Narrator:
As communities around the country are learning, the key to effective prevention is to use multiple strategies, in multiple settings, toward achieving one common goal. One important strategy is Policy. In Gloucester, Massachusetts, the Gloucester Prevention Network worked with young people to develop a petition drive aimed at banning cigarette vending machines in public places.

Christine MacNeil, peer leader:
Well, when we were in sixth grade, we watched a lot of videos about the dangers of smoking and learned a lot about how the cigarette companies try to get kids to start smoking.

Lisa Bryant, peer leader:
And we were worried about our friends and worried that they would start smoking, and we thought that this would be a good way to keep them from smoking if they didn’t have the accessibility of the cigarettes.

Christine MacNeil:
So, we decided we wanted to do something about that in our community, and we realized that a lot of kids get cigarettes from vending machines because they are unsupervised.

Carol R. Coles, assistant director, Gloucester Prevention Network:
They talked to their health teacher, and they went down to city hall, and they said, “How do we make this happen? We want to make a law. We want to make the city pass a law that says that you can’t have these machines any more.”

Errika Ryan, peer leader:
Well, I was kind of amazed at how many people actually knew that there had to be a change, and they were interested in signing.

Carol R. Coles:
And they succeeded with their petitions. And we only came in as kind of technical assistance and support. We were kind of there for them. We were supporting them, but we weren’t helping them create their process.

Narrator:
And when these young women appeared before the Gloucester City Council, their commitment, sincerity, and, most importantly, understanding of the political process resulted in the enactment of a citywide ban on cigarette vending machines.

Carol R. Coles:
The four young women were very amazed at the power that they ultimately had. And their sense of empowerment has been the most thrilling thing of all.

Narrator:
These four young women had changed their community in ways that many would have doubted was possible. The impact of their accomplishment was underscored when they were acknowledged by the nation’s First Lady.

Errika Ryan:
Well, I think it is important to get youth involved, because youth can make a difference.

Alicia Cox, peer leader:
A lot of kids think that they can’t do it, because they are only kids and they can’t make a difference in anything. But they really can, and we have a lot of examples around Massachusetts that kids can do it.