Overview

We are the West Side Boys and Girls Club Tobacco Task Force! Working on Reducing Tobacco Industry Influences and Advertising in the West Side of St. Paul, MN. Last year we started out slow with about 4 teens in the spring of '08. Since then our group has ballooned into 15 teens and 15 little kids! Under the guidance and support of Mr.V, we have surveyed stores in the area, compiled the data on tobacco advertising in our neighborhood and created a board with our finding! We have since brought that board to about 10 different events in our club and outside our club!

Survey Findings & News

Not good!  On average a student passes 5 stores with tobacco ads, on their way to school or the club.-

Group Profile

Mr. V is the support staff. Cha Cha is the teen president. Byanka is the junior president. Julio and Dante are second in command/spokes guys.  Mario is the Secertary. Amanda, Dylaydy and Selena are the creative coodinators and  thats the crew!

Testimonials

  "I had no idea how much there was until I really started looking!"-Samantha Rodriguez Junior @ Como High school and long time club member.

Outreach Activities

We also had Cinco de Mayo info booth, we have also presented our findings to the West Side Parent group, and at Communica de Salud.

Worked on restricting the sale of immitation tobacco products and novelty lighters in the City of St. Paul. This passed and the City of St. Paul is the first in the NATION to ban immitation tobacco products!  Way to go St. Paul! It joins other countries such as Thiland, Australia, United Kingdom, Kuwait, Norway, Saudi Arabia.

Links & Contact Information

www.boysandgirls.org

vluna@boysandgirls.org

651-222-2212 - West Side Club