Students visit Albany to discuss smoke-free initiatives
Reality Check youth group visited Albany earlier this month to discuss their smoke-free initiatives with government officials, such as Senator Fred Akshar. (Submitted photo)
CHENANGO COUNTY – Earlier this month, high school students from the Chenango County Reality Check Youth Group went to Albany to partake in the Legislative Education Day.
The RC Youth shared with Assemblyman Cliff Crouch and Senator Fred Akshar the projects they have been working on for the past year to encourage a smoke-free community.
Tables were set up with displays covering the four main initiatives of Reality Check. Those initiatives are limiting tobacco advertisements at point of sale, tobacco-free outdoors, smoke-free media, and smoke-free housing.
"I talked to them about how in June we're doing a clean up of the cigarette butts by Lindy's Ice Cream Shop," said tenth grade high school student Matika Bartle.
"We also talked about smoke-free movies and how if they have tobacco products in them they should be rated R. Akshar said he would attend one of the smoke-free movies we were talking about having," said eleventh grade student Carly Palmer.
Students visited the government officials in groups of six, allowing for small question and answer sessions. Ninth grade student Cameryn Northrop said she felt the government officials she spoke with really listened and wanted to hear their concerns.
All the students agreed that they felt heard by their government officials and that it was an experience they'll never forget.
According to the Tobacco Free Zone organization, Reality Check teens host events, meetings, trainings, street marketing actions, and more, all in order to educate people and get people to take action in meaningful ways to reduce the impact of tobacco.
The Reality Check teens have three goals. To learn how to embrace challenges that bring about change. Practice leadership and activism skills in the movement against tobacco use and the tobacco industry. As well as utilize the youth voice to be empowered to educate, demand support and help create a tobacco-free generation.
The next project the group is working on will be presented on March 18. The group will be setting up a "Power Wall" display at Norwich High School outside of the cafeteria during lunchtime for Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action. This display will allow students and staff the opportunity to learn and share the negative effects tobacco has on not only themselves, but everyone around them as well.
The RC Youth shared with Assemblyman Cliff Crouch and Senator Fred Akshar the projects they have been working on for the past year to encourage a smoke-free community.
Tables were set up with displays covering the four main initiatives of Reality Check. Those initiatives are limiting tobacco advertisements at point of sale, tobacco-free outdoors, smoke-free media, and smoke-free housing.
"I talked to them about how in June we're doing a clean up of the cigarette butts by Lindy's Ice Cream Shop," said tenth grade high school student Matika Bartle.
"We also talked about smoke-free movies and how if they have tobacco products in them they should be rated R. Akshar said he would attend one of the smoke-free movies we were talking about having," said eleventh grade student Carly Palmer.
Students visited the government officials in groups of six, allowing for small question and answer sessions. Ninth grade student Cameryn Northrop said she felt the government officials she spoke with really listened and wanted to hear their concerns.
All the students agreed that they felt heard by their government officials and that it was an experience they'll never forget.
According to the Tobacco Free Zone organization, Reality Check teens host events, meetings, trainings, street marketing actions, and more, all in order to educate people and get people to take action in meaningful ways to reduce the impact of tobacco.
The Reality Check teens have three goals. To learn how to embrace challenges that bring about change. Practice leadership and activism skills in the movement against tobacco use and the tobacco industry. As well as utilize the youth voice to be empowered to educate, demand support and help create a tobacco-free generation.
The next project the group is working on will be presented on March 18. The group will be setting up a "Power Wall" display at Norwich High School outside of the cafeteria during lunchtime for Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action. This display will allow students and staff the opportunity to learn and share the negative effects tobacco has on not only themselves, but everyone around them as well.
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