Tobacco YOUTH Coalition teaches civic involvement

TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; Young people in Truckee are learning to be active in issues affecting their community through the Tobacco YOUTH Coalition and#8212;Youth Opposing the Use of Tobacco for Health.

The Tobacco YOUTH Coalition is an effort of The Nevada County Tobacco Use Prevention program which works with Truckee High School and frequently collaborates with students from Bear River and Nevada Union in Eastern Nevada County. It provides opportunities to learn key principals in community activism by participating in the coalition.

Currently, members are campaigning to raise awareness about the amount of illegal tobacco sales rates to minors in the Truckee community, tobacco litter and its effects on the environment, water systems, animals and wildfires, and Hollywoodand#8217;s influence on youths.

This past school year and summer, participants set up information and education tables at Earth Day on the Truckee High School campus to educate peers about the detrimental affect the tobacco industry has on the environment. They hosted a Great American Smoke-Out table at the Sierra College Campus in Truckee with information and resources to help students with tobacco cessation. Participants also hit the streets and surveyed residents on whether they support the Town of Truckee adopting a tobacco retail license and to conduct a butt pick-up in Downtown Truckee. Improperly disposed cigarette butts totaled 2,737, with nine cigarette packs also collected.

The Tobacco YOUTH Coalition in Truckee meets bi-weekly during the school year and on an event-by-event basis. Interested youth are invited to attend and receive free healthy snacks, invitations to youth development and leadership conferences, trainings on social media, opportunities to visit the California legislatures, and get involved in advocacy efforts.

Young people who participate develop a positive perception of themselves as leaders who can make a difference in their community.

For more information about the Tobacco YOUTH Coalition and the Nevada County Tobacco Use Prevention Project in Truckee visit, http://www.MyNevadaCounty.com/tobacco or call Devin Bradley at 530-550-2309, devin.bradley@co.nevada.ca.us