Community Connections

Sun and Heat Safety Awareness

Agent Name: Latonya Ramsey
Email:  latonya.ramsey@msstate.edu
County: Jefferson Davis County
Name of School or Club: Jefferson Davis JMWVs
Date of the Event: April 2021

Junior Master Wellness Volunteers (JMWVs) Katelyn Chandler, Kennedi Hall, and Destiniey Nicholson presented a Heat & Sun Safety Awareness Presentation to community members, the fire department, and the Prentiss Public Works Dept. The JMWVs made posters and set up a water tasting station.  Those in attendance participated in a fruit-infused water tasting (orange, cucumber, strawberry & kiwi) & received some great take-home goodies such as a water bottle, cooling towel, and other helpful resources!

 

Homeless Hygiene Kit Giveaway

Agent Name: Dr. Rocheryl Ware
Email: rocheryl.ware@msstate.edu
County: Hinds County
Name of School or Club: Forest Hill High School/Hinds County 4-H
Date of the Event: February 2021

Jordan Wesley has a big heart and she uses her resources wisely to serve others. She is a senior at Forest Hill High School in Jackson, and a very active Hinds County 4-H'er and 4-H Junior Master Wellness Volunteer Leader. Since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, she has dedicated her time and resources to collecting hygiene items and other non-perishable food items to distribute to homeless citizens throughout the city of Jackson. She enjoys helping others, and has willingly done so since she first joined 4-H as a 1st grader at Oak Forest Elementary in Jackson, and consistently through her membership in Eagles for the Environment 4-H Club, Making a Difference 4-H Club, and the C.O.R.E. Teacher Academy at JPS CDC with 4-H club leader/volunteer and JPS staff, Dr. Sophia Marshall. Masks were donated by program staff at Mississippi State Univeristy.

 

Hinds County StoryWalk

Agent Name: Dr. Rocheryl Ware
Email: rocheryl.ware@msstate.edu
County: Hinds County
Name of School or Club: Clinton High School
Date of the Event: January 6, 2021

 

Volunteers: Delijah Johnson, Clinton High School junior (4-H Junior Master Wellness Volunteer) & Rosalyn Ware, Clinton High School senior (4-H Junior Master Wellness Volunteer)

Dr. Rocheryl Ware, MSU Extension Agent in Hinds County and local Hinds County 4-H'ers, partnering with Annie T. Jeffers Library in Bolton, displayed a new book at a local public park in the Mount Olive Community of Bolton, MS. This activity is part of the StoryWalk literacy initiative that Mississippi State Extension's AIM for CHangE is offering to communities and organizations throughout the state. “It is an outdoor book display that serves to promote literacy, as well as adding a physical activity component of walking and/or rolling. The first book we put up was Mouse TV, by Matt Novak, and the newest book displayed is Successville, by Mississippi’s own Noah Harris. Kids and adults can walk and read while also staying socially distanced during the process. It's been great to watch the kids “speedwalk” to get to the next page of the book. I am very passionate about health, literacy, awareness, and sustainability, and I will do all I can to maintain and improve it for all citizens.”, said Dr. Ware. AIM for CHangE, http://extension.msstate.edu/food-and-health/health/aim-for-change

 

#WeRWalkingJune

Agent Name: Mr. Don Smith
Email: don.smith@msstate.edu
County: Pike County
Name of School or Club: Pike County Jr. Master Wellness Volunteers
Date of the Event: June 2020

 

 

 

WeRWalkingJune was a walking challenge designed to help establish regular physical activity and encourage others to drink more water. The Pike County Junior Master Wellness Volunteers and local 4-H members encourage their peers to get physical exercise by walking. Participants were also encouraged to take pictures and post on their social media accounts using the hashtag #WeRWalkingJune to get others to walk. As a result,  119 participants from several Mississippi counties and 11 different states from across the nation walked a total of 6,134 miles over a four-week time frame.

