The Youth Coalition has been (and will continue to be) busy this summer! Our focus has been on tobacco prevention and community education. Many of the members of the Youth Coalition are also involved in FACT. FACT is Wisconsin's Youth Tobacco Prevention Program. A lot of the activities that the youth plan also count as FACTivisms for the Winnebago FACT group. Check out the photos below to see what we've been up to and how YOU can get involved!
World No Tobacco Day Cigarette Butt Clean Up: Menominee Park
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death globally and is currently responsible for 10% of adult deaths worldwide.
May 31 marked World No Tobacco Day 2014. Youth Coalition members decided that a cigarette butt clean up would be a great activity to do on this day.
The group met at Menominee Park and picked up cigarette butts and related cigarette litter around Little Oshkosh, the park pathways, boat landings, picnic areas, and along the lake shore by the beach. Pictured below are Ally Molinski, Anna Carpenter (FACT Youth Advisor), Jamie Constantine, and Brenna Root (Youth Coalition Coordinator). Grace Halstead and her mom also helped out but did not make it into the photo. The cigarette butts that were picked up in the park will be added to a display the Youth Coalition will use to educate the community about the importance of tobacco free areas and the environmental impact that cigarette butts have on the environment.
Find out more information about the World Health Organzation and World No Tobacco Day across the United States here.
Environmental Scans: A Tobacco Environment Scavenger Hunt
Six youth coalition members took to the streets of Oshkosh and surveyed local convenience stores to find out what types of products the tobacco industry is tying to manipulate youth into buying. The tobacco industry, aka Big Tobacco, spends the majority of their marketing budget in the retail environment to attract new, young user to their products. Youth Coalition members did an environmental scan of their community to see how these products are being marketed in Oshkosh. Pictured below are Kaylyn Stanek, Hannah Schacherl, and Branden Udulutch. Ally and Calista Molinski and Rachel Lee also participated.
Youth Coalition members found that Big Tobacco companies are placing their deadly products where youth will be exposed to them while shopping at gas stations. One youth member, Ally, was surprised to see the cigarillos in a colorful display right next to the door. Cigarillos are a type of "other tobacco products" and these products are targeted towards a youth audience with bright colors and fruit flavors. Find out more about Big Tobacco's Manipulicious Products here and play the Spot the Not game with FACT!
More Exciting UPCOMING Events!
Oshkosh Riverwalk Cigarette Butt Clean Up
Thursday, July 24, 2014
11:00am - 1:00pm
Meet at the Health Department, 112 Otter Ave. Wear comfortable shoes!
Pollock Pool FACTivism
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
12:00 - 2:00pm
Youth Coalition Meeting
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
New Moon Cafe, Oshkosh
Seriously, thank you for all your hard work on this. Please keep at it. So important.
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