAQ about the market so you know what to expect....and get excited about ;)