Catalyst Summit! Local Media Outreach Starts Today!!!!

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June [INSERT DATE YOU SEND IT], 2008 [INSERT YOUR TOWN, Minn.]   On Friday, June 13, more than 100 Minnesota teens gathered in St. Paul to air the tobacco industry's dirty laundry in Mears Park. A public awareness display hanging–1,200 t-shirts on laundry lines–was constructed in protest of the tobacco industry's continued success in addicting young people. Teens unveiled the display at a youth rally in the park.

The display wrapped up a three-day youth leadership summit organized by Catalyst–a group of teen leaders dedicated to making their voices heard on public health issues.  Youth joined together at the University of Minnesota, June 11-13 to construct the moving display, which represent the 1,200 people who die everyday in the U.S. from tobacco and secondhand smoke.

In addition to calling attention to the number of lives lost to tobacco, Catalyst youth hope their display will send a powerful message to the public and the tobacco industry:  Minnesota's teens refuse to be targets of the tobacco industry, and they will not be the replacement customers to fill the shirts of those who have died. 

[INSERT YOUR COMMENTS HERE - YOU CAN ALSO INCLUDE ONE OF THE YB MEMBERS TOO: "I think this event will be a fantastic way for teens all over Minnesota to come together for a common purpose, against the tobacco industry," says Nikki Bunnell, an incoming senior at Apollo High School in St. Cloud.  "This event will send a powerful message to the tobacco industry that we are sick of being targeted," comments Maggie Smith, an incoming senior at Perpich Center for the Arts Education in Minneapolis.  Jessie Marson, an incoming sophomore at White Bear Lake North Campus High School echoes her fellow youth board members, commenting, "This event will be a great way to show people how real this is, that 1,200 people die each day from the tobacco industry's products. The teens of Minnesota are fighting this killer, we are sick of their lies."]

 "Our focus is to empower youth to make a positive difference in their communities," says Andy Berndt, Project Director of Catalyst. "Today they developed a creative way to show the public the real effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke – and to remind people why smoke-free workplaces have been such an important step forward for the citizens of Minnesota. The teens felt this was a great way to show their passion for the work that lies ahead."

Catalyst, open to all high school students across the state, focuses on helping youth develop leadership, advocacy and communications skills to create change at the community level and beyond. Catalyst is supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) as part of Prevention Minnesota. Prevention Minnesota is Blue Cross' long-term commitment, funded by tobacco settlement dollars, to tackle preventable heart disease and cancers by addressing their root causes – tobacco use, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating.

The rally & ceremony began at 11:30 a.m. in Mears Park in downtown St. Paul. Speakers included youth leaders from the Catalyst movement. For more information about Catalyst or the Catalyst Summit, contact Andy Berndt at 651-270-6589 or andy@bethecatalyst.org, or visit www.bethecatalyst.org.