YOUTH COUNCIL.
Peer-to-peer education and activism.
Participate in Our Youth-Led Statewide Events
Winter and spring events: March Against Menthol events Sunday March 7 1:30pm. Register for the events on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui or Big Island!
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 2021
March Against Menthol – Sunday March 7, 1:30 PM
Register for events on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, and Big Island now!
Join youth and adults for a sign waving event to support ending the sale of all flavored tobacco including menthol. Menthol has been shown to make smoking/vaping easier to start and harder to quit and has been used to market to Native Hawaiian, Filipino, Black and economically distressed communities. Native Hawaiian, Filipino and Black individuals are at greater risk to develop lung cancer making the industries targeting of them a social justice issue. This event is meant to raise awareness in our community as bills looking at ending the sale of flavored tobacco products are being heard at the state legislature and we want to make sure that menthol is not exempted. Additional site specific information will be provided after registration, but we ask everyone to wear a mask and maintain social distancing during this event. We ask that each participant register separately for contact tracing purposes.
In the past, students from across the state have gathered to stand up and speak out against Big Tobacco. Activities had included a morning educational session, youth rally, sign waving, and meetings with legislators.
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.
2020 Youth Council Policy Summit
2020 Youth Council Awareness Activities Workshop
Youth Council Kickoff 2020-2021
Ready to jump in? Have questions?
OUR YOUTH COORDINATOR WILL GET BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.