 

COVID-19 Facebook Live

Agent Name: Rocheryl Ware
Email: rocheryl.ware@msstate.edu
County: Hinds County
Name of School or Club: Jackson Public Schools Career Development Center
Date of the Event: April 27, 2020

 

 

Jr. Master Wellness Volunteer, Cardeysha Ward was a guest on the COVID-19 live Facebook posts hosted by Dr. David Buys, Extension State Health Specialist. She is a 4-H Jr. Master Wellness Volunteer at the Jackson Public Schools Career Development Center where she is enrolled in the Teacher Academy Program. She was selected by her teacher, Dr. Sophia Marshall-Campman and Extension Agent, Ms. Rocheryl Ware to share her insights about COVID-19 and its impact on her life as well as many of her peers. Additionally, she provided some sound advice to parents, grandparents, and other family members as to how they could help teens cope. She aspires to be a social worker and possibly get her RN degree as well. Her caring, encouraging, and motivational spirit is contagious for sure! Visit the link:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy4bm1nE5bc&list=PLv0hyvcm4p77oUbZjOFZSr6gWeIqCFMCr&index=24

 

 

Heart Month Awareness

Agent Name: Ann Twiner
Email: ann.twiner@msstate.edu
County: Sunflower County
Name of School or Club: Indianola Academy
Date of the Event: February 2020

The JMWVs at Indianola Academy in Sunflower County posted posters prior to National Wear Red Day which is observed on February 7 encouraging all to wear red! February is noted as Heart Awareness Month and is a perfect time to promote education about heart disease.

 

 

 

Kick Butts Day Awareness

Agent Name: Tashmia Turner
Email: t.turner@msstate.edu​
County: Madison County
Name of School or Club: Canton Career & Technical Center
Date of the Event: March 2019

Students from the Canton Career & Technical Center participated in National "Kick Butts Day" to bring awareness to students and faculty about tobacco usage, vaping/JUUling. Students presented themselves as "zombies" to demonstrate how addiction to tobacco products can have one "zoned out" to its negative effects and harm to one's health. Signage with awareness facts were made by the students and used as visual representations throughout the day.

Students placed red plastic cups in the holes of a metal fence in front of the school to spell out Kick Butts Day! This is a national program promoted by the Mississippi Department of Health: The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.  Get more Kick Butts Day information.

 

 

Spreading Messages of Health with a Purpose

Agent Name: Rocheryl Ware
Email: rocheryl.ware@msstate.edu​
County: Hinds County
Name of School or Club: Teacher Academy C.O.R.E.
Date of the Event: September 2019

The Teacher Academy C.O.R.E (Cadre of Responsive Educators) is excitedly and actively preparing to start their Junior Master Wellness mission in local schools as part of their Teacher Academy clinicals. With a message of health and a purpose to educate, these bright students have been brainstorming, training, and studying to reach both their goals and fullest potential through engaging younger minds to live healthy, maintain and advance in education, and keep a positive outlook on life. They are ready to communicate, influence, inspire, and be a part of a positive change in the world for the greater good.

 

Skin and Sun Safety Awareness

Agent Name: Rocheryl Ware
Email: rocheryl.ware@msstate.edu​
County: Hinds County
Name of School or Club: Clinton High School
Date of the Event: May 2019

Description: Rosalyn Ware, Hinds County 4H Junior Master Wellness Volunteer, spoke with City of Clinton Public Works Director Dexter Shelby and other public works employees during their lunch break about the importance of skin and sun safety. She explained her role as a volunteer and her efforts to promote healthy living. She noted the efforts of public works employees, and other professions where outside work is essential to getting the job done.

Rosalyn told the group that having to work outside when it is hot must be hard enough, but they shouldn’t forget to use sunscreen. She said, “Skin cancer is real and can be fatal. Even if you have darker skin or it is not hot outside, sunscreen should be worn to protect your skin from the UVA and UVB rays from the sun”. She left sun safety brochures as well as tubes of SPF 50 sunscreen for their use.

