**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECT AIMS TO IMPROVE CHRONIC DISEASE RISK FACTORS (E.G., DIET) AMONG CULTURALLY DIVERSE 8TH GRADE STUDENTS FROM NEW YORK CITY (NYC) TITLE I MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW ADVANCED COOKING EDUCATION (ACE) 4-H AFTER SCHOOL CLUB. STUDENTS WILL MEET TWICE A WEEK FOR 12 WEEKS: DAY 1) WELLNESS SESSION (MINDFULNESS, NUTRITION EDUCATION, AND COOKING LABS PREPARING ETHNIC DISHES THAT STUDENTS WILL REPLICATE AT HOME WITH THEIR FAMILY), AND DAY 2) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSION (MINDFULNESS, ACTIVITIES EXPOSING STUDENTS TO FOOD AND NUTRITION CAREERS, AND 4-H ACTIVITIES). ACE ADDRESSES CRITICAL GAPS IN HEALTH PROMOTION INTERVENTIONS BY: TARGETING A HIGH RISK POPULATION WITH CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING UNIQUE PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS (MINDFULNESS, NUTRITION EDUCATION, COOKING LABS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT), INCORPORATING ADVANCED NUTRITION TOPICS AND COOKING SKILLS, AND INCREASING MINORITY AND URBAN YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN 4-H PROGRAMMING IN NEW YORK STATE. FOR THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES, A CLUSTER RANDOMIZED, WAIT-LIST CONTROLLED TRIAL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PROJECT YEARS 2-4 WITH 938 8TH GRADE STUDENTS FROM 9 TITLE I MIDDLE SCHOOLS (3-MANHATTAN, 3-BRONX, 3-BROOKLYN). PRE/POST MEASURES, FOCUS GROUPS, AND 1-YEAR FOLLOW-UP MEASURES WILL BE COMPLETED. THE EXTENSION OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) TO CREATE A PORTAL ON THE ACE WEBSITE WITH TRAINING MODULES AND RESOURCES, AND 2) FOR NYC 4-H TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FROM THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO IMPLEMENT ACE AFTER THE GRANT ENDS. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE FY 2020 PROGRAM AREA FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH, AND DIET, NUTRITION AND THE PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES.