When you see the words “social justice,” what do you think of? Believe or not, the tobacco industry has spent decades profiling communities of color, youth, women, and the LGBTQ+ community with their targeted advertisements. These tactics have caused excessive tobacco use among these communities which has led to thousands of deaths. Today, they are using the same tactics with e-cigarettes and other vape products.

Did you know there was an epidemic before the pandemic? This summit will uncover how the tobacco industry created the vaping epidemic, discuss why e-cigarettes are so dangerous and what you can do to take a stand and educate your peers about vaping as well as the dangerous connection between vaping and COVID-19.

Since the 1900’s, the tobacco industry has advertised their products through newspapers, magazines, the radio, television, and billboards. Marketing campaigns included clever slogans, imagery, themes, and narratives to persuade people their products were safe, healthy, and a normal part of daily life. Today, the industry is still doing the same thing but with e-cigarettes.

Expert Speaker:  Allyssa Williams, 2020 Youth Advocate of the Year for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Being an advocate is all about using your voice to take a stand and educate your friends and community members about things you are most passionate about. Before you can be an advocate for others, you must be an advocate for yourself, understand what it means to lead, what advocacy looks like, and refusal skills to help you and your friends resist peer pressure to vape.

Expert Speaker: David Hill, Mayor of Waxahachie, Texas

Being an advocate for youth tobacco prevention isn’t all about action. We must understand why and how we should advocate for others and our environment against e-cigarettes and vapes. Then, we can address the different types of policy advocacy opportunities, build positive relationships with elected decision makers, and work with local media to expand your efforts throughout your community.