Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 22, 2020 Everett youth group wins peer outreach award at Virtual Kick Butts Day T his year the annual Kick Butts Day event at the Massachusetts State House could not take place; however, youths from The 84 Movement still wanted an event to celebrate their efforts to reduce the influence of the tobacco and vaping industries in their communities. So the young leaders created and participated in a virtual training and awards ceremony via Zoom on April 29. The 245 participating youths and adults from around the Commonwealth all work to educate and mobilize young people in their communities about tobacco and vaping industry targeting. The 84 Movement virtual event celebrated the groundbreaking legislation in Massachusetts that restricts the sale of flavored tobacco products, including mint and menthol products. The importance of the new law and other efforts to protect youths is heightened during the time of COVID-19 as evidence grows that smoking and vaping can harm the body’s ability to fight the virus. Opening remarks at the virtual Kick Butts Day: Take Down Tobacco awards ceremony were delivered by State Senator John Keenan and State Representative Danielle Gregoire, co-authors of An Act modernizing tobacco control. They emphasized that youth activism played a pivotal role in the development and passage of what Senator Keenan called “the nation-leading law.” Senator Keenan explained that the strong bill became a law because “quite simply we had an incredible group of young people standing up for their generation.” During the awards ceremony, awards were presented to individuals and chapters of The 84 Movement for their dedication to reducing the impact of tobacco in their communities and across Massachusetts. The 2020 Peer Outreach Award went to Teens in Everett Against Substance Abuse (TEASA), a project of CamLaw Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com Members of The 84 Movement chapter TEASA, a program of CHA in Everett. Shown standing, from left to right, are Ileissa Ovalle, Ngoc Nguyen, Jennifer Flores, Cruz Vilson, Rudy Andrade, Amanda Alonzo, Samaga Pokharel, Jazlyn Previlon and Sandra Le. Shown in the front are Mildred Mervil and Talita Cardoso. (Courtesy Photo) bridge Health Alliance (CHA). The Peer Outreach Award is presented to a chapter for demonstrating exemplary effort in reaching young people with The 84 Movement message. Since 2005, TEASA has been active in doing local outreach work, and for the last six years it has been represented on The 84’s Statewide Leadership Team. This year TEASA grew to 30 active members, thanks to the passion and commitment of the group. They conducted surveys in three schools about perceptions of tobacco use, attended meetings at City Hall and worked to change city policies around where tobacco is sold to protect youths from nicotine addiction. TEASA is credited with leading by example in Everett and proving that young voices can play a major role in improving public health. The youths were very excited to learn that TEASA won the award. Diana Fiesta, a graduating senior of Everett High stated, “I feel like we deserve the award, but I was shocked. Everyone works hard to come up with ways to advocate around our community, even when schools were closed, and we stopped having in-person meetings. I was given the amazing opportunity to be a part of TEASA and The 84 Statewide Leadership Team where I learned so many important skills. Although I will be graduating and no longer a member, I know that this award will always be something great to look back on, not only for me but for the current and future members of TEASA as well.” Sandra Le, another graduating senior, also shared her excitement and a similar sentiment. “I believe that this award was well-deserved, and I am more than proud of TEASA for all we have done. It would definitely not have been possible without the dedication and hard work that the members of TEASA have put in, and I appreciate all of them.” At previous Kick Butts Day events at the State House, hundreds of youths from The 84 Movement visited their legislators, telling stories of tobacco industry influences that concern them and explaining their work to pass protective local policies in their communities. Following this year’s online event, The 84 Movement chapters are virtually thanking their legislators for hearing their voices, listening to their local stories over the years and doing their part to protect youths from a lifetime of nicotine addiction. The 84 Movement is a program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program, which was developed and is managed in partnership with Health Resources in Action. Created in 2007, The 84 represents the 84% of Massachusetts youths who did not smoke cigarettes (in 2017 that number was 93%). For more information on The 84 Movement and the work being done throughout the Commonwealth to reduce tobacco and vaping industry influence on youths, visit www.The84.org, mass.gov/vaping and www.makesmokinghistory.org. Everett resident receives Outstanding Student Organization Award M ANCHESTER, N.H. – Saint Anselm College student Julie Duperier of Everett was honored along with other members of the 2020 Class Council with the Student Engagement and Leadership Outstanding Student Organization Award for the 20192020 academic year in recognition of their community service and involvement. Duperier, a natural sciences major in the Class of 2020, served as the council’s Class Treasurer. The members showed exemplary service and leadership throughout the last two years but in particular during the senior year challenges.
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