Collaboration as a Catalyst for Change: Reducing Commercial Tobacco Use Among American Indian Youth Through Dedication to Community, Youth-Led Interventions, and Tradition

• DOI: 10.5820/aian.3201.2025.1
• Publication Date: 2025-03-03T15:06:05Z
• Authors: Chase Kornacki; Justin Rodriguez; Joseph Rodriguez; Anthony Hurtado; Juliet Lee; Roland Moore; Lisa Brucks; Jennifer Geisler; Valerie Boyle; Diana Martinez; Ami Admire; Monah Hanson; Rachel Reif; Michelle Nelson; Camille Henry-Wal...; Daniel Calac
• Keywords: Summit; Positive Youth Development

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth have the highest commercial tobacco smoking rate of any group in United States. Unified by aim to reduce AI/AN use, six separately funded prevention programs serving Southern California tribes formed Tribal Tobacco Coalition (SCTTC). Since joining forces, SCTTC has hosted various activities events that encourage community involvement, leadership, commitment tradition. The SCTTC’s pinnacle event, annual Inter-Tribal Prevention Youth Summit, is an inspiring example organization’s collaborative efforts, as it features youth- elder-led presentations local tribal members. These grown participation from year are widely supported surrounding communities. This paper includes narratives several coalition members, including activity organizers, showcase power collaboration through partnership its success date. purpose this share positive impact similar across nation amplify their program impacts forming a own embracing youth-led interventions.