Jóvenes de Salud is an after-school peer-to-peer youth-led mentor program designed to harness the support of the 'it takes a village' concept of engaging families and encouraging students to reach academic goals through grassroots leadership; it is supported by adult mentors. 

 

Jóvenes de Salud began as a program of the Association for Nonsmokers MN in 2005 and was established with support from the tobacco settlement dollars.  

 

When the tobacco support ended, Jóvenes de Salud continued as an LLC.

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Jóvenes de Salud Legislative Leadership:

 

High school youth grades 9th – 12th participate in the legislative process from concept to execution.  Youth have been successful in passing ordinances in the areas of smoke-free parks; smoke-free restaurants, smoke -free homes and smoke-free cars, addressing 2nd hand smoke issues and limiting window signage in Ramsey County.  

 

Students lobbied school boards successfully encouraging them to adopt language strengthening smoke-free and tobacco-free policies on school grounds. Youth kicked the tobacco industry out of 2012 Cinco de Mayo parade by raising $5000, replacing the amount the tobacco industry was offering festival organizers to hand out cigarette coupons. 

 

Students have created educational materials and have presented supporting documents to district councils, school boards; legislatures, city hall and state capitol legislators and representatives.  In addition, they have been active in voter registration activities. 

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AWARDS:

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Jóvenes de Salud is a recognized best practices model by the Center for Disease Control and the National Latino Council on Tobacco or Health and has received numerous local, national and international recognition.  Including two Minnesota State Commendations and a State Proclamation.

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GOVERNING BOARD

 

The board of directors of Jóvenes de Salud is made up of mentors and alum.