Youth Voices Leading the Way: Why You Don’t Want to Miss the Tobacco-Free Community Forum
Virginia Johnson, CPS
Substance Use Prevention Senior Director
Poe Center for Health Education
What happens when young people are given the space, support, and platform to lead? You get passion, insight, and a powerful vision for a healthier future. That’s exactly what’s coming to life at the Wake County Youth-Led Tobacco-Free Community Forum, and the Poe Youth Empowerment Team leading the charge are ready to inspire.
For students like Cameron, Ajani, and Shridula, the Forum is more than just an event. It’s a space where voices come together across generations and roles to have real conversations about tobacco use, vaping, and community health.
As Cameron shared, it’s about “inspiring change on all levels of the community,” while Ajani sees it as young people stepping up to “create a safe, positive environment.” Shridula highlighted something equally powerful: inclusivity and bringing “all types of people” into the conversation so everyone can play a role.
Tobacco-Free Community Forum: Beyond the Buzz
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location:
Wake County Emergency Services Education Center
221 S Rogers Lane,
Raleigh, NC 27610
A Space Where Youth Voices Are Heard
What makes this Forum especially meaningful is that it’s created, planned, and led by youth. These students are creating the change they want to see in their communities. Whether it’s presenting innovative photovoice projects, engaging in meaningful dialogue, or building connections with community leaders, they are stepping into advocacy roles.
For Cameron, this is a moment years in the making: “I’ve always dreamt of getting to be an advocate… this is the time and place where my voice gets heard.” Ajani is excited to collaborate with others who share the same passion for change, while Shridula is eager to bring fresh perspectives to the table by highlighting issues that often go unseen but are deeply connected to tobacco and vaping.
A Call to Action
The Forum goes beyond just learning. These young leaders invite attendees to think “beyond the buzz” and leave the forum with the knowledge, inspiration, and readiness to take action.
That action can look different for everyone:
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- Having honest conversations with youth about tobacco and cannabis
- Sharing resources and supporting those who may be struggling
- Getting involved in local prevention efforts
- Advocating for stronger policies and funding
As Ajani put it, “If we continue to work together, there is hope for a better tobacco-free community.” And Shridula reminds us that even small steps, such as learning more or starting a conversation, can spark meaningful change.
Building Skills for a Stronger Future
Behind the scenes, these students are building lifelong skills while gaining knowledge about tobacco prevention. From leadership and communication to event planning and collaboration, they are growing into confident changemakers.
They’ve learned how to navigate group dynamics, lead with purpose, and think strategically – such as their work applying the Strategic Prevention Framework to address community issues in thoughtful, sustainable ways. Perhaps most importantly, they’ve learned that they are not alone. As Ajani shared, this experience reinforced “the importance of a strong, determined community when it comes to change.”
Be a Part of the Movement
The energy, passion, and commitment of these youth leaders is contagious, and it’s exactly why you should be in the room. The Wake County Tobacco-Free Community Forum is a movement powered by young people who are ready to lead, educate, and inspire change across our community.
Upcoming Event:
This is a FREE event. Register below:
Featured Program:
Vaping 101 educates participants on the latest research about the addictive nature of nicotine and how it impacts their growing brain and body. This program will cover important resources and skills to empower healthy decision making to navigate through substance use issues. Participants will be engaged in a group game format, videos and discussion.
Schedule this program for: 6th – 12th Grade
Program Length: 60 minutes