Culmination of Liu’s summer working to protect youth from tobacco
Noblesville High School Senior Nicole Liu has been busy this summer.
In June, she was named a Youth Ambassador to VOICE Indiana. VOICE is Indiana’s youth initiative whose mission is to engage, educate, and empower teens to live, promote, and celebrate tobacco- and nicotine-free lifestyles. VOICE Youth Ambassadors will coordinate efforts between chapters throughout the state of Indiana and be the statewide youth leadership team for the VOICE program.
In July, Liu participated in the Indiana Black Expo Youth Leadership Summit as a representative of VOICE Hamilton County. The Youth Leadership Summit gives Indiana youth a platform to hear and learn from professionals regarding academics, decision-making, and advocacy, and it takes place annually in conjunction with the Indiana Black Expo.
Then, on Monday, Liu was invited to the Indiana Commercial Tobacco Control Partner X-Change to present on her experiences with VOICE, specifically her trips to the Indiana Statehouse to meet with policy makers and to present a mural project to legislators on behalf of VOICE Hamilton County. She was the only youth to appear at this statewide adult educational and networking event, and she was chosen due to her dedication to VOICE and her passion for keeping the youth of Indiana tobacco- and nicotine-free.
“When I heard I had been asked to speak, I was really honored,” Liu said. “I couldn’t believe I had the opportunity to present to so many amazing professionals and advocates about what my county is doing,” Liu said.
Erica Strahm, Youth Coordinator for VOICE Hamilton County, said, “Nicole is always among the first to participate and isn’t afraid of new experiences. Her maturity and presence, lengthy VOICE resumé, and knowledge about the topic made her the perfect choice to present to Indiana’s adult Tobacco Control Partners.”
According to Liu, she found VOICE through a Purdue University Extension leadership program called A Chance To Serve. Upon graduation from the program, ACTS students are matched with a Hamilton County organization where they can continue building on the leadership skills they’ve learned.
Liu plans to attend college after graduation, and she would like to make advocacy and helping others a career someday.
About VOICE
VOICE is Indiana’s statewide youth empowerment brand and program, whose initiative is to engage, educate, and empower teens to promote and celebrate tobacco-free lifestyles. with a mission to engage, educate, empower young people as leaders and advocates in their communities through sustained youth-adult partnerships, positive youth development and public health advocacy training. VOICE Indiana has funded 24 counties and two Statewide Chapters (Indiana Black Expo & Indiana Latino Institute) and is represented by over 429 Core Team Leaders and Action Squad Members across the state.
About Breathe Easy Hamilton County
As an alliance working with local organizations and individuals within the Hamilton County community, it promotes tobacco-free living in order to reduce mortality and morbidity rates. Breathe Easy Hamilton County is working to ensure that all workers in Hamilton County are protected from secondhand smoke exposure. Breathe Easy believes everyone deserves the right to breathe smoke-free air at work and in public places.
About Good Samaritan Network
Breath Easy Hamilton County is locally sponsored as a fiscal agent by Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County, which acts as the Lead Agency. Good Samaritan Network (GSN) is the umbrella organization that coordinates and develops various opportunities for consistent programming and services in Hamilton County for those underserved or at-risk. The connection and collaboration with the Good Samaritan Network empowers network participants with a reliable means of reference checking, decision-making opportunities, and reduces duplication of services in serving the Hamilton County community.