On Friday, June 24th 2011, the S.W.A.T team of the Memorial Park Boys and Girls Club in Oklahoma City held two informative sessions to increase awareness of underage tobacco use amongst their peers. Xavier Wilson, President of the Boys and Girls Club S.W.A.T. team coordinated the activities to generate interest in his peers toward taking active strides to fight against tobacco in their communities.
Over 54 youth were joined by Jane Sutter, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club; Tanya Mendoza, the S.W.A.T coordinator for Oklahoma County; Hiawatha Bouldin, Eagle Ridge APRC; Linda Bell, Eagle Ridge APRC/DFC; LaTrice Warrior, Metro OKC Coalition/DFC, the S.W.A.T President, Wilson and Vice-President, Keante’ Cooks. Bouldin spoke briefly on the risk and protective factors in the community that can lead to tobacco use; while Wilson and Cooks addressed their peers on the importance of joining the S.W.A.T team.
This event marked the initial stages of the action plan that Eagle Ridge, Metro OKC Coalition and S.W.A.T members previously discussed toward reaching goals set for the upcoming year: increasing awareness of underage tobacco use among their peers, and increasing active membership for the Oklahoma City S.W.A.T. team.