(New Philadelphia, Ohio) – The Empower Tusc Coalition and Ohio Guidestone are collaborating with the Tuscarawas County Health Department to hold an Advocacy Through Art competition for the Youth-to-Youth groups at Claymont High School, Strasburg High School, and Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School.
The purpose of the Advocacy Through Art competition is to help youth learn what advocacy is, how to be an advocate, and gives youth a chance to practice being an advocate. Youth received an educational presentation to teach them about advocacy and are provided real-life examples of how other youth have advocated for change.
The goal of the Advocacy Through Art project is to have youth create an art piece advocating against Big Tobacco Companies and how they target youth. The art project can highlight how Big Tobacco does not share the negative health effects associated with nicotine products, unjustly targets youth with their marketing strategies, and harms the environment due to the large amount of chemical released from their products when discarded.
Nicotine products are marketed to youth through flavors, colors, catch phrases, being displayed at the check-out counter, and marketing on social media platforms. “Big Tobacco Companies spend over $9.1 billion annually on marketing nicotine products and it is estimated that $429.8 million are spent on marketing nicotine products in Ohio alone,” explained Lakyn Craig, Public Health Educator and Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Assistant Grant Coordinator at the Tuscarawas County Health Department.
The Advocacy Through Art Projects will be on display for community members to view and vote on for a “People’s Choice” Award on Saturday, April 1st from 8AM-10AM at the Wellmore Centre (204 2nd ST. NE New Philadelphia, OH 44663) during the “Don’t Be Fooled by Big Tobacco” event.
For more information related to the event or local prevention efforts visit empowertusc.com.
