On Friday, August 17^th, youth Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco (FACT) members from the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network (WAATPN) teamed up with the American Heart and Stroke Associations for the Most Powerful Voices Gospel Tour’s Health & Wellness Fair at Parklawn Assembly of God.  The health fair included educational materials, health screenings, and giveaways.   The Most Powerful Voices Gospel Tour featured Gospel Singer Marvin Sapp, who tied in an awareness message and urged attendees to take better care of themselves.

 As part of its outreach at the event, WAATPN FACT members used several educational tools, known as FACTivisms, to educate and engage their peers in a dialogue about the harmful effects of tobacco use.  FACT members also raised awareness among parents and youth about Big Tobacco’s marketing practice of targeting teens.

 FACTivisms (a word created by FACT members which combines sharing facts and engaging in activism) are fun, educational activities that youth use to connect with their peers about tobacco prevention efforts.  The FACTivisms conducted at the health & wellness fair include: Call Out Candies, a game where big tobacco’s tricks of the trade are wrapped in candy paper and passed off as fake treats to demonstrate the deceptive practice of flavoring tobacco products and wrapping it in colorful wrappers, Hello My Name is…Manipulicious, which prompts those in attendance to ask the meaning behind the name and provide an opportunity for FACT members to discuss the tobacco industry’s tricks to appeal to young people, and Spot the Not, where players have to differentiate real candy packages from flavored tobacco products which are produced to closely resemble real sweet treats.

 For more information about WAATPN visit www.waatpn.org.  To learn more about FACT visit www.fightwithfact.com

Photo:

Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network FACT Members to include (from left to right):  Shemiah Campbell, , Beau Reaves, Jamal Jenkins, Chris Davis, Chloe Spann, Kana Clipps, Noah Johnson, Kelby Spann, and Makayla Campbell.