The Generation With Promise (GWP) project aims to prevent childhood obesity and smoking among youth.  GWP has as its foundation the Michigan Steps Up healthy lifestyles initiative led by the Michigan Surgeon General, Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, with the Michigan Department of Community Health and a team of staff from across the state as well as Governor Granholm's Cities of Promise initiative. Students from 16 middle schools in the Cities of Promise work together to make healthy changes in their schools, communities and their own lives. 
These young people form leadership groups called Student Action Teams (SATs) to determine the most pressing health challenges facing their school environment and then create action plans to address these problems. The teams work with adult leaders (Coordinated School Health Teams, or CSHTs) who support their efforts and guide them in their planning. 

Due to the commitment and passion of school staff statewide and my talented and energetic leadership team, Generation With Promise is concluding its second successful year in a four-year project.  Our schools have made impressive healthy strides since the program began. The $5-million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has enabled the Student Action Teams (SATs), Coordinated School Health Teams (CSHTs) and Community Mentor Teams (CMTs) to make healthy changes in their school environments.  Extra time has been added to the school day for physical activity, salad bars have been added to the school lunch menu, exercise equipment has been purchased and many school campuses have been declared smoke-free zones. These are all important steps toward making lasting policy changes in the schools and creating school environments where students can model healthy behaviors that will last a lifetime.

We appreciate your support and look forward to new and innovative ideas from our SATs in the coming year. Students that lead health policy initiatives and embrace healthy habits today will learn better and feel better. In addition, these students are making a major investment in their future health as adults, and will be empowered as leaders for healthier communities of tomorrow.