What is the Youth Advisory Board?

The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a group comprised of talented young leaders, ages 14-19, who join Breathe’s efforts in education, policy, advocacy, and research. YAB members meet with Breathe staff monthly to contribute their voices to Breathe’s clean air, lung health, and tobacco prevention projects.

What are the responsibilities of a YAB member?

1. Attend trainings and meetings 2-3 times per month
2. Participate in programs, events and speaking opportunities including but not limited to:
   • Speaking at city council meetings in support of tobacco control measures
   • Giving presentations to peer groups
   • Writing letters to local elected officials in support of tobacco control measures
   • Providing content to post to social media
   • Planning, organizing, and attending events (i.e. Breathe Youth Media Awards/ PSA contest and hosting a booth at the Environmental Council of Sacramento Earth Day 2023
   • Participating in Youth Quest 2023 hosted by the California Youth Advocacy Network

• What are the benefits of being a YAB member?

  • Develop your leadership skills
  • Learn about different career paths in public health
  • Earn community service hours
  • Get excellent experience for college and/or job applications, including letters of recommendation

Qualifications

• Be between the ages of 14 and 19 years old
• Reside in or attend school in Sacramento County
• Maintain a GPA of at least 2.5, if attending middle or high school or college
• Attend at least 2-3 Youth Advisory Board meetings monthly
• Missing more than one month of meetings may result in being asked to leave the group. Exceptions will be made for extenuating circumstances.
• Respond to communications regularly and timely with staff via email, text, or phone, and download the GroupMe application on your phone to keep in touch regularly
• Be able to provide your own transportation to and from Youth Advisory Board meetings and activities/events (Meetings are currently being held in a hybrid format by joining remotely via Zoom or in person at the Breathe office in Downtown Sacramento)
• Represent Breathe California Sacramento Region as a non-smoker, including any and all electronic smoking devices or other combustible substances.

Specific Responsibilities:

Serve as ambassadors to schools/community

• Support the inclusion of mission-based programs on respective school campuses
• Create awareness of our mission, programs and goals among peers and the community in general

Carry out the “youth voice”

• Serve as spokespersons for the Breathe mission and projects
• Have the opportunity to assist with special events/fundraisers
• Work with the Board of Directors and Breathe California Sacramento Region Staff on programs and event development, advocacy, outreach/ networking, and all other areas that impact our mission

Contribute to Breathe Programs/Events

• Commit to completing all assignments (such as creating social media posts, writing letters, etc.) on time (ample time will be provided!)
• Commit to attending at least 75% of the programmatic events, meetings, etc. outside of our regularly monthly meeting times.

Click below to access the application. Please make sure you use an email address that is NOT school-affiliated. Their servers do not allow emails from outside organizations.

Thank you for your interest in YAB! Please email smokefreesac@gmail.com with any questions!