Jaelyn Sotelo chosen as ambassador for tobacco-free kids campaign

SALMON CREEK –Skyview High School student Jaelyn Sotelo, 17, was named a National Youth and Young Adult Ambassador by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. She was among 133 youth chosen for demonstrating leadership in fighting tobacco use in their communities. They participated in a Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ Digital Advocacy Symposium, a five-day online training session focused on building advocacy, communications and leadership skills. The ambassadors will work with the campaign to advocate for policies to reduce youth tobacco use, such as ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Sotelo has been involved with tobacco control and prevention for three years, including through a local group called Strong Teens Against Substance Hazards and Abuse, or STASHA. “We are thrilled to welcome this new class of Youth and Young Adult Ambassadors, whose passion and leadership will help us create the first tobacco-free generation,” Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a news release. “Young people are critical voices in the fight against tobacco because they speak from experience about how they are targeted by the tobacco industry. Policy makers should listen and support strong policies to protect our kids, including a prohibition on all flavored tobacco products.”