Rural Realities: Tobacco, Health and Community

Public Health Advocate and Youth Leader 

Carina Chen is a college student from Oklahoma City and a dedicated public health advocate committed to reducing youth tobacco use and advancing wellness. In 2022, she helped pass Oklahoma's Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act, replacing youth fines with education and cessation programs. She later partnered with the American Cancer Society to support legislation expanding access to cancer screenings and treatment. 

As a youth representative for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Carina has worked to expand access to tobacco prevention resources for young people across the state. Inspired by her family's experiences with tobacco, she is passionate about elevating youth voices and supporting healthier communities through public health advocacy. 

Carina brings the perspective of a young leader committed to creating healthier futures through policy, education and community engagement. 

2026 Barrie Fiske National Youth Advocate of the Year, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids 

Breanna Cutright, 18, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, is the 2026 Barrie Fiske National Youth Advocate of the Year, recognized by Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids for her leadership in tobacco prevention. She became involved in advocacy during middle school after witnessing the rise of e-cigarette use among her peers and supporting her grandfather through his journey to quit smoking. 

As an ambassador for Raze, West Virginia's youth-led tobacco prevention program, Breanna educated young people across the state and became a leading advocate for restoring tobacco prevention funding after the program closed in 2025. Her advocacy has included speaking at a congressional briefing, meeting with policymakers, training fellow youth advocates, authoring an op-ed in West Virginia's largest newspaper and helping lead a statewide rally at the state Capitol. Her efforts contributed to legislation directing $2.9 million from West Virginia's Juul settlement to tobacco prevention programs. 

Breanna brings the perspective of a young leader working to ensure rural communities have the resources and support to build healthier futures. 

Pastor of Student Ministries, Grace Baptist Church Atlanta 

Pastor Charles Phillip is a minister, educator and community leader with nearly three decades of experience serving churches, schools and families. He serves as Pastor of Student Ministries at Grace Baptist Church Atlanta and provides leadership and mentorship to pastors through New Deliverance Ministries International. 

His work extends beyond the church into education and community engagement, where he partners with schools and families across metro Atlanta to strengthen connections between faith, education and community well-being. A United States Marine Corps veteran, Pastor Phillip has also served in leadership roles with local school councils, higher education and nonprofit organizations. His commitment to service is rooted in helping communities thrive through trusted relationships, collaboration and leadership. 

Pastor Phillip brings a unique perspective on the role of faith, trust and community partnerships in advancing health and well-being. 

Board-certified OB/GYN and Maternal Health Leader 

Dr. Ashanda Saint Jean is a board-certified OB/GYN and nationally recognized leader in maternal health and health equity. For more than two decades, she has provided culturally responsive care to underrepresented women in both urban New York City and rural communities in upstate New York, with a focus on addressing disparities in health care access and outcomes. 

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Saint Jean has held numerous leadership positions in health care, public health and medical education. She serves as a senior maternal health consultant for the New York City Department of Health, co-chairs the New York City Maternal Mortality Review Board and serves on several New York state maternal health initiatives focused on improving outcomes and advancing equity. 

Dr. Saint Jean brings valuable insight into the intersection of health care access, social determinants of health and community-centered care in rural communities.

Managing Director of Partnerships, Truth Initiative 

Ashley Schwinn is the Managing Director of Partnerships at Truth Initiative, where she leads strategic partnerships, coalition engagement and community impact initiatives that strengthen tobacco prevention and cessation efforts across the country, with a particular focus on rural communities. 

Throughout her career, Ashley has worked across the nonprofit, government, philanthropic and advocacy sectors to expand access to prevention and cessation resources, support evidence-based policy solutions and strengthen community partnerships. Her work focuses on helping communities identify their own priorities while building sustainable systems that improve health outcomes and reduce tobacco-related harm. 

Ashley brings expertise in community collaboration, rural health and the partnerships needed to support long-term, community-driven solutions.