Events & News

MA Department of Public Health and The Medical Foundation Honor Statewide Youth Leader for Anti-Tobacco Efforts

Boston, MA, April 30, 2007—Linh Nguyen, a sixteen-year old student at Snowden International School and a peer leader at the Vietnamese American Civic Association in Dorchester, has just been awarded Honorable Mention recognition for the Youth Leadership Award from the Youth Action Initiative (YAI), a statewide program of The Medical Foundation, Boston. This award recognizes youth who are doing exemplary tobacco control work in their communities and is supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Miss Nguyen was selected from a pool of youth leaders from across the Commonwealth who are working as tobacco control advocates and leaders in their schools and communities.  Linh wants her “community, school, and neighborhood to come join and understand that tobacco is dangerous to everyone.”

The Vietnamese American Civic Association received two mini-grants from YAI, and Linh has been working with her fellow peer leaders there to make a poster board with 118 reasons to stop smoking, design flyers and brochures to distribute to youth and adults, and present on the harmful effects of tobacco and tobacco advertising at various Vietnamese community events.  She is passionate about educating those in her community about tobacco, and says that “tobacco doesn’t affect only people that smoke, but everyone.”    

“I think youth today have a strong voice,” Linh wrote in her application. “Once they understand the effects and the influence [smoking] could cause others, they can make a big difference in their school, neighborhood, and the community,”

Dzu Le, a staff member at VACA, commented, “As a driven leader, [Linh] is always motivated to make sure that not only she but her group members are being productive and working on their project.”

Linh’s photo and excerpts from her application will be recognized on the current YAI website (www.makesmokinghistory.org) as well as on a new website which will be launched in July. 

The Youth Action Initiative (YAI) provides mini-grants and technical assistance to youth programs across the state that address tobacco control and prevention issues. YAI is a program of The Medical Foundation, which is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 

For more information, visit www.MakeSmokingHistory.org , or contact Sophia Kim at skim@tmfnet.org or 617-451-0049, x281.

VACA’s Youth Development Program Receives $10,000 Tobacco Control Grant

VACA’s Youth Development Program has been awarded a $10,000 “Get the Word Out” grant from the Medical Foundation to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco use in their communities.

The grant is one of twelve awarded to youth groups across the Commonwealth as part of the Youth Action Initiative, a program designed to engage Massachusetts youth ages 12 to 18 (or grades 7-12) in the statewide movement against tobacco.  Grants were awarded to youth groups associated with schools and community-based organizations.

Phuongdai Nguyen , Youth Coordinator said, “The tobacco industry has influence in every corner of society.  Young people need to be aware that the influence is there and work to counter the industry message that smoking is cool or glamorous. Smoking is the number one preventable cause of disease and death in Massachusetts and in the world today.  We want our young people to realize that they have the power and the creativity to help prevent a new generation of young people from becoming addicted to tobacco.”

Grantees will collect information on tobacco advertising and marketing activities in their communities, paying particular attention to retail store advertising and other promotional activities.  They will work to raise the level of awareness of tobacco industry activities among their peers, and work closely with local Boards of Health, other health organizations, and community coalitions to publicize their findings.

Phuongdaisaid, “Young people who see tobacco every time they go into a neighborhood store begin to think smoking is normal, or even glamorous.  That makes them more vulnerable to trying smoking and getting hooked for life.”

She added, “More than 90% of adults who smoke started smoking as teenagers.  If we can limit young people’s exposure and access to tobacco, we hope we’ll be able to help prevent another generation of young people from becoming addicted to nicotine and suffering the health and economic consequences throughout their lives.”

In addition to the “Get the Word Out” grant, VACA has also received a $2,000 grant for the Medical Foundation’s “Smoke Free Schools” Initiative.

The “Get the Word Out” mini grants and the Youth Action Initiative are funded through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and managed by The Medical Foundation, Boston.          
                       
For more information about these grants and the Medical Foundation, contact: Sophia Kim, The Medical Foundation, at 617-279-2240. For information on VACA’s activities, contact: Phuongdai Nguyen, extension *842.