Lights, Camera, Active!

It was high tech, something new, something that will make a difference in our community and our 4-H members were a part of it. "Lights, Camera, Active!" was a state wide initiative with the Health Department allowing youth to start a conversation with adults about the issues they face getting active. The purpose of the event was to help youth understand the link between their physical environment and their ability to lead healthy lives. The youth had a chance to make video messages with the best being chosen to be part of a documentary and winning gift cards to a retail athletic outlet.

Each organization received a free video camera and tripod for the youth to use to video their message. The videos were then uploaded and a panel picked the best entries from across the state to be part of the documentary. The documentaries premiered in each district and we were lucky enough to have the premiere for our district at our own Carolina Civic Center in downtown Lumberton.

More than 500 youth across the state of North Carolina took part in the event with just over 40 Robeson County youth took part in the video opportunity. They came from Lumberton Senior High School, Red Springs High School, Purnell Swett, and Robeson County 4-H. Two groups from Young Leaders 4-H club highlighted the needs of accessible recreation spaces. While a group of teens from Voices in Praise 4-H club highlighted the inaccessibility of healthy recreation opportunities for youth in rural areas. The producers of the program even asked Lundan Dinnerson, and Zaire Baker to preform as part of the premiere.

The premiere was more than just the documentary unveiling, it also created a conversation between the community and those who have the ability to plan useful recreation spaces for us. Questions were asked about cost, safety, range of hours for public spaces to be open to the public and more. It was a good start for the community to take their health into their own hands. That is just the beginning of this adult and youth partnership.

This was a great opportunity that was open to all of our clubs and is just another example of how our youth are making a difference in our community to make all of our lives better.