There were 367,227 voters from Milwaukee County during the fall 2014 general election. One of them was 18-year-old Malachi Caldwell, a member of the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network (WTPPN) FACT Teen group. Caldwell, who cast his ballot at the Lovell Johnson Quality of Life Center, 1532 W. Atkinson Ave., first became engaged in the political process by attending a WTPPN hosted candidate forum at Coffee Makes You Black in August.

It was there that Caldwell met and talked with several legislative candidates from Milwaukee’s 10th District, including State Representative elect, David Bowen. When it came time to vote in the crucial November gubernatorial race, Caldwell eagerly submitted his ballot, becoming Wisconsin’s latest first-time voter. Waiting to greet him were his parents as well as advisors from the WTPPN. Caldwell hasn’t stopped there.

On Dec. 12, he met with State Rep. Evan Goyke and legislative aide to Sen. Lena Taylor, Will Williams, providing them an update on “environmental scans,” a FACT activity which involves visiting local stores and reporting back on tobacco companies latest advertising practices. Caldwell will be one of several individuals honored Saturday, during the WTPPN’s End of Year Celebration at St. Mark A.M.E. Church.

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