Local health educator chosen to participate in national project.

Health Educator Kate Donaldson of District Health Department #10 in Hart.

Donaldson aims to increase tobacco-free parks in Oceana.

#TruthInitiative #DistrictHealthDepartment10

HART — District Health Department #10’s Health Educator Kate Donaldson of Hart has been selected to be a part of Truth Initiative’s Youth Activism Fellowship.

Truth Initiative is a national public health organization that is inspiring tobacco-free lives and building a culture where all youth and young adults reject tobacco.

As part of the fellowship, Donaldson and 31 other young adults from across the country will receive training on community activism, tobacco policy, and communications. She will advocate to increase the number of tobacco-free parks and beaches in Oceana County. She plans to partner with The Oceana Prevention Partnership for Change (TOPPC) youth coalition to create an educational video to explain the benefits of tobacco-free parks and beaches. Donaldson and TOPPC will work together to present the video to schools and community members and will share on social media.

“It is my goal as a youth activism fellow to rally community support for tobacco-free parks and beaches in Oceana County,” said Donaldson. “I am excited to connect my local tobacco prevention work with the national efforts of Truth Initiative. I am determined to give our youth the facts about tobacco so they can make informed decisions and choose to live tobacco-free.”

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and more than 93 percent of current smokers start to smoke before the age of 20.

To learn more about Donaldson’s local project and partnership with TOPPC, call (231) 902-8537 or email kdonaldson@dhd10.org. To learn more about Truth Initiative’s Youth Activism Fellowship visit http://truthinitiative.org/spreading-truth.