YOUTH COUNCIL.
Peer-to-peer education and activism.
Participate in Three Events
For example, Youth Council Kickoff (9/21/19), Youth Council Retreat (10/19/19), Take Down Tobacco Day at the Capitol (03/18/20)
TAKE DOWN TOBACCO.
March 18 is Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action. Over 150 youth from across the state were set to rally at the Capitol.
Instead, we’re asking you to post why you #TakeDownTobaccoHI and tag your legislators. Find out more below!
How Can I Help?
Now, more than ever, we need to keep our youth and their lungs healthy. Requesting that fellow youth, parents, teachers, and others alarmed about impacts from e-cigarette use in Hawaiʻi, post a picture or message on why YOU #TakeDownTobaccoHI on March 18, 2020, tagging your legislators. Better yet, start posting early, from March 17!
- Identify your legislators by entering your street name on the Hawaiʻi State Legislature page (top right corner).
- Ensure your social media is set to public (you can post to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter).
- Craft your message, tagging #TakeDownTobaccoHI, #TakeDownTobacco (to join the national feed), and your legislators if can. Your post could be ANYTHING but hereʻs some ideas:
⚡️Write down ONE REASON youʻre taking down tobacco on a piece of paper and take a pic. What does a tobacco-free generation mean to you?
⚡️Draw how you would get rid of your vape; mo creative, mo bettah.
⚡️Take a short video.
4. POST IT! And check out our feed when available.
Youth Council.
One of the most effective ways of reducing teen smoking and vaping is changing the norm among youth through peer-to-peer outreach. At Coalition for Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i (CTFH), we’re working with youth advocates to reframe tobacco use as the “uncool” exception, not the rule. Not only do we work with dedicated young people through our Youth Council to lead peer-to-peer presentations in their community and organize awareness events, we also fight for policy change at the local and state level.
By joining the Youth Council, you can be one of many young leaders in middle school, high school, and college who are ready to FIGHT back against Big Tobacco. Protecting youth and young adults from tobacco marketing, initiation, and use is critically important and who better to lead this effort than those most affected: our students! Create new goals, strategies, and help change public policy with the support of other Youth Council members, CTFH, and Hawai‘i Public Health Institute staff. The Youth Council is statewide with students representing six islands. Each member serves a one-year repeatable term representing their school and community. Be part of the change!
APPLY TO JOIN THE YOUTH COUNCIL!
To be eligible you must be a student in middle, high school or college. Applications are accepted year-round.
Expectations:
Benefits:
Youth Council Events.
Take Down Tobacco Day 2020
Take Down Tobacco Day 2020 is 8:30AM-3:30 PM on Wednesday, March 18 (Honolulu)
- Policy Priority Review
- How a Bill Becomes a Law
- How to speak to Legislators
- March to the Capitol/Sign Waving
- Group meetings with individual Legislators
- Breakfast and lunch included
Youth participant sign up
Join students from across the state gathering to stand up and speak out against Big Tobacco. Activities include a morning educational session, youth rally, sign waving, and meetings with legislators.
Adult and organization sign up
Individuals and groups can join youth advocates from 11:30am-1:30pm. During this time, community members will be able to sign wave, and stay for our speakers during the lunch program.
What was the most valuable thing you learned at Take Down Tobacco Day? (formerly known as Kick Butts Day)
“We can make a difference.”
“How long a process it is for a bill to become a law.”
“How to speak to legislators and that they want to hear from us.”
Quotes were submitted anonymously on a feedback survey.
Youth Council Kickoff 2019-2020
Youth Council Retreat 2019
Ready to jump in? Have questions?
OUR YOUTH COORDINATOR WILL GET BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.