 

Healthy SweetHEARTS Health Fair

Agent Name: Don Smith
Email: don.smith@msstate.edu​
County: Pike County
Name of School or Club: South Pike Career and Technical Center
Date of the Event: February 2019

Junior Master Wellness Volunteers at South Pike Career and Technical Center hosted a Healthy SweetHEART Health Fair. The JMWVs provided blood pressure checks and a wealth of health information to their peers.

There were many vendors on site to talk to the nearly 200 participants about the importance of mental health, diabetes, hypertension, flu prevention, health insurance, oral health, and much more.

 

The Importance of Dental Hygiene

Agent Name: Tracy Gregory
Email: tracy.gregory@msstate.edu​
County: Winston County
Name of School or Club: Winston County Jr. Master Wellness Volunteers
Date of the Event: February 2019

Three members of the Jr. Master Wellness Volunteer Program in Winston County visited kindergarteners at Fair Elementary to provide education on the importance of dental hygiene.  Zoe Bigham, Brayleigh Gregory and Lana Boatner distributed over 100 toothbrushes, read Curious George Visits the Dentist and shared about the importance and proper way to brush teeth.  They also hosted a coloring contest as they provided coloring pages that will be judged and the winner will receive a free cleaning and dental exam from Louisville Dental.

 

The ABC's of Asthma Awareness

Agent Name: Rocheryl Ware
Email: rocheryl.ware@msstate.edu
County: Hinds County
Name of School or Club: Forest Hill High School & Hinds County 4-H Junior Master Wellness Volunteers
Date of the Event: August 2018

Jorelyn Wilson and Aisjah Marco, Hinds County 4-H’ers and Junior Master Wellness Volunteers tag-teamed to present on Asthma Awareness. They discussed asthma, asthma triggers, treatment, and ways to keep asthma under control. Both students know someone with asthma, which increases their passion for sharing this health message. They stressed that keeping the house clean and free of mold and allergens can immensely improve living conditions for asthma sufferers. Likewise, following an asthma action management plan can help reduce or prevent flare-ups.

 

Healthy Habits are Trendy

Agent Name: Rocheryl Ware
Email: rocheryl.ware@msstate.edu
County: Hinds County
Name of School or Club: Clinton High School
Date of the Event: July 2018

Rosalyn Ware, Hinds County 4-H Junior Master Wellness Volunteer, and 10th grader at Clinton High School, has spent much of the year raising awareness to family, schoolmates, and other youth throughout the Jackson Metro area about ways to think healthy, act healthy, and be healthy from the inside out. Rosalyn's focus has been on drinking water. She started a "water challenge" in January, and has gotten over 100 people to pledge to drink water instead of soda and other sugary drinks for at least one month. Rosalyn's water challenge is still on, as she is determined to do her part to help decrease childhood obesity.

 

Digging Deeper into Diabetes

Agent Name: Rocheryl Ware
Email: rocheryl.ware@msstate.edu
County: Hinds County
Name of School or Club: Clinton High School
Date of the Event: May 2018

MaKaylah Thompson, Hinds County 4-H Junior Master Wellness Volunteer and 10th grader at Clinton High School in Clinton, MS has been very vocal throughout the community when it comes to diabetes. MaKaylah's presentations have included preventative care, types of diabetes, and caring for yourself as a diabetic. MaKaylah's most captive audience recently welcomed her as she presented at Greater Clark Street MB Church located in Jackson, MS on behalf of their health and wellness ministry. Her hope is that a cure will be found to eradicate diabetes.

 

Let's Get Moving! Community Walk

Agent Name: Laura Jane Giaccaglia
Email: l.j.giaccaglia@msstate.edu
County: Bolivar County
Name of School or Club: Cleveland Career Development and Technical Center
Date of the Event: April 2018

 

Celebration Ceremony

Agent Name: Sharon Patrick
Email: sharon.patrick@msstate.edu
County: Lowndes County
Name of School or Club: McKellar Vocational Center (Columbus High School)
Date of the Event: May 2018

Presented certification certificates to Jr. Master Wellness Volunteers for their completion of their community service hours.

