KYCC’s Tobacco Task Force under KYCC’s Prevention Education, hosted it’s first virtual meeting as the newly founded Los Angeles Youth First Tobacco Coalition (LAYFTC). Funded by the Los Angeles Department of Public Health Tobacco Control Prevention Program, KYCC’s Prevention Education staffers Hilcia Guerra and Andy Lau, introduced students, educators and community members to the mission of LAYFTC, which is to reduce youth access to tobacco products and to create a healthier and safer community.
The LAYFTC takes a policy-based strategy to tobacco prevention and targets community-level activism and collaboration. Interested community members, residents, student groups come together to work with the LAYFTC to reduce tobacco-related harms, death and disease throughout Los Angeles City.
On April 2, 2020, twenty-four participants joined the first LAYFTC Zoom meeting and exchanged introductions and shared ideas for upcoming community events.
Lydia Lee, Prevention Coordinator of KYCC’s Tobacco Task Force, shared a brief update on the policy campaign to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products in Culver City and Los Angeles City. Prevention Specialist Andy Lau, gave a short introduction to upcoming trainings which will equip participants with the best tools and resources to advocate for their communities.
LAYFTC will continue to meet twice a month via Zoom until the “Safer at Home” ordinance is lifted.
KYCC’s Tobacco Task Force has been actively mobilizing community support since February 2019 and will continue the campaign through June 30, 2021. The KYCC Tobacco Task Force is also working hard to pass a restriction on flavored tobacco product sales in both cities to combat the youth e-cigarette epidemic.
