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Mass
Youth Against Tobacco (MYAT), coordinates a growing tobacco
prevention movement in Massachusetts that centers on the concept
of “The 84” – the percentage of youth who
are not regular smokers in the state. Therefore, all MYAT’s
efforts aim to celebrate this fact and push that number even
higher.
It's
time to REPRESENT as tobacco-free teens by fighting the tobacco
industry and eliminating tobacco from our communities!
What's
New with Mass Youth Against Tobacco?
We
are excited to announce our brand-new grants program to support
youth-led tobacco prevention initiative in 2008-2009! Last year,
about 530 youth were directly involved in the mini-grant efforts
alone, and made huge strides in changing local tobacco policy
and the retail environment and shifting social norms. We hope
to keep up this great youth-led tobacco prevention work and
expand it even more this year!
This
year, there are three different mini-grants that groups may
apply for:
Grant Category 1: Youth Create
Change! Strengthening policies for healthier communities
Grant
Category 2: Role Models – Take Action!
Grant
Category 3: Taking Back Our Communities – Taking
on Big Tobacco
Learn
more by clicking here
The
84 - Massachusetts' youth-led statewide tobacco prevention movement
- is seeking:
- two paid interns, ages 16-18, who
will play a major role in generating ideas and offering feedback
related to The 84's website contente and online activities,
as well as The 84 events and contests.
- six paid bloggers (one blogger from each
of the 6 regions in the state) ages 14-17, who will be responsible
for submitting weekly blogs to post on The 84's website.
Click
to download the intern
description and application.
Click
to download the blogger
description.
Applications
for both the interns and bloggers are due to The 84 staff at
word@the84.org by Friday,
August 29th!
What
does Mass Youth Against Tobacco do?
MYAT
Youth-led Mini-Grants are available to Massachusetts
youth groups to help implement projects, campaigns, and policies
that reduce or eliminate tobacco use in their communities and
among young people. We just completed our third year of mini-grants
and will be launching our new round of mini-grants this summer.
Click here to find out more.
The
Third Annual Statewide Youth Event - Power to Mass Youth
- The 84 Take Action! was held this year on World
No Tobacco Day (May 31st). This event was an opportunity
for youth across the state to gather together to discuss their
tobacco related concerns. In partnership with the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health's Tobacco Control Program, they
identified three top statewide concerns that will influence
MYAT's programming this upcoming year! Read more about
this year's event here.
Six
regional and one statewide Youth Leadership Awards were
awarded to youth across the state who are working on tobacco
issues in their community! We had many excellent applicants
this year who have done great work to make their communities
and schools healthier. Read about 2008 winners, and find
out more here.
The84.org,
MYAT's new youth tobacco prevention website was officially launched
this year! Developed in 2007 with youth input, the84.org
is an online community of youth who are a part of The 84 - representing
the 84% of youth in Massachusetts who do not smoke. The
website includes information about tobacco education, quitting
smoking, policy advocacy, and leadership skills. The website
is also a space where youth from across the state can connect
with one another and unite as tobacco-free youth. Check
it out!
The
six regional and one statewide 84 Crews - The
84's youth advisory groups across the state, met to provide
leadership and input on the Mass Youth Against Tobacco movement,
regional tobacco prevention needs, MYAT's statewide event, and
other special projects. Find out more information here.
"Getting
Real on Reel - Being the 84" is a Film Shorts
Contest that provides an opportunity for youth who
have an interest in creating videos and digital media production
and care about their community to make a film-short which will
be entered into a statewide contest. Read about this past
year's contest here.
Mass
Youth Against Tobacco is funded through the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health and managed by The
Medical Foundation, Boston.
For
more information, contact Brittany Chen, Project Associate of
Mass Youth Against Tobacco at 617-279-2240, x324 or bchen@tmfnet.org.
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