 

Learning to take blood pressure

Agent Name: Cynthia Wilkinson
Email: cyn.wilkinson@msstate.edu
County: Franklin County
Name of School or Club: Franklin County High School Allied Health
Date of the Event: January 2018

Students, Maddie Hughey and Akeria Green are practicing the techniques of blood pressure checks. Liza Jordan is observing. We learned the appropriate way to take blood pressure and errors to check for false readings. These students will be offering blood pressure checks to teachers at safety day in March.

 

 

Winston County Self Help-Saving Rural America Conference

Agent Name: Tracy Gregory
Email: tracy.gregory@msstate.edu
County: Winston County
Name of School or Club: Jr. Master Wellness Volunteers
Date of the Event: January 2018

Jr. Master Wellness Volunteers from Winston County had the opportunity to present educational information about obesity and sugary drinks and the importance of hand washing to their peers at the Winston County Self Help Saving Rural America Conference.  The theme for the conference was Cultivating Diversity, Producing Changes for the Future Generation.  One hundred ninety seniors and juniors from Louisville High School attended the conference.

 

CHA Red Ribbon Day/Annual Fall Festival

Agent Name: Sharon Patrick
Email: ssp40@msstate.edu
County: Lowndes County
Name of School or Club: Columbus Housing Authority and Columbus Boys and Girls Club
Date of the Event: October 2017

Advocates for a healthier Mississippi, the Jr. Master Wellness Volunteers were eager to serve their new community by educating youth and parents about the harmful effects of drugs during the Columbus Housing Authority Red Ribbon Day and providing blood pressure checks for parents at the Columbus Boys and Girls Club Annual Fall Festival.

 

Breast Cancer Awareness

Agent Name: Sharon Patrick
Email: ssp40@msstate.edu
County: Lowndes County
Name of School or Club:  The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
Date of Event: October 2017

“Lowndes County is grateful to have Jr Master Wellness Volunteers from other counties promoting healthy living in our community,” stated Mississippi State University Extension Agent Sharon Patrick. Aurelia Caine (Bolivar County), Daniel Leetran (Lawrence County) and Carey William (Holmes County) are students at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus, MS.  The volunteers promoted breast cancer awareness for their peers, teachers, and community.

 

JMWV wins 3rd at 4-H Club Congress

Agent Name: Laura B. Robertson
Email: lmb803@msstate.edu​
County: Tate County
Name of School or Club:  Senatobia-Tate County Career Technical Center
Date of Event: June 2017

Natalie Gill, a Jr. Master Wellness Volunteer student at the Senatobia-Tate County Career Technical Center, placed 3rd at the 2017 4-H Club Congress in the Health Visual Presentation Contest. Her talk, entitled, "Germs are not for sharing" was delivered in a train-the-trainer format, teaching childcare providers how to teach preschoolers the proper way to wash their hands and ways to reduce the spread of germs.  Natalie was inspired by a Hand-washing Presentation that she gave during the school year in her health science class for the visual contest.

 

Health Presentations

Agent Name: Laura B. Robertson
Email: lmb803@msstate.edu​
County: Tate County
Name of School or Club:  Senatobia-Tate County Career Technical Center
Date of Event: October 2017

To prepare for their roles as Jr. Master Wellness volunteers, Senatobia-Tate County Career Technical Center health science students presented health information to their classmates.  Each student was assigned a health topic and presented information to other students so that they can be equipped to serve as a JMWV.  Topics ranged from Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Stress Management, and Healthy Eating. Youth were encouraged to do some one on one educating to their family and friends on these topics as part of their service projects.

