Rooted in Justice: Youth Advocacy at the Crossroads of Health and Culture
November 18, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. ET | Virtual
Young people are increasingly at the forefront of the fight for health justice, and their voices are reshaping conversations about health equity in communities of color. In this installment of our Campaign for the Culture conversation series, we’ll bring together young leaders who are confronting systemic barriers and uplifting their communities through bold, culturally-rooted action. We’ll explore how identity, lived experience, and culture inform youth engagement in our movement – from tobacco prevention and control to broader efforts to promote healthier communities and support public health policies. Join us as we hear from emerging advocates and reflect on the transformative power of youth-led change in the fight for health justice.
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.
Jeremiah Morgan
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids National Youth Ambassador
Jeremiah M. Morgan is a youth advocate based in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Since the age of six, he has been actively involved in efforts to prevent drug and substance use across several South Carolina counties. Jeremiah works with multiple organizations committed to this mission, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Growing COB, Crawl, and the youth-led group FIRE Squad. Through his involvement, Jeremiah has contributed to policy advocacy, organized community events, and supported numerous outreach initiatives aimed at reducing substance use among youth. His early experiences witnessing the widespread impact of drug availability in his community have fueled his passion for advocacy and inspired his commitment to creating a healthier, drug-free future for young people.
Riley Devereaux
Member of Prince William County, VA, Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated
Riley Devereaux is a high school senior in Haymarket, Virginia, who is passionate about politics and advocacy and works to foster change and understanding. She has taken numerous leadership positions in advocacy and civic engagement organizations. She is a member of the Prince William County, VA, Chapter of Jack and Jill of America and is excited to be part of the Future Black Legislators of America.
Nicole Sutton
Youth Engagement Alliance Key Liaison
Nicole Sutton serves as Key Liaison for the Youth Engagement Alliance (YEA), a network powered by Truth Initiative and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids that supports adult coordinators who work with youth in public health and commercial tobacco prevention and control efforts. She is a founding member of the YEA. Nicole has been a health justice and tobacco control advocate for 25 years and has worked to empower youth and communities around the world. Her expertise includes community-based participatory research, health equity, community-driven policy change, health communication, and guerrilla activism. Nicole also works with the University of South Florida Center for Social Marketing where she focuses on vaping and emerging nicotine product use on college campuses and supports the next generation of public health researchers and practitioners.
Nivia Charles
Health Equity Co-Chairwoman for the National Council of Negro Women–Howard University Section
Nivia Charles is a Sickle Cell warrior, advocate and multimedia creator elevating awareness through public speaking, digital campaigns, wellness programming and leadership. As the Health Equity Co-Chairwoman for NCNW–Howard Section and a core contributor to multiple Sickle Cell and health equity organizations, she partners with both national and community-based groups to advance wellness, equity and comprehensive care.