VOICE Indiana has announced its team of Statewide VOICE Youth Ambassadors for the 2023-2024 academic year.
The statewide VOICE Youth Ambassador program consists of youth aged 13 to 18 who have demonstrated leadership in celebrating tobacco-free and nicotine-free lifestyles and fighting for health equity in their communities as active VOICE Core Team Leaders. These Youth Ambassadors are chosen annually as statewide representatives of their local counties through a competitive application process. VOICE Youth Ambassadors receive training at the state level, and they serve as brand ambassadors for the state and local VOICE program. Ambassadors plan, execute, and participate in statewide campaigns and initiatives within the VOICE Indiana brand.
Law
Congratulations to Hamilton County’s own Drew Law who has been chosen as a 2023-2024 VOICE Youth Ambassador.
Law is a rising junior at Westfield High School, where he participates in football and baseball. He is also an accomplished guitarist and pianist. He found VOICE through his involvement with ACTS, which is the Hamilton County Purdue University Extension’s youth leadership program. Wanting to excel in athletics is a main reason why he has decided to remain smoke- and vape-free. He also understands nicotine addiction can negatively affect a person’s mental health, especially for teens.
The youth selected are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and confidence necessary to lead, innovate, and implement a statewide movement for change. Through research and education, personal experience, and advocacy efforts, these nine VOICE Youth Ambassadors are engaging their peers in local events and activities and National Days of Action that take place throughout the year. Ambassadors design both in-person programs and digital content for all the VOICE Indiana social media platforms. The official website is voiceindiana.org.
The 2023-2024 VOICE Youth Ambassador team includes:
- Iker Aguilar – Allen County
- Mi Htaw – Allen County
- Blake Hurst – Hancock County
- Jyllian Knowlinski – Howard County
- Drew Law – Hamilton County
- Nelli McLeod – Vigo County
- Mieka Neely – Lake County
- Ashley Nelson – Spencer County
- Ashley Norton – Hancock County
About VOICE
Indiana’s statewide youth empowerment program and brand whose initiative is to engage, educate, and empower teens to choose and celebrate tobacco-free lifestyles. Through sustained youth-adult partnerships, leadership education and development, and positive public health advocacy training, VOICE Indiana supports 24 countywide and two statewide chapters (Indiana Black Expo and Indiana Latino Institute). More than 500 Indiana teens are actively involved in VOICE as Core Team Leaders and Action Squad Members.
About Breathe Easy Hamilton County
The county’s tobacco prevention and cessation alliance who collaborates with local organizations and individuals within the community to reduce mortality and morbidity rates by promoting tobacco-free living. Breathe Easy Hamilton County works to ensure all people employed within Hamilton County are protected from secondhand smoke exposure and believes everyone deserves the right to breathe smoke-free air at work and in public spaces.