**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IN THE NUTRITION- AND HEALTH-RELATED PROFESSIONS IS WELL RECOGNIZED, WITH RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS SEVERELY UNDERREPRESENTED. WITH A PREDICTED SURGE IN THE MINORITY POPULATIONS, AND A PARALLEL RISE IN OBESITY AND ITS RELATED CHRONIC DISEASES, TRAINEES AND GRADUATES OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS ARE GREATLY NEEDED TO FILL POSITIONS IN NUTRITION AND HEALTH THAT DELIVER PROGRAMS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THUS, THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO: 1) INSTRUCT AND TRAIN STUDENTS IN AGE APPROPRIATE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS; 2) ENGAGE STUDENTS TO DEVELOP AND EVALUATE VARIOUS RESEARCH MODALITIES OF THE EFFECT OF EARLY OBESITY PREVENTION INTERVENTION TO SUSTAIN TRAINING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTHIER NUTRITION, LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS, HEALTH ASSESSMENT, AND CHILDCARE PROVISION; 3) DEVELOP AND EXTEND COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND IMPLEMENT VARIOUS TECHNIQUES THAT WILL PROVIDE A NETWORK OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS, PROFESSIONALS, RESEARCHERS, AND STUDENTS TO MONITOR AND SUSTAIN PREVENTIVE IMPACTS FOR ALL CHILDREN AT HIGH RISK OF DISPARITIES IN OBESITY; AND 4) PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS AND FOSTER DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH THE INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES OF EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND EXTENSION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION. WE WILL RECRUIT, ENGAGE AND RETAIN 30 UNDERREPRESENTED RACIAL/ETHNIC MINORITIES AND DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS INTO A 12-WEEK PAID FELLOWSHIP AIMED AT INCREASING KNOWLEDGE AND PREPARATION FOR ENTRY INTO NUTRITION- AND HEALTH-RELATED CAREERS AND/OR HIGHER EDUCATION. FELLOWS WILL ENGAGE IN DIDACTIC AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE INTERVENTIONAL APPROACHES PROMOTING HEALTHY NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND CHILD CARE FROM BIRTH-36 MONTHS. FELLOWS WILL RECEIVE EXTENSIVE ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING, CAREER DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, NETWORKING, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES TO FACILITATE LEADERSHIP AND JOBREADY SKILLS. BY THE END OF THE 12-WEEK FELLOWSHIP FOR EACH YEAR, STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP A CAREER PLAN THAT SHOWS NEXT STEPS TO PURSUE ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND/OR EMPLOYMENT IN THE FIELD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION, HAVE THE ABILITY TO DESIGN CURRICULA MATERIALS, AND DEVELOP MANUSCRIPTS AND ABSTRACTS.