is a project of the Nsoroma Afterschool Program at the Institute of Positive Education. The youth organize a series of events that expose, through the arts, the dangers of tobacco use and the various schemes that the tobacco industry uses to lure the youth market. Sound Off Against Tobacco events feature student poetry, rap, music, essays, guest speakers, film clips, displays and other cultural expressions. The participating youth represent all age levels.

 

is a series of podcasts that feature interviews with various community members who give their views about tobacco and share their experience with it. The project was facilitated by poet, Heru, who organized the youth to dig deep for relevant questions. These interviews are formulated and conducted by the youth participants.

 

Heru also held workshops on Poetry as a Medium for Activism. The youth created poetry with an anti-smoking theme. Their work is featured here.

 

This project is supported by the Illinois Dept. of Public Health