Training Module | History of Tobacco Prevention in Texas
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Module 2:
Crafting your Pitch and Advocating
for Tobacco Prevention
In this final lesson, we’ll discuss the importance of a pitch and walk you through the steps to craft your own as any issue you advocate for will require you to ask someone to do something; this is what is known as “a call to action.” So, it is important to have those details planned and written down. We’ll also show you a variety of tobacco prevention issues you can advocate for at your local, state, and national levels.
Crafting Your Pitch
A pitch is a tool to help you advocate, to tell people how good something is and try to persuade them to support or join your cause. Pitches can be shared to community members, during meetings with decision-makers, or to organizations and community-based groups. Pitches cover specific details and have a goal or action you want the person or audience to do.
A pitch should include short details, facts, and your request or a “call to action.” Your pitch can also include:
- Name, grade, where you go to school.
- What student group or organization you
may be a part of.
- What action you are wanting from the
person, group, or representative.
- Why you personally care about the issue
and how you see it impacting your
community.
Your pitch might sound a little different depending on who you are talking to. Think back to lesson 2 about engaging with people in your community. Each type of community is different and may require formal or informal conversations. The way you communicate to a peer is different from a principal or an elected official.
Below are a few examples of different types of pitches. Try to match who the advocate is sharing their pitch to. Is it their peers, an elected official, or a community member?
Pitch 1
“Hi, I’m Amanda Perez. I live in your district and I’m 16 years old. I’m here today to discuss making our town splash pad a smoke-free area because it will decrease the amount of tobacco litter kids and other youth may be exposed to while playing in the park. I also represent 40 of my peers from my Rams School Safety Club who believe there should be change in your district and are concerned about this issue. Every 5 seconds an e-cigarette is littered in the environment. I would like your support in making our splash pad area free of nicotine and tobacco littler.”
Answer
Answer: Elected Official
Pitch 2
“Hi, I’m Stefanie Cook. We go to the same East Middle School. I wanted to talk to you about other students vaping because we have an issue with vaping in the bathrooms. You and I represent 370 students in our school who are affected daily from vaping in the bathrooms. If you believe this is an issue and want it to stop, then join us this Tuesday, for the Safety School Club meeting in room 202 to learn how you can help with this issue.”
Answer
Answer: Peer
Pitch 3
“Hi, I’m Jared Cousins. I’m from San Marcos and I’m a high school student working on tobacco prevention and awareness. I’m here today to discuss cigarette and e-cigarette litter because our community parks have had an increase in tobacco litter. I am a part of the San Marcos Social Club who will be hosting a tobacco litter clean up] on Saturday, 9am, at Lions Club Park. Will you join us and sign-up today to volunteer your time? Thanks, for talking with me.”
Answer
Answer: Community Member Invitation
Now that you’ve seen examples of a pitch, it’s time to craft your own. Download the Craft Your Pitch document to complete this important step in advocacy work.
Tobacco Prevention Advocacy Issues
It’s time to act and advocate! If you feel passionate about living tobacco and vape-free, there are several issues that need your voice. Here are a few examples of some of the top issues tobacco prevention advocates are working on across the state and country.
Smoke-Free
Ordinance
Knock Tobacco
Out of the Park
Menthol
Regulations
Texas
Tobacco Taxes
Texas does not have a statewide law prohibiting smoking indoors at restaurants, bars, and other businesses or in public places like at a parade. Public smoking and tobacco use restrictions are determined by city ordinances.
A national campaign to take tobacco out of professional Major League Baseball parks. Currently, 17 of the 30 major league stadiums are completely tobacco-free. However, Texas is not one of them.
Menthol is a popular mint flavor added to almost all tobacco products. Menthol masks the harshness of nicotine and makes the poison go down easier. Prohibiting menthol has been in delay since December 2023, and delays do not help protect youth and adults from tobacco addiction.
Texas hasn't increased the tax on tobacco products in over 20 years. Increasing the price is an effective way to prevent initiation of tobacco use among youth. To see where Texas ranks against other states, click here.
Including
E-Cigarettes
in Smoke-Free
Ordinances
Smoke-Free
Parks
E-Cigarette &
Vape Flavors
If your city or town has smoke-free ordinance, does it also include e-cigarettes and vape products? If your local ordinance needs to be updated, this might be a great opportunity to bring awareness to your city council.
Texas does not have a statewide law prohibiting public smoking and tobacco use restrictions at parks. These restrictions are currently determined by local ordinances.
Flavors are a main reason why youth vape. The sale of flavored e-cigarettes and other vape products are still legal. You can work with your city council to restrict the sale of flavored vapes in your city or town.
Say What! EST. 2011
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Phone
512.245.8082
Mailing Address
Texas School Safety Center
ATTN: Say What Program
Texas State University
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666
Say What! was created and designed by young people from across Texas and connects students interested in eliminating tobacco from their schools and communities. The Say What! movement is funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services through a contract with the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University.
