LEXINGTON, KY. (April 13, 2023) – The #iCANendthetrend Youth Advisory Board presented on the youth perspective of vaping during the 2023 Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference and Kentucky Youth Tobacco Control Pre-Conference Workshop at the Central Bank Center in downtown Lexington. The annual conference, hosted by the University of Kentucky College of Nursing’s Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy (KCSP) and the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (KTPC), unites tobacco-free leaders across the state of Kentucky to share their experiences in tobacco control and to recognize those who have made important contributions in the realm of tobacco-free policy.

This year, in addition to the annual conference, Networking for Kentucky Youth (N4KY) and #iCANendthetrend collaborated with partners across the state to host the first ever Kentucky Youth Tobacco Control Workshop. On April 12th, 2023, Youth Advisory Board members Tori Brown, Matthew Sanders, Saumya Sikhwal, and Sarah Umbarger took the stage to discuss the current landscape of vape use among youth with over 50 high schoolers from all around Kentucky in attendance. The Youth Advisory Board members explored tobacco industry manipulation of youth and marginalized groups through directed advertising and social media, and called for those in attendance at the workshop to engage themselves and others in breaking the cycle of tobacco use.

During the Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference on April 13th, 2023, Youth Advisory Board members Allison Clabes, Jasmin Hernandez, Chilota Iloegbunam, and Kosi Iloegbunam spoke to over 200 adult leaders in tobacco control to communicate the importance of youth involvement in tobacco-free programming and advocacy. Among engaging attendees in brainstorming ways to involve youth, the Youth Advisory Board members shared their personal experiences in legislative action and community involvement, and reflected on how their encounters with vaping through close friends have empowered them to become youth leaders of change.

 At the conference, the Youth Advisory Board was awarded KCSP Smoke-free Youth Advocate of the Year by Lexington mayor, Linda Gorton, who recognized the group for their work in advancing a tobacco-free Kentucky. The Youth Advisory Board’s president, Chilota Iloegbunam, gave a short acceptance speech thanking the mayor and the collaborative effort of each Youth Advisory Board member. These dedicated high-school students have worked for several months to prepare for both events. Tori Brown, one of the Youth Advisory Board members to present at the workshop, was quoted as saying,

“Having the opportunity to work on this conference was an absolute pleasure. We put in many hours of planning into every aspect of the workshop, and I think all of our hard work paid off. Everyone had a lot of fun, and I think that everyone took away something that they can use in their communities and schools!”

Joining in to celebrate with the group were Julia Estes, #iCANendthetrend program coordinator, Griffin Nemeth, Youth Advisory Board coordinator, and Dr. Melinda Ickes, program director. Julia and Griffin have worked closely with the Youth Advisory Board in preparation for these events and were proud to stand among the exceptional group as they received the award.

The #iCANendthetrend Youth Advisory Board also had the opportunity to engage in structured networking sessions throughout both the workshop and conference. Members engaged other high school youth in team building activities and adult leaders in promoting the conference’s goal of an intergenerational exchange.

Through their continued effort to reduce teen vaping rates, the Youth Advisory Board helps serve the mission of #iCANendthetrend. And as they continue to develop professionally as leaders in tobacco control, they look forward to participating in similar opportunities.

To learn more about #iCANendthetrend or to discuss partnerships to bring the program to other states, contact the program director, Dr. Melinda Ickes, at melinda.ickes@uky.edu or icanendthetrend@uky.edu.

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