Skip to main content

We Got Served: Fighting for a Tobacco Free Future Vol 2

 

Let Your Voice Be Heard   

This week, STYC youth traveled to Frankfort to speak with Kentucky representatives about the impact of nicotine and tobacco products on young people. It was an incredible opportunity for them to experience decision-making in action—where change begins with their voices.

Sometimes, we all need a refresher on how to engage in the process. This month, we’re breaking it down:

1. Make Your Voice Heard

Elected officials represent their constituents' interests and concerns, but they can only address issues they know about. There are many ways to connect—email, text, phone calls, or online messages. Whatever the issue—education, public health, or local community needs—your voice matters.

When reaching out, be clear:
✅ State the issue.
✅ Share a personal story.
✅ Include key facts to highlight the impact.

2. Hold Leaders Accountable

Engagement shouldn’t stop after one message. Stay in contact. Even if you don’t get a direct response, your words are being recorded, and officials take note of recurring concerns. Regular communication strengthens your voice and builds a relationship with decision-makers.

When officials see engaged constituents, they are more likely to follow through on campaign promises and prioritize community needs.

3. Take Action Today

The best time to start is now. Craft that email, make that call, and take an active role in shaping your community’s future.

📢FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHT📢

SKY'S THE LIMIT: NYLA ADONIS IN FOCUSđź‘€

Nyla Adonis isn’t just a member of STYC—she’s a powerhouse. A middle child with the drive of an eldest and the charm of a youngest, she has spent years turning her passion into action. Guided by her deep faith, Nyla has been making waves in her community since she was practically in diapers—earning the title of honorary STYC advocate at the age of seven. Clearly, leadership has always been in her DNA.

Now a sophomore at Francis Parker School, Nyla serves as the Vice President of STYC’s youth board, a role she’s held for nearly two years. But titles aren’t what define her—it’s her work. As the mastermind behind STYC’s social norms campaigns, she has written scripts for radio PSAs, billboards, and peer-led videos, proving that her gift for storytelling is as strong as her commitment to making a difference.

And if that weren’t impressive enough, Nyla is also literally reaching for the sky—she’s taking flight lessons intending to earn her pilot’s wings. (We’re convinced she’s just trying to outdo the Wright brothers.) In between shaping public messaging and learning how to fly, she still finds time to play in the drum corps, where she marches to the beat of her own drum—preferably to the sounds of ‘80s music.

Nyla Adonis is the definition of initiative, leadership, and just plain awesomeness. Whether she’s crafting impactful messages, soaring through the skies, or jamming to old-school tunes, one thing is certain: she’s going places (literally and figuratively). STYC is lucky to have her, and the world better get ready!





Nyla drew this picture 8 years ago. It still hangs in the STYC office.



Nyla Adonis

Closing for This Month’s Blog

Change doesn’t happen on its own—it starts with us. When youth step up, speak out, and challenge the systems that allow nicotine and tobacco to target their generation, they become the driving force behind real change. But this isn’t just their fight—it’s a community effort.

We all have a role to play in protecting our youth and shaping a healthier future. Whether it’s holding decision-makers accountable, educating others about the risks, or simply refusing to stay silent, our voices matter.

So let’s keep the momentum going. Stay engaged. Ask questions. Show up. Because when we work together, we don’t just make noise—we make a difference.

Your voice is your power. Use it.   Ah

Final Note

Please share this important opportunity with your community network

As JCPS searches for a new superintendent, you are encouraged to participate in a short survey 
(link below) and participate in a crucial community conversation on Saturday, February 15, 2025.  
10:00 am - 11:00 am The Academy @ Shawnee
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Ballard High School

JCPS SUPERINTENDENT ONLINE SURVEY

 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Prevention Displaced: When the Work Has No Home

The work of prevention—of substance use, of violence, of suicide—can’t pause because a lease ends. And yet, here we are. STYC, a coalition built on 10 years of youth-centered advocacy, education, and intervention, has been displaced from our physical space to make room for an affordable housing development. We support housing deeply. We recognize the importance of providing stable housing for the families in our service area. But it’s also true that prevention work needs a place to live, too. We serve neighborhoods where trauma lives, where opportunity feels miles away, and where youth are making life-and-death decisions without enough guidance or support. Yet, in the very area where we are needed most, there's no office space available for us to continue that work. STYC isn’t a large nonprofit with deep pockets or national branding. We are small, rooted, and nimble. Our power has always come from the people—the youth advocates who run workshops, the parents who show up, the par...
Post a Comment
Read more

It's Eleven O'clock

    Do You Know Where Your Children Are? Some of us recall the late-night message that once flashed across the television: “It’s 11:00—do you know where your children are?” Although there may not have been a flashy commercial to accompany it, the simple reminder carried weight. It didn’t prevent every bad choice or tragedy, but it made parents pause. If your child wasn’t at home, it forced a question: Where are they, and what are they doing? That same question is just as urgent today. Violence, substance use, and risky behaviors are touching our community in ways that are heartbreaking and often preventable. Recently, a young person—someone’s child or grandchild—was accused of committing a violent crime at a bus stop. Behind the headlines is a truth: this is not just “a suspect,” but someone’s family. We cannot afford to look away or to excuse warning signs that might have been noticed earlier. Why STYC Is Offering the Hidden in Plain Sight Experience? Parents ...
5 comments
Read more

PIVOT - A change in position, or strategy

"Pivoting Toward Prevention: A Call for Community Support" In basketball, a pivot allows a player to keep one foot grounded while turning to find a better position — to see the court more clearly, make a stronger pass, or take a smarter shot. At STYC, we’re making a similar move. For nearly a decade, we’ve stood firmly in substance use prevention, rooted in youth leadership, community partnerships, and culturally relevant strategies. But the game is changing. The same young people we serve are now facing additional risks — from rising violence and untreated mental health challenges to the growing dangers of youth gambling. So, we’re pivoting. Not away from our foundation, but toward a more comprehensive approach to prevention — one that addresses all the factors threatening youth well-being. We’re expanding our lens while keeping our mission clear: to build safer, healthier futures for our youth. But we can’t do this alone. We need our community — including neighbors, e...
Post a Comment
Read more