Dear John,

I’m Allyssa Williams, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' 2020 Barrie Fiske National Youth Advocate of the Year. As a teenager, I joined the fight against tobacco because I witnessed firsthand the tobacco industry’s attempts to target kids and Black Americans with their products.

Growing up, I saw how the industry took advantage of communities of color by relentlessly targeting us with ads for menthol cigarettes. And I saw how easy it was for kids to get their hands on tobacco.

In high school, when so many of my classmates began using e-cigarettes and getting crazy addicted to nicotine, I decided I’d had enough. I was determined to take action. But it wasn’t easy.

I started my advocacy with the tobacco prevention program in my school, Students Working Against Tobacco. There, I was introduced to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the resources they provide to help young advocates like me.

I was so excited when I applied and was accepted to attend Tobacco-Free Kids’ National Youth Symposium in Washington DC in 2019. I was also very nervous when I arrived in Washington, and I wasn’t feeling so sure of myself. But the advocacy training sessions were empowering, and the other youth advocates from across the country were so inspiring!

At the Symposium, I learned how to use my voice and example to make change. I was also able to meet with my congressman from Florida, Rep. Darren Soto, who agreed to co-sponsor the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act, which would ban all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.

After returning home, I continued to follow up with Rep. Soto on the effort to pass the bill and build support locally. When the bill finally passed the House and I got a letter from Rep. Soto acknowledging the role my advocacy played in the process, I started crying. My hard work paid off.

This year, I was so honored to be named the National Youth Advocate of the Year for this work. It’s an important milestone for me, but my advocacy work is only just beginning.

Thanks to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, we’re making real progress to stop the industry from targeting communities like mine. Last year, Massachusetts became the first state to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products, INCLUDING MENTHOL CIGARETTES. And this past September, California became the second state to do so.

This is huge progress. But we won’t stop until ALL COMMUNITIES are protected from the tobacco industry.

So please, join me in supporting the work of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Your support can make a huge impact in kids’ lives, just like it has in mine.

Once you contribute, please invite your friends to join the fight too. Every person can make a difference.

Let’s do this together.

–Allyssa

Allyssa Williams
Kissimmee, FL
2020 Barrie Fiske National Youth Advocate of the Year

P.S. – The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year and has set a goal of raising $25,000 by the end of 2020. Be a part of the celebration – and be a part of change – by contributing now!