African American Youth Initiative

African American Youth Collectively Working
for a Smoke-Free Community

African American youth -- speak out and let your voice be heard!

African American youth across North Carolina are speaking out against the death, burden and devastation of tobacco in the African American community.

The UJIMA Youth Initiative is a culturally-based tobacco control advocacy and empowerment program for youth.

The Youth Initiative is a program where youth can be youth, express themselves and have fun.

Youth who want to take a stand, become youth advocates, and educate their peers can participate in the Annual UJIMA Tobacco Prevention Youth Retreat. The UJIMA youth retreat is held annually in August.

Youth participate in a variety of fun, exciting, cultural and educational activities during the UJIMA youth retreat. Youth learn about:

• The History of Tobacco
• The History of Tobacco Use Among African-Americans
• The Harmful Affects of Tobacco Use
• Communication and Advocacy Skills that Promote Youth Empowerment
• Tobacco-Related Policy Issues
• Life Skills that Promote Success

Youth also participate in community interventions where they use skills and knowledge learned at the retreat by participating in merchant education and advocating for smoke-free restaurants and tobacco-free schools.

How do youth get involved with the
African American Youth Initiative?

Youth can join the Youth Initiative by being part of a community-based or church- affiliated group that commits to attending training workshops on tobacco use prevention and participates in local community tobacco interventions. Each youth group must have adult leader who supports the youth in their activities at the local level and supervises their participation in statewide activities.

Want to become a UJIMA youth leader?

Youth who want to become leaders can join the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), which is an advisory group to the African American Action team that provides youth leadership to increase the number of tobacco-free African American youth, families and communities and participates in the planning of youth activities.

For more information, contact African American Program Director Larry Gourdine at (919) 715-4093 or E-Mail