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Milwaukee, WI – On Wednesday August 24 and Thursday August 25, the Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids, in partnership with the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network and Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network, is bringing its 2022 Youth Advocacy Tour to Milwaukee. The two-day event will feature a Community Dinner and Celebration on Wednesday from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the African American Women’s Center, which will include a school supply giveaway and a youth advocacy training the following day.
That dinner event will include a special recognition of Congresswoman Gwen Moore, who has confirmed she will attend. Rep. Moore will be honored for her support of national tobacco prevention efforts, including the recent FDA proposal to remove menthol cigarettes from the market. The FDA estimates that prohibiting menthol cigarettes would reduce smoking by an estimated 15 percent over 40 years and prevent between 324,000 and 654,000 smoking-attributable deaths. Also being honored that day are Sen. Tammy Baldwin, County Executive David Crowley, Rep. David Bowen and other local supporters who will be recognized as community heroes of tobacco prevention efforts, including No Menthol Sunday.
In Wisconsin, 88 percent of Black smokers use menthol cigarettes, compared to 44 percent of the general population. Menthol cigarettes, which are easier to start and harder to quit, have been historically targeted to African American and low-income communities. The smoking rate in Wisconsin is 14.3 percent for Whites, 30 percent for African Americans and 37.9 percent for Native Americans, according to data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey for 2020. In addition, tobacco retailers are more likely to be located near schools and playgrounds in low-income areas than affluent ones in the state.
In addition to the dinner, the Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids, which is celebrating its 26th year of taking on the tobacco industry, will host a youth advocacy training on Thursday, August 25 (8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.), as part of its tour (registration required). Milwaukee is one of six stops nationally for the tour. Other stops include: Portland, OR, Detroit, MI, Jackson, MS, Portland, ME, and Columbus, OH. The goal of the training is to support local youth who are interested in taking on the tobacco industry and fighting for social and health justice – and provide them with the key advocacy skills needed to continue the tobacco prevention fight in their communities.
Event (Date, Time and Location)
Community Dinner & Celebration: Wednesday, August 24, from 5:30-8:00 p.m., 3020 W. Vliet Street.
Youth advocacy training: Thursday, August 25th from 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
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