Local Reality Check youth leaders spent part of their week at the White Eagle Conference Center in Hamilton learning about tobacco prevention and planning for the upcoming year ways to educate the community ways to protect kids from tobacco and tobacco marketing.
Reality Check is a statewide youth led organization working to reduce youth exposure to tobacco marketing in stores and on screen. Reality Check also works to create tobacco free outdoor spaces and housing complexes to reduce second-hand smoke exposure.
Rachel Mennig, 12, is thankful for this opportunity. “I want to help prevent young people from being exposed to tobacco marketing. It’s important to me to educate my community on the benefits of tobacco free areas and in limiting tobacco marketing. This is a time for us to plan for the year and develop ideas to reach out and share our message.”
During their training, the youth worked on many skills including contacting the media, writing letters to their elected officials, and building their leadership skills. Reality Check always welcomes new youth leaders. Please visit www.realitycheckofny.com for more information.