Fargo Cass Public Health (FCPH) will host the seventh annual ‘Break Free Youth Action Summit’ (YAS) on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The event is organized and supported by a partnership between FCPH and Tobacco Free North Dakota and is offered at no cost to participants.
The YAS provides a unique opportunity for youth advocates to demonstrate their passion and commitment in helping create the next tobacco-free generation. The summit will give students tools and resources to find their voice and advocate for change. This year’s keynote speaker, Samuel Allen, a National Truth Initiative Youth Advocacy Leader, will be joined by a member of Truth Champions, a national advocacy group within the Truth Initiative. Allen and the Truth Champion will share their knowledge and experience on tobacco prevention efforts at the national level while expounding on Truth strategies that assist in the fight to decrease youth tobacco use. Attendees will learn about the foundational principles of leadership skills and how to amplify the youth voice on tobacco prevention initiatives.
Doreen Odera, FCPH Community Health Educator, says, “We are excited to host the Seventh Annual Fargo Youth Action Summit. National organizations like Truth Initiative have made a huge impact on the tobacco prevention space and we are looking forward to providing students with a new, innovative way to learn about the role they play in advocating for a healthier tomorrow. Tobacco prevention is vital in our communities, and attending the summit gives students the tools they need to take action not just for their own life, but for a healthier world.”
Youth are at the center of the nation’s current vaping epidemic. Although there has been a significant decrease in youth smoking rates over the last few years, vaping, or use of electronic cigarettes, among high school students remains high. According to 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, current vaping among North Dakota high school students is 18%, which is higher than ND adult e-cigarette use rates at 9%.
In the weeks and months following the summit, attending students will work with their peers to create activities for the Great American Smoke Out (November 20, 2025) and Great American Spit Out (February 19, 2026).
Additional information:
• The summit will be held at the Avalon Event Center in Fargo, 2525 9th Avenue South, Fargo.
• Registration and event details can be found here.