Play 4 Life is comprised of people who want to encourage healthy living and higher education for youth all over the world.

By bringing together a group of committed people who have shared their skills to teach cooking classes in schools with high rates of obesity, provide yoga instruction to young children, and prepare home style meals in group homes for teenagers, Play 4 Life created an avenue for a healthy lifestyle to many children across New York City.  Play 4 Life has now grown to incorporate more programs through a partnership with J.A.E.E. Life, a program which allows P4L to expand its focus on higher education, arts, music, culture and leadership.  Through this partnership, both P4L and JL have funded programs in Oakland, London and New York and will fund and provide on-site programs the latter part of 2011 in South Africa and cities in the United States, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

Play 4 Life is implementing a 3 year strategic plan designed to bring our message of healthy living and higher education to students globally.

J.A.E.E. Life (Jamming About Education & Empowerment) is a non-profit program based in New York City, London and San Francisco under The Goldwaters Gp, Limited and Award Winning Producer, J. Logan; and facilitated by Play 4 Life, Inc, a 501(3) c youth based organization, based in New York City.  The mission of J.A.E.E. Life is providing higher education learning, leadership, arts, music and culture to youth and adults.

J.A.E.E. Life is committed to achieving a major impact in local schools on a global grassroots level.

For the past few months of 2011, J.A.E.E. Life along with its non-profit partner, Play 4 Life, Inc, has donated funding to schools in London (E-Learning Foundation), New York (Charter Schools under KIPP Foundation) and Oakland (Oakland International High School).  J.A.E.E. Life is set to donate to schools in South Africa and India.

J.A.E.E. Life will launch a succession of new programs in the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa during the second half of 2011.

In the past year or so, schools in the United States and abroad have chosen to remove the teaching of cursive writing to students in exchange for computers.  Writing in any form allows students to express themselves creatively.  While technology is important, it doesn’t allow the student to use their full imagination.  What would happen if Art is removed and replaced ith Technology? As you can see the students in this image are completely immersed in the pictures they are creating by “hand”.  They will remember the smell of the markers, pens and the feel of the soft paper.  They will remember the pen in their hands creating the images in their minds.  Their brains have been engaged and they have an opportunity to draw on paper what is not yet visible to to their eyes until on paper.  Lets ask ourselves, what our life would have been like if we did not have the opportunity to draw or learn to write our names in print and cursive writing.

What is the solution?  To continue to provide programs that engage the creativity of youth and empower parents and the communities at large to teach in their homes and community spaces what is discontinued in education institutions.

The best way to empower healthy lifestyles for youth is to encourage good eating habits, exercise, laughter, family time, support of their passions, trust and positive reinforcement of family values.

Schools are now experiencing severe budget constraints and finding themselves with the issue of having to remove programs that support the overall health and well-being and continued educational growth of their students.  As a result, local and community based organizations must create programs to fill in the gap and bring awareness to this issue.  What will you do to support the youth in your community?

What would it be like if youth always had access to the wonderful combination of music, art, excellent eating habits, physical activity, yoga, supportive family members, role models who empower their leadership, their talents consistently empowered and more.  Music in any language reaches us at the depth of our hearts.  It motivates youth when they think their parents cannot relate to them.  It teaches them about areas of life expressed in a way in that moment relates to the fullness of their present age.  What can we do to insure that music is always available to youth?  Whether at home or in our communities, we can share the music we listened to and open their minds up to genres of music they’ve never listened to.  In return we can learn about the music youth listen to today and expand our own creativity.  We can empower youth to request instruments are always available to them at school and the local community spaces.  Remember music has been known to relax a nation.

• be generous
• be grateful for everything and everyone
• focus on what is good in your life
• hum or sing a happy song every day
• laugh often
• treat yourself to doing things that you enjoy daily
• keep your bedroom clean and organized
• spend time outside
• spend less time watching TV
• chew your food well
• say thank you
• be positive

Sugar gives us a lot of energy at first, and then it makes us really tired, cranky, and always wanting more sugar. Some people get headaches or feel sick from eating sugar.

Our bodies do not need white sugar, and there are many easy ways to eat less of it.

You will feel better and be much healthier without it!

sugar alternatives:

• eat fruit to get a naturally sweet taste
• eat sweet vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and squash
• drink seltzer or water with a little juice instead of soda
• bake your own desserts and treats using maple syrup
• eat more grains, chewing them well for the sweet taste

dressing:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
pinch of salt and pepper

1. In a large bowl, combine all vegetables and sunflower seeds.
2. Combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk; pour over salad.
3. Enjoy!