Kimberly Lovelady, MPH, African American Anti Tobacco Alliance, George Washington Carver House, 3035 Bell, St. Louis, MO 63106, 314-652-8190, kim_williams1908@sbcglobal.net

In St. Louis few programs that target youth smoking are culturally specific and address smoking trends in African American youth, among whom the use of alternative tobacco products such as blunts, cigars and bidis has grown dramatically. Key Points: Presenter will share how the initiative began, what it is, it’s evolution and their experiences working in their community. Every aspect of program planning and design should include the target audience, especially when working with urban African American youth. Educational Experience: Participants will dialogue with AAATA evaluator about planning and designing “Keep’n It Real” a comprehensive youth empowerment program and gain insight on how to work with youth that has not been involved in tobacco control. Benefits: Planners are becoming aware of the need to engage communities of color in the tobacco control movement especially since these communities are affected disproportionately. Participants will learn about real life lessons and tools they can use to engage African American youth in the development of projects that are designed to affect them.

Learning Objectives: