As HealthMPowers enters the 2026-2027 program year, we’re making a deliberate choice: to do fewer things, better. Our focus this year will center on four core initiatives: the Student Health Advocate (SHA) Program, Girls Empowering Movement (GEM), the Youth Advisory Board (YAB), and the development of a statewide digital community platform.
That decision isn’t about doing less. It’s about creating more opportunities for meaningful impact.
Over the years, we’ve learned that some of the most powerful outcomes of our work don’t happen during a single lesson, training, or event. They happen when young people build confidence, find their voice, connect with peers, and begin to see themselves as leaders. They happen when educators, families, and community partners come together around a shared vision for youth well-being.
This year, we’re focusing on strengthening those connections.
Historically, many participants engaged with HealthMPowers through a single program. Moving forward, we’re creating more opportunities for students, alumni, educators, and partners to learn from one another, collaborate across initiatives, and remain connected over time. Our goal is not just to deliver programs, but to cultivate a community of young leaders supported by a network of caring adults and organizations.
One example is our investment in a new Digital Community Dashboard. While nothing can replace the energy of in-person experiences, we believe the relationships formed through HealthMPowers should continue long after an event ends. By creating new opportunities for connection, resource sharing, and collaboration, we hope to strengthen a sense of belonging that extends across schools, communities, and generations.
We’re also embracing experimentation.
Young people are learning, communicating, and engaging differently than they did even a few years ago. To keep pace, we’re exploring new ways to deliver health and nutrition education, including digital tools, video-based learning, and practical wellness content that connects healthy habits to the goals and challenges young people face every day.
Not every experiment will succeed exactly as planned, and that’s okay. Innovation requires curiosity, flexibility, and a willingness to learn. What matters is that we continue listening to young people, adapting to their needs, and finding new ways to support their growth and leadership.
As we begin this new year, I’m excited not only about the programs we offer, but about the connections we’re building between them. By focusing our efforts, strengthening relationships, and remaining open to new ideas, we’re creating more opportunities for young people to lead healthier lives, strengthen their communities, and shape the future they want to see.
– Jennifer
