Past Projects: 2003-2004

Academic Year 2003-2004

An after-school program at the Youth Opportunity Center, 3034 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, culminated in a "Kidney Karnival" on April 16, 2004. Presented in conjunction with National Youth Service Day, the Kidney Karnival is fun for the whole family as well as a way to learn about prevention of chronic  disease especially as it relates to the kidney.

As part of the health class at CREATE (Creating Roads to Empowerment and Advancement Through Education) and alternative high school in Forest Grove, the students made a beautiful little booklet with original text and cartoons to present to the local upper elementary school as a unit for their library. The booklet is in both English and Spanish and has simple health tips the youth thought were important for the younger students.

The MIKE Program projects are flexible and can be adapted in length and intensity to accommodate participation by other program youth.  The projects can be adapted to address one aspect or many in community health education and advocacy.

On September 25, 2003 the MIKE Program participated in Catlin Gabel School community service day. Upper school youth engaged in a one-day project to expand their awareness of kidney disease and the healthy lifestyles that prevent kidney disease. These students helped act as test pilots of a new "Whiz Quiz" designed to test key learning from a full MIKE Program project. Learning about kidney disease to be better prepared to reach others, they heard from a guest speaker about his experience with irreversible kidney disease and the dialysis and transplantation that treat it. They participated in role playing before a site visit and interview with dialysis patients undergoing dialysis. These young people are now better prepared to be ambassadors for health promoting behaviors.

In fall 2003, the MIKE Program met with youth and staff in Mike Kelly's Communication Class at Benson High School. The youth in the class learned about kidney disease as they piloted a "Whiz Quiz."  Then true communicators that they are, they developed the MIKE Program symbol of hands raised up, out, and back to prevent kidney disease.

March 24, 2004, the MIKE Program met with youth in the Protective Services/Security tract at Springdale Job Corps Center. Through a fun, interactive, and lively presentation the MIKE Program helped kick off a new emphasis on physical activity for our future security personnel.