Page 10 THE REVERE ADVOCATE - Friday, May 3, 2019 • • • Follow us on Twitter advocatenewspaperma Pictured in the back row, from left to right: award winner Débora Guimarães, Ayat Zakaria, Devna Langat, Tanisha Charles, Evan Pok, Marcus Coutinho and Shannon Larson. Pictured in the front row, same order: Jaileen Dubon, Nada Abou Hadiba, Leena Marsan and Maressa Oliveira. ighteen youths and adults from Revere joined other youths from across the ComE monwealth on April 3 for a Kick Butts Day event to celebrate their role in reducing the infl uence of the tobacco and vaping industries in their communities. The 29 participating chapters and 200 youths and adults, including eighteen youths from Revere, are all members of The 84 statewide movement. Youth leaders of The 84 educate and mobilize young people to take action and protect their communities from the tobacco and vaping industries. The youths met with aides from the offices of House Speaker Robert DeLeo, State Senator Joseph Boncore and State Representative Roselee Vincent at the State House to express their concerns about tobacco, and particularly the dangers of vaping and e-cigarettes, in their communities. The youths emphasized the harm of vaping, how sweet fl avors including mint and menthol, attract youths to vaping, and how the tobacco and vaping industries continue to target youths. The young people were particularly concerned about how these industries use menthol and mint to target African American youth given that menthol makes tobacco easier to start and harder to quit. Legislators also learned that around the Commonwealth, youths in The 84 movement are working to address where tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vapes, including enticing fl avored products, can be sold. Maressa Oliveira, a 9th grader at Revere High School, reflected, “We felt very welcomed at the legislators’ offi ce and I was happy to hear that they took our stories of seeing other students vaping in the classroom seriously. I hope other students get the education they need about vaping products being addictive and how they are targeted with fl avored products, including mint, menthol and wintergreen.” During an awards ceremony, Youth Leadership 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. Adult advisor Débora Guimarães, of MGH and Revere CARES, won the 2019 Adult Advisor Award, and the youth groups the Power of Know and the Youth Health Leadership Council of Revere CARES won the Most Outstanding New Chapter Award. After receiving her award, she said, “I am honored to receive the 2019 Adult Advisor Award. I am proud of guiding students in making healthy decisions and advocating for positive policy changes that support a healthy community.” All youth attendees were applauded for their dedication to promoting healthy choices among their peers and for sharing with legislators what they see and experience every day in their communities. At the State House, the young people participated in an inspiring afternoon program that included remarks from Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. In addition, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health, Dr. Monica Bharel, offi cially launched a new campaign to eduORGANIZATIONS | SEE PAGE 11 Three Revere youth organizations celebrate Kick Butts Day at State House to combat tobacco industry tactics Revere CARES advisor wins award
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