Learning Objectives: Describe how to develop regional African American Advocacy Partnerships. Explain how to effectively moblize youth to advocate for policy changes within the school and faith-based communities. Identify ways to maintain a comprehensive regional African American Partnership.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Describe how to develop regional African American Youth Advocacy Partnerships. Explian how to effectively moblize youth ages 11 - 21 to advocate for policy changes within the school and faithbased communities.Identify ways to sustain and maintain a comprehensive regional partnership.
The Metro Youth Tobacco Reduction Advisory Council prepares African American youth through a series of comprehensive tobacco control programs and leadership skills training. By moblizing youth to take a comprehensive approach in the development of regional partnerships, they take ownership of the tobacco control and prevention activities within their specific regions. MYTRAC collaborates with schools, communities of color and the faithbased communities to identify advocates from each region. MYTRAC empowers the Executive Council to educate their peers, families and community about tobacco control and prevention, through a series of regional forums, town hall meetings and anti-tobacco activities. MYTRAC youth enhance their advocacy skills by taking active roles in regional tobacco control on a grassroots level. Through advocacy, leadership training and decision making they are empowered to conduct tobacco control activities regionally. MYTRAC is lead by a 10-member regional Executive Council that serves as team leaders and role models. Through intensive advocacy training. a leadership skills retreat, grassroots support, town hall meetings, forums and workshops, MYTRAC's lead and driven advocacy initiatives have captures the attention of the city council, local and state health departments, schools, ministers, mayors and state representatives. MYTRAC expanded their program to advocate for tobacco control on college campuses regionally.
Back to Poster Session
Back to Public Policy and Advocacy Strategies
Back to The 2002 National Conference on Tobacco or Health