 

 5 Star City Fest Health Stations

Agent Name: Laura B. Robertson
Email: lmb803@msstate.edu​
County: Tate County
Name of School or Club:  Senatobia-Tate County Career Technical Center
Date of Event: May 2017

The Jr. Master Wellness Volunteers at the Senatobia-Tate County Career Technical Center presented nine healthy body kid stations at the Senatobia Five Star City Festival in May 2017. The students were inspired by the Body Walk that they experienced as elementary students and wanted to recreate that experience for kids at the festival. Working in teams, students designed booths about nine different body organs, including the lungs, brain, heart, and intestines. They educated the children participants about the organ and ways to keep their bodies healthy. Over 100 youth and adults experienced the health stations.

 

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Tate County Health Fair

Agent Name: Laura B. Robertson
Email: lmb803@msstate.edu​
County: Tate County
Name of School or Club:  Senatobia-Tate County Career Technical Center
Date of Event: October 2017

Healthy messages don’t have to be boring! The Jr. Master Wellness Volunteers from the Senatobia-Tate County Career Technical Center stepped up big at the annual Tate County health fair to spread health messages that were both fun and engaging. Students showed health fair participants ways to get moving by demonstrating fitness activities on the Wii gaming system. Also, JMWVs spread awareness of sugar shockers found in beverages by encouraging guests to try a fruit flavored LOL water sample (Lemon, Orange, and Lime slices added to water). The volunteers also did some heavy lifting during clean up too!

 

Trick or Treating using Healthy Decision-Making Skills

Halloween kicked off more than the possibility of dental visits and diabetic flare-ups. One new Hinds County 4H Junior Master Wellness Volunteer used the day to raise awareness with her family, friends and other community youth about the importance of healthy eating, good oral health, and diabetes. With just one treat per child allowed, Rosalyn got some smiles from gracious parents, but some not-so-happy trick-or-treaters. Dressed as self-named Catarina, and covered in 4H clovers, this health advocate humorously thinks that if a cat can have nine lives, why can’t humans expand their lifespan by living and eating healthier?

 

Mammogram and Hypertension Clinic

Agent Name: Rocheryl Ware
Email: rocheryl.ware@msstate.edu
County: Hinds
Name of School or Club:  Clinton High School Career Complex
Date of Event: March 2017

Natalie Hampton, JMWV in Hinds County participated in the Mammogram and Hypertension Clinic held for staff at the Women’s FCC in Yazoo City in the spring. Natalie provided blood pressure checks for over 100 staff members and distributed information on hypertension with oversight from clinical staff. She devoted three days of service to this project during her spring break earning 27 community service hours. Natalie was featured with directors of the event in the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons HIGHLIGHTS Newsletter, May 8, 2017. 

 

Sharing Health Messages with Younger Peers

Agent Name: Romona Edge 
Email: Romona.o.edge@msstate.edu
County: Itawamba
Name of School or Club: Itawamba Career and Technical Center
Date of Event: May 2016

Junior Master Wellness Volunteers from Itawamba Career and Technical Center health science class in Itawamba County created posters as visual aids to share with children in younger grades about various health topics. Posters created included topics on diabetes, what is stress, oral health practices, tobacco use, autism awareness, eating healthy, and handwashing. Paring junior and senior level peers is an example of peer-to-peer education and is shown to be most effective when raising awareness and encouraging desired behaviors. 

Certificate Celebration

Agent Name: Ann Twiner
Email: Ann.twiner@msstate.edu
County: Sunflower
Name of School or Club: Gentry Career and Technical Center
Date of Event: May 2016

Jameisha Suggs, shared her most memorable experience as a Junior Master Wellness Volunteer with state health specialist, Dr. David Buys as she reflected on the health messages she presented to a family member related to hypertension and diabetes. She decided to put her words into action! She started getting up earlier in the morning to prepare healthy snacks and a lunch so the family member would not stop and purchase unhealthy food when traveling each day. This simple, and effective action plan helped to significantly reduce blood pressure and blood glucose numbers, and even resulted in lowering medicines.