Culture as Catalyst: Youth Action to Take Down Tobacco
February 25, 2026 | 7 PM ET | Virtual
Culture defines what we celebrate, what we ignore, and what’s considered “normal.” For decades, Big Tobacco has exploited culture, from music to media and identity – all to market harmful and addictive products to young people and communities of color.
As we count down to Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action, this installment of our Campaign for the Culture conversation series will center youth voices at the intersection of identity, creativity and advocacy. Panelists will explore what becomes possible when young people transform culture into a catalyst for change – and how momentum can be turned into meaningful action in the months ahead.
Featured Speakers
Carina Chen (Moderator)
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
National Youth Ambassador
Carina Chen, a college student from Oklahoma City, is a dedicated public-health advocate focused on reducing youth tobacco use and advancing wellness. In 2022, she helped pass the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act, replacing youth fines with education and cessation programs. The next year, she partnered with the American Cancer Society to support a bill expanding access to cancer screenings and treatments.
As a youth representative for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Carina distributed anti-tobacco resources to adolescent caregivers statewide. Motivated by her family’s experiences with tobacco, she champions immigrant communities and amplifies youth voices in public-health reform.
Selena L. Dunham
Classique, LLC
Principal
Selena Dunham, a seasoned leader with experience across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, has served in senior roles including Director of Human Resources for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign and organizer for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. She has also held executive positions at Bank One and Adams Mark Hotels. She holds an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from the Denver Institute of Urban Studies. Ms. Dunham has served on more than 100 boards and is a recipient of honors including the Colorado Black Women for Political Action Businesswoman of the Year and the Juanita Gray Community Service Award. A leader in public-health advocacy, she played a key role in passing Denver’s 2024 ordinance banning flavored tobacco products, and she currently supports the Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco campaign to advance equity, community education, and civic engagement.
Blake Hurst
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
National Youth Ambassador
Blake Hurst, a passionate youth advocate from New Palestine, Indiana, is a dedicated changemaker whose leadership has helped shift tobacco policy across his state. As a VOICE Youth Ambassador for the Indiana Department of Health, Blake played a key role in championing a successful statewide $2 tobacco tax increase with parity across products, reducing the harmful impact of Big Tobacco on Hoosiers.
As President of his school’s VOICE chapter—the largest in Indiana—Blake works to ensure youth perspectives actively shape public health policy and community solutions. Through organizing campaigns, engaging lawmakers, and mentoring younger advocates, he empowers peers to turn lived experience into action. He continues to advocate for health equity as a Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids National Youth Ambassador by uplifting youth voices across Indiana and beyond.
Christoph Jenkins
The Poet Life
Founder and CEO
For over a decade, Christoph Jenkins has been at the forefront of transforming creativity into measurable impact. As the Founder and CEO of The Poet Life, he has spent 10 years building an internationally recognized brand that partners with companies, schools and organizations to use poetry and the arts as tools for communication, innovation and engagement.
Now, as a Creative Strategy Consultant for companies and organizations and a Creative Career Coach for creatives, Christoph helps leaders harness the power of creative thinking to solve problems, elevate culture, and drive growth. His signature approach blends artistry, business strategy, and storytelling to deliver experiences that inspire action and lasting change.
Vivian Nartey
Truth Initiative
Youth Board Liaison
Vivian Nartey is a senior at Manhattan University majoring in communication and psychology. An active campus leader, she is involved in the Black Student Union, ESPN Production Crew, and Mock Trial, where she combines her passion for storytelling, advocacy, and critical thinking.
Vivian began her public health advocacy as a Truth College Leader, mobilizing her peers around tobacco prevention. She was later selected as a Truth Ambassador in the 2024–2025 national cohort of youth activists, amplifying awareness and driving action on tobacco prevention across her campus and beyond. In September, she was elected to serve on the Truth Initiative Board of Directors as a Youth Board Liaison, elevating youth voices in national public health leadership.