COHORT 7 | 2025 Not A Host™ Junior Ambassador STEAM and Media Engagement Training

NOTE: We are at capacity but invite you to submit your application!
We will notify you if a seat becomes available. Thanks so much for your interest!

Youth in Durham have led powerful campaigns through the Not A Host™ Junior Ambassador Program—addressing health topics, sharing accurate information, and showing what youth leadership can look like in action.

Interested in applying?

Learn more about the program and see past ambassador work: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiJEZj8DkpZbT40s8TaiGSNOUMYgNRwoP&si=arFSg8k8PekRyI7Z!
This FREE program is made possible through support from Durham County Department of Health and Dr. Bahby Banks (Pillar Consulting). The #NAH Ambassador Training will take place February 21, 2026 - May 30, 2026 and consists of a combination of virtual and in-person sessions focused on STEAM, public health, mental health & wellness, marketing & promotion and health communication.

Selected ambassadors will participate in a 4-month hybrid program that includes: self-paced, self-directed online activities, peer learning and a variety of hands-on experiences with STEAM and health care experts.

ELIGIBLITY
Youth interested in the program MUST be enrolled in middle school or high school AND reside in Durham County. This includes public, charter, or home-based schools.
Additional criteria include:
- English-speaking
- 10-18 years of age
- Have lived experience in communities that experienced disproportionate impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Access to a mobile device to engage in the program activities.**
- Access to wifi/internet (hotspots are available for free at any Durham County Library)
DETAILS AT-A-GLANCE

Dates: February 21, 2026 - May 30, 2026

Learning: Virtual + In-Person

In-Person Commitment:
Selected ambassadors should be available to participate in in-person sessions on the following dates (virtual options also possible):
- Saturday, February 21st
- Saturday, April 11th
- Saturday, May 16th

Location: Details will be shared with accepted Ambassadors.

Support: Ambassadors completing the program will receive an #NAH Ambassador Resource Kit and stipend for their participation.

Deadline: The deadline for submission is February 9th at 11:59pm.

QUESTIONS?
Email office@pillarconsultingrtp.com or call (919)998-6493.
_______________________________________________________________________
- Parent/Legal Guardian Name*
  
  PrefixFirst NameLast Name
- Parent/Legal Guardian Mobile Phone #*
  Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
- Parent/Legal Guardian Email*
  
  Confirmation Email
- Parent/Legal Guardian Mailing Address*
  
  Street Address
  
  Street Address Line 2
  
  CityState
  
  Zip Code
- Parental Consent to Participate in Program
  
  Please review and acknowledge consent to the below program inclusions:
- Not A Host™ Junior Ambassador STEAM and Media Engagement Training is five-month program that highlights the root causes of disease, as well as basics of public health, COVID-19, informed decision-making and health communication. This training is not simply vaccine education. It explores how health information, access to care, and trust in medical systems have shaped public health outcomes over time. Youth will learn how historical events, community experiences, and research practices influence how people make health decisions today, with a focus on COVID-19 prevention and informed decision-making.
  
  Participation in the Not A Host™ Junior Ambassador Program may prepare youth for future advanced learning opportunities, including the PHIRE™ Academy, which involves deeper engagement in research, facilitation, and leadership development.
  
  The Pillar Consulting Team prioritizes the safety and well-being of every child involved in our work. To ensure this, all contractors working with minors are required to complete a comprehensive background check and adhere to our policies on working with minors. This commitment underscores our dedication to creating a safe, secure, and supportive environment for all youth participating in the program.
  
  In all matters concerning your child, we engage only with the legal parent/guardian or the designated emergency contact. If this information changes at any time, please inform our staff, in writing, prior to any in-person events.
- As part of the foundational training for the ambassador training, your child will learn how their body fights against germs (like bacteria and viruses) and how these germs infect humans. S/he will learn about human body systems including: skeletal (bones), cardiovascular (heart), nervous (brain), immune (cells), or reproductive (sexual) system.*
- As part of the curriculum, youth may learn about historical case studies in medical research, including the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the story of Henrietta Lacks, to better understand ethics, trust, and protections in health research today. This learning may include age-appropriate discussion of how certain diseases are transmitted.As a result, s/he may be exposed to information about how syphilis is spread through sexual contact.*
- I hereby warrant and represent that I am the parent or legal guardian of the minor child enrolling in the Not A Host™ Junior Ambassador STEAM and Media Engagement Training. *
  
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- Student Information
- The questions in this section help us get to know the student applying. Please answer honestly and completely. There are no right or wrong answers—we’re interested in learning more about who you are!
- Student Name*
  
  First NameLast Name
- Student Date of Birth*
  
  MonthDayYear
  Date
- Student School (2024/2025 School Year)*
- School if Other
- Student Grade Level (2024/2025 School Year)*
- Ambassador Email*
  
  Confirmation Email
- Ambassador Mobile Phone NOTE: All communication and updates will be sent directly to youth through GroupMe. If your child does not have a mobile device, please enter your mobile #*
  Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
- FemaleMaleNon-BinaryTransgenderPrefer not to say
- African-American/BlackAsian, Hawaiian-Pacific IslanderAmerican Indian/First PeopleHispanic/LatinxWhite/CaucasianOther
- he/him/hisshe/her/hersthey/them/theirs
- Application Questions
- The questions below give you an opportunity to share your thoughts, interests, and ideas. We’re interested in how you think, what you’re curious about, and how you see yourself making a difference. There no right or wrong answers.
  
  Please take your time and answer thoughtfully!
- #1 - How do you think learning about public health or STEM could help you make a difference in your school or community?*
- #2 - What are you most curious to learn more about through this program?*
- #3 - This program includes virtual learning, required in-person sessions, and working with other students over several months. What helps you stay committed to something once you start?*
- Should be Empty:

Parental Consent to Participate in Program

Student Information

Application Questions