| Stanislaus
County youth will have a unique opportunity to participate in a Town
Hall Meeting where their opinions, concerns and questions about tobacco
use are the main focus; where a panel of community leaders position themselves
to really listen to what their teens have to say and work together for positive
ways to deal with what the World Health Organization states is the "most
serious health threat for children and adolescents in the next century"
- tobacco.
The panel members are as follows:
- Mayor Dick Lang
- County Counsel Michael Krausnick
- Assistant Sheriff Richard Breshears
- District Attorney James Brazelton
- Johnny Johnston-DARE Officer-Modesto City Police
Department
- Supervisor Pat Paul
- R.J. Heck, M.D.
- Adam Berry, Stanislaus County Cruisers
Children's Media Forum President, Joyce Christensen has developed the
teen-centered meetings and Modesto will be the 86th one she has facilitated.
The State of California Legislature gave the Woman of the Year Award in
1994 to Joyce Christensen in recognition of outstanding service and dedication
to the people of the State of California. The history of the teen hall
meetings has been very successful not only for their successful efforts
to reach young people but also for "their impact of bringing about
positive change in our communities" commends Christensen. As a direct
result of information obtained during these forums, a California grocery
chain decided to lock up their tobacco products to reduce youth access
to tobacco.
This meeting is for the teens; adults attend as spectators, not as participants.
The Teen Town Hall Meeting will be held in the Modesto City Council Chambers
at 11th and H Street on April 1 from 7-8:30 p.m.
Delegations from Modesto City Schools will be in attendance and although
the seating is limited, teens with an interest and concern about tobacco
issues in our community are invited to attend and may fill any unused
chairs.
"DARE TO ASK A TEEN" is the theme with live coverage on Cable
One (Channel 8) and Top Teen Station KWNN (FM 98.3). The Modesto Bee will
be there to document this important evening where the leaders of our community
take time out of their busy schedule to give priority to our youths by
giving them a very important gift – listening. Both listening to
their issues and being open to making positive changes in our community.
This event is sponsored by Gold Country Tobacco Prevention Coalition
and the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency-Tobacco Education division.
The program is funded through Proposition 99, the Tobacco Tax.
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