22nd Annual Teens Kick Ash
Youth Tobacco-Free Advocacy Conference
Teens Kick Ash is intended to develop the next generation of tobacco-free advocates. Through hands-on training and team-building activities, middle and high school students from all over Ventura County learn about e-products and other tobacco-related health risks while networking with peers on how to effect positive change in their own behavior, in their schools, and within their communities. They will participate in workshops on various topics including advocacy, effective presentations, social media, video production, and journalistic writing. The conference teaches students about nicotine addiction and the e-product and tobacco industry’s marketing strategies to attract young people. The conference is presented annually by the Ventura County Office of Education’s department of Comprehensive Health and Prevention Programs.
When and Where?
Middle School - February 19th
High School - February 20th
Ventura County Office of Education
5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo 93012
9am-2pm
Who Should Attend?
Middle/high school students and adult advisors involved in outreach projects and programs such as:
- Journalism
- Video Production
- Peer Resource
- Clubs
- Friday Night Live/Club Live
- Peer Leaders/Leadership
- AVID
- Visual/Media Arts
Where?
Ventura County Office of Education
5100 Adolfo Road
Camarillo, CA 93012
Registration Deadline:
Middle school students and chaperones must register at: bit.ly/tkamiddleschool20
High school students and chaperones must register at: bit.ly/tkahighschool20
Deadline to register is January 29, 2020
If needed, the VCOE Media Release form can be downloaded here: VCOE Media Release PDF
Keynote Speaker:
Each year, the TKA planning committee seeks out knowledgeable expert presenters to open each day's conference with an engaging presentation for youth that will also provide them with important, factual information on addiction and teen brain development. This year's keynote speaker is Mr. Ray Lozano.
Since 1986, Ray Lozano has educated and entertained thousands of students in hundreds schools nationally and internationally. Ray works to conveying alcohol and other drug prevention information in an incredibly engaging way to have his audiences come away well-informed but also entertained.Through his previous professional and personal experiences, he saw how drugs stripped away a person’s chance for an extraordinary life. From working with people fighting their way back from addiction, he realized he wanted to work with kids before they got involved in alcohol and other drug use, which led him to his work in prevention.
His presentation increases adolescent knowledge of the effects of drugs and alcohol on the body, the addictive process, consequences of risky behaviors, alternative choices and the ability to make positive life decisions. Ray also holds a current certification as Prevention Specialist by the state of California as a drug and alcohol counselor.
