Kick Butts Day is a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco. This year, schools and communities across the country hosted more than 1,3000 events on or around March 20, raising awareness and encouraging youth to live tobacco-free. Southwest Colorado hosted several effective and entertaining youth-driven Kick Butts Day activities.

     Cortez Middle School had a school assembly for Kick Butts Day, that culminated with a big surprise. AmeriCorps member Cindy Lou 

Tobacco-free flashmob t-shirts

Houston gave a compelling verbal presentation on tobacco, which could have been a pretty good assembly. But the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) and Positive Youth Advocates had planned (with Cindy's blessing) something even more captivating: a flash mob! The group busted out choreographed dance moves set to a mash-up of positive music, and incorporated  tobacco-free messaging into their act. The 33+ mobsters wore matching t-shirts, which they all decorated with custom messages. The flashmob was a huge hit with the student body, and a really effective way to get attention.

     The Silverton Youth Center hosted an overnight party during this week, and AmeriCorps member Julie Danjou found a way to work a

Dove Creek decroated door

Kick Butts Day activity into the festivities. Between pizza, foosball, video games and movies, the teens took a survey on tobacco use, and followed up with a brief discussion.      In Dove Creek, Students

Taking action against Underage Drinking (STUD) expanded the concept into Kick Butts Week. They set up a much-visited display in the Middle School/High School commons, with a working model comparing a smoker's lung with a healthy lung, posters of "Mr. Gross Mouth" and "Mr. Dip Lip," and other displays that made students think as they got grossed out! Another display utilized data on the number of Dove Creek students who use 

Signing a tobacco-free pledge at Dove Creek High

tobacco to determine that, statistically speaking, 18 students will suffer severe tobacco-related health 

consequences (including death.) The display had 18 gravestones. STUD encouraged students to sign a tobacco-free pledge, and rewarded those who signed with a rootbeer float. They received 68 pledges - which is a lot in this small school!

     Riley Nicholson is a creative person with a big heart who has found her groove. She serves at as an RSAPP AmeriCorps member with Southern Ute Community Action Programs (SUCAP) in the Youth Services division.   

     Riley chaperones the Ignacio Teen Center during after-school drop-in hours, creating a welcoming and respectful environment free from drugs and alcohol. She is great at connecting with teens, quickly figuring out who is having a rough day and who needs some support. Riley is also involved with the Hero Project, an 8-week prevention program where participants work through challenges as they follow a hero's journey. Riley was involved in the Ignacio Hero Project's planning, and created a series of drawings to illustrate the journey. This spring, she'll help facilitate Hero Project for 5th and 6th graders, taking kids on outdoor adventures and helping them process what they learn. 

    Riley has always felt a bit different from those around her. She grew up in the Salt Lake City area, but isn't Mormon. An artist and a free spirit, Riley has lived in a variety of tiny towns where it's a struggle to find employment. After moving to the Ignacio area for this position, Riley lived in her truck for several months. Now she gets recognition in the Ignacio community, and says "It feels good to show that I'm a positive asset to the community even though I'm somewhat strange." She's an inspiration to others who feel like they don't fit in, demonstrating that service can be a great way to find acceptance within a community. And her AmeriCorps living allowance now enables Riley to live in a nice home, where she spends her free time painting, sewing and crafting.

     While Riley's service certainly benefits the community, she also realizes that she is growing professionally, learning and taking on a lot of responsibility. Riley appreciates the way Zach Bertrand, her Site Supervisor, challenges her while building her confidence. Riley says that serving as an AmeriCorps member has "really pushed me to be all that I can be, and to give it back to the community." She loves working with people on something positive, and dreams of starting her own nonprofit organization that works on the connection between spirituality and creativity. In the meanwhile, Riley has many plans for a variety of projects she will implement in Ignacio over the next 5 months. To learn more, send Riley Nicholson an email.      

Thanks,  

Cathy Cowles

RSAPP Executive Director 

cathy@rsapp.org