BACKGROUND-AIM:
This project aims to prevent tobacco and nicotine use among children, adolescents, and young people through youth-led advocacy, community engagement, and policy change. Implemented in Sedgwick County, Kansas (USA), the initiative responds to persistent public health challenges, including reduced prevention funding, inequitable tobacco marketing practices, and the continued targeting of youth and marginalized communities by the tobacco industry.

METHODS:
Primary target group: Youth from middle school age through young adulthood (approximately ages 11–24), with a particular focus on those living in communities with high tobacco retailer density and elevated tobacco-related disparities. The project applies CADCA’s Seven Strategies for Community-Level Change, combining evidence-based and innovative approaches to tobacco prevention. These strategies include: Providing information through youth-led education and media Enhancing skills through advocacy, storytelling, and leadership development Modifying environmental conditions by reducing tobacco advertising visibility Influencing policy through data-informed youth advocacy Fostering coalitions and cross-sector partnerships Implementation is supported by state-level public health funding through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and is situated within an Office of Health Promotion framework emphasizing policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change.

RESULTS:
The following activities were conducted: Community members participated in interactive voting activities to express preferences regarding retail environments and to demonstrate support for Reduced Ads, Better View policies. This approach builds public awareness, dialogue, and local ownership. High school students engaged in PhotoVoice, an evidence-based participatory method enabling youth to document and critically analyze how tobacco advertising affects their neighborhoods. Through photography, videography, and research, youth advocated for healthier community environments, particularly in lower-income areas of Wichita. Youth-led teams produced short advocacy videos shared through social media and public forums, amplifying prevention messages and countering tobacco industry marketing. Youth participants presented their findings and narratives directly to decision-makers, including meetings with the Mayor of Wichita and participation in the Mayor’s Youth Council. Partnered with organizations such as the Center for Black Health and Equity address well-documented inequities in tobacco use and cessation outcomes, including the disproportionate targeting of menthol products, limited access to culturally responsive cessation resources, and lower quit success rates among Black communities. A Tobacco Retailer Density subcommittee developed a publicly accessible heat map in collaboration with the City of Wichita to visualize retailer concentration. This tool supports strategic planning and informs future policy initiatives aimed at reducing youth exposure to tobacco marketing and access to tobacco and vaping products. The project operates on a moderate prevention budget, with primary cost categories including: Staff coordination and youth facilitation Training and educational materials Media production and community events Evaluation and data analysis Community engagement activities Funding is provided through state-level tobacco prevention resources and in-kind contributions from coalition partners.

CONCLUSIONS:
Effective tobacco prevention requires a multi-tiered, collaborative approach that integrates youth engagement, community participation, data-informed advocacy, and policy, systems, and environmental change. Centering youth voice and lived experience strengthens both the relevance and impact of prevention efforts, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by tobacco-related harm. This project demonstrates a replicable and cost-efficient model that can be adapted across diverse settings and contexts. The strategies and partnerships described are genuinely relevant beyond the U.S. context, offering practical insights for international school-based and community-linked tobacco prevention initiatives. Smoking prevention