The #iCANendthetrend Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a national award-winning, statewide group of dedicated high school students committed to protecting and improving the health of young people across Kentucky. Representing diverse communities and lived experiences, YAB members play a meaningful role in shaping the direction of our program and ensuring that youth perspectives remain central to our work. Throughout the year, YAB members collaborate closely with program facilitators and external partners to design youth-focused initiatives, develop messaging that resonates with their peers, and support large-scale events that bring students together from across the Commonwealth. Members contribute to program events while also building skills in public speaking, leadership, media communication, and teamwork.
A major focus of the YAB’s work is preparing for the annual Kentucky Youth Tobacco Control Conference, begun in partnership with the Kentucky Departments for Public Health and Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities in 2023. Members help guide the vision for the event, offer feedback on activities, and support conference logistics to ensure an engaging, youth-driven experience. This preparation extends into hands-on skill building, including presentation practice, peer feedback, and message refinement, allowing members to confidently support school and community programming alongside #iCANendthetrend’s facilitators and partners. This year, the Beyond the Smoke Kentucky Youth Tobacco Control Conference aims to be the most engaging and highly attended yet.
Additionally, our YAB has participated in several statewide, youth-led campaigns aimed at supplying key stakeholders with education needed to support statewide enforcement of Kentucky’s Tobacco 21 law, which prohibits the sale of any tobacco or nicotine products to individuals under the age of 21. The YAB’s work over several years greatly contributed to Kentucky’s adoption of tobacco retail licensure in the 2025 legislative session, where youth leadership paved the way for a healthier future for young Kentuckians.
Beyond supporting statewide events, the YAB explores pressing issues affecting youth prevention and cessation efforts, such as program sustainability, access to resources, and effective communication with a variety of audiences. Members regularly participate in pitch development, media training, and social media content creation, using platforms like TikTok to normalize prevention and connect with peers in authentic, relatable ways.
The Youth Advisory Board meets virtually biweekly throughout the school year and in person once quarterly. As their term progresses, members shift from preparation to broader community impact, engaging students, educators, public health professionals, and other prevention stakeholders across Kentucky. At its core, the YAB exists to elevate youth leadership, amplify student perspectives, and ensure that efforts to reduce youth nicotine use are informed by the voices of those most affected.