High school students from across the county have joined with the VOICE Indiana initiative to help educate their peers about the dangers of nicotine use and abuse in partnership with Breathe Easy Hamilton County.
The Reporter spoke with Breathe Easy Hamilton County Program Coordinator Stacy London about the work these young people have been doing and are continuing to do as they try to promote a tobacco-free generation.
VOICE Indiana is Indiana’s statewide initiative to engage, educate, and empower teens to celebrate a tobacco-free lifestyle. The VOICE movement began in the spring of 2002.
Carmel High School student Isabel Jensen, a member of The Action Five, next to the Breathe Easy Hamilton County banner. (Photo provided)
According to London, VOICE Indiana Director Amanda Irizarry coordinates statewide actions like Red Ribbon Week, Indiana’s participation in the Great American Smokeout, and in May they will work on World No Tobacco Day. The local kids create initiatives for those larger programs tailored for Hamilton County on their own.
“The kids decide what they are going to do. They have meetings and move forward with the goal of getting other youth to get involved,” London said. “They have a core team that is selected from funded counties throughout the state. We have five youth that represent Hamilton County. They are commissioned to engage, empower and educate their peers on vaping prevention and getting involved in preventing smoking and vaping to hopefully be a tobacco-free generation.”
The local group calls themselves The Action Five, a name they chose early this year when meeting Gov. Holcomb in Indianapolis during Holcomb’s advocacy day for youth in January.
(From left) Isabelle Jensen (Carmel), Governor Eric Holcomb, Alana Halsted (Westfield), Gabe Anderson (Westfield), and Lucy Schenk (Guerin Catholic) were present at the statehouse when young people from across the state gathered for the kickoff of the vape-free Indiana program in January. (Photo provided)
“While they were at the statehouse the kids asked if they could create an Instagram account and they did it that after they met the governor,” London said. “Their social media kicked off immediately and they have been using it to educate their peers.”
One example of that is Noblesville High School’s Kaelyn Hart and Maddie Stuckwish, who designed and painted a mural for the Breathe Easy Hamilton County program, the banner version of which is being displayed in schools across the county.
“They are also working on meeting with local and state legislators,” London explained. “State Sen. J.D. Ford, IN-29, has said he think he can meet with them as long as everybody wears a mask. State Rep. Chick Goodrich has said he would like to have a Zoom call with the kids. The kids are all really excited.”
If you want to join Breathe Easy Hamilton County, email London at slondon_TPC@gsnlive.org or visit breatheeasyhamiltoncounty.com for more information.
Information for parents and educators on the vape-free Indiana program is available at in.gov/vapefreeindiana.
(From left) Guerin Catholic High School Principal James McNeany, Riley Garrison, Kinley Callahan, Ben Grissom, JD Haskett, Jake Heck and Delaney Klee took a moment to pose for the camera with the Breathe Easy Hamilton County banner before proudly displaying it in their school. (Photo provided)
State Rep. Chuck Goodrich (R-Noblesville) previously met with several VOICE team members. (Photo provided)