John, One week from today, we’ll celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding young leaders and public health champions at Catalysts for Change, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' 2023 Youth Advocates of the Year Awards. |
We're thrilled to announce that this year we will present our Barrie Fiske National Youth Advocate of the Year Award to DJ Yearwood of Independence, Missouri. |
Growing up surrounded by family members who smoked, DJ always knew he didn’t like tobacco. But his advocacy journey grew as he learned how the tobacco industry systematically targets vulnerable communities and creates deep-rooted health inequities.
Over time, DJ developed a passion for youth advocacy, always looking for ways to engage and advocate for his peers. In his local community, he worked with his school district to implement tobacco prevention clubs – and even founded his own nonprofit focusing on peer support and mobilization. At the state level, he recently worked with lawmakers to allocate $2.9 million toward Missouri’s tobacco prevention program, the largest investment in tobacco prevention in the state’s history. And nationally, DJ has participated in panels, held town halls and even met with FDA officials to support the agency’s proposed ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.
DJ embodies all the qualities of a new generation of leaders catalyzing change for a healthier and more equitable future. We are delighted to honor him with our 2023 Barrie Fiske National Youth Advocate of the Year Award. |
Next Thursday, join us in honoring DJ Yearwood and other youth advocates and public health champions from the United States and around the world.
Our 2023 Honorees: We've announced our Individual Youth Advocates of the Year, Group Youth Advocates of the Year, our Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International Tobacco Control Excellence, and our Champion Award honorees. To learn more about their accomplishments, visit tfk.org/Awards.
Best, |
