Over the past year, Healthy Archuleta has partnered with the Archuleta County Public Health Department to develop a youth-centered tobacco prevention and cessation effort grounded in young people’s perspectives.
The collaboration began with a presentation to Healthy Archuleta’s team on the health impacts and long-term effects of commercial tobacco use, delivered by Lacy Capre, Community Outreach Specialist with the Archuleta County Public Health Department. That presentation sparked a shared goal: creating a prevention campaign shaped directly by youth perspectives rather than adult assumptions.
To move that vision forward, Healthy Archuleta’s youth team facilitated a six-week Design Thinking workshop that invited students to examine tobacco use, prevention, and cessation through a structured, solution-focused process. Students worked through multiple stages of Design Thinking to identify challenges, explore root causes, and begin imagining what an effective youth-facing campaign could look like.
A central focus of the workshop was creating a safe and respectful space for honest conversation. Students openly shared reasons they see tobacco use increasing among youth and discussed environmental and social factors that influence behavior. One recurring theme was the lack of a “third place,” a dedicated, youth-friendly space to gather that isn’t a store or a park. Participants said having a space where their voices mattered helped them feel empowered to think critically about both problems and solutions.
Building on that momentum, Healthy Archuleta returned this school year to facilitate a second six-week Design Thinking workshop focused on youth leadership. Students explored what meaningful leadership looks like for young people and how youth can serve as influencers, mentors, and advisors in tobacco prevention efforts. They also identified barriers to youth leadership, including limited opportunities to lead or speak out on issues that directly affect them.
As a result of that work, participating students chose to form a youth leadership group dedicated to tobacco prevention, designed by youth, for youth. Earlier this month, the group reconvened for a presentation from the Public Health Department focused on electronic nicotine products and other forms of commercial tobacco.
Next, the group will design materials for a peer-to-peer tobacco prevention campaign, positioning youth as leaders and trusted messengers who can influence healthy choices among their peers and across the community. To learn more about Healthy Archuleta’s efforts, please visit our website at www.foodcoailtion4archuleta.org or email us at fsfearchuleta@gmail.com.