Hopewell, VA (August 31, 2022) – With Hopewell City Public Schools (HCPS) returning students to classrooms in late July, the division has been busy planning for a successful school year for its students. This includes division wellness and health staff for the division, who after meeting with Y Street students on behalf of the Rev Your Bev campaign, recently updated the division’s School Wellness Policy. The updated policy now ensures that all students will not only have access to water during the school day but before and after school as well. This change will provide students involved in extracurricular activities the chance to practice healthy hydration behaviors as they stay active in clubs, sports, or other opportunities. The edit was developed in part due to the efforts of the Rev Your Bev campaign, a statewide initiative of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) that is supported by its youth-led program Y Street.

Research has consistently proven that water is the healthiest beverage choice as it acts as fuel for your body. Since 2013, Rev Your Bev and Y Street have devoted and sustained efforts to spread healthy hydration messages to help individuals make drinking water a habit and improve Virginians’ overall health. The inclusion of Rev Your Bev’s policies throughout Hopewell’s schools marks a significant victory for the campaign and the Y Street members who led the effort.

With the new water access policies in place, HCPS now shifts its focus to implementation. The Rev Your Bev campaign will continue to work closely with HCPS to ensure that the updated Wellness Policy is implemented efficiently and effectively. The campaign will also assist the division in communicating the policy to the school community.

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Chesterfield, VA (June 16, 2022) – On June 7, the Chesterfield County Public Schools’ School Board held one of its last remaining official meetings of the school year. As the board reviewed the past school year and laid out priorities for the next, two James River High School students joined the meeting to advocate for increased water access in Chesterfield schools to help students make drinking water a habit.

Haley Flores and Genesis Martinez attend James River High School and are members of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide, youth-led initiative Y Street. Y Street members across Virginia promote water as the number one beverage of choice and drive positive policy changes through VFHY’s campaign Rev Your Bev. The Rev Your Bev campaign seeks to provide information and resources to Virginia’s schools to help get students excited about water and committed to healthy hydration.

Despite a busy end to their school year, Haley and Genesis both felt that making time to encourage their division to update their student wellness policy by placing an emphasis on water access was a priority. Genesis noted that healthy hydration is important to her because she participates in a variety of extracurricular activities like Debate Club and soccer, and drinking water “helps keep her mind running…throughout the entire day.” Haley noted specifically that she feels her peers don’t consume enough water throughout the day, and that adding additional “water fountains throughout the school…” could encourage students to “be more hydrated and healthy.”  The ongoing efforts of Y Street members like Haley and Genesis both in their communities and across the state highlight a dedication to promoting healthy lifestyles and demonstrate the impact youth can have throughout Virginia.

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity.

VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Charlottesville, VA (June 6, 2022) – In late May, the national grassroots and tobacco control organization Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe) hosted their annual Clear The Vapor Conference. Speakers and participants for the event ranged from public health officials, federal congresspersons, and even one of Charlottesville High School’s own Y Street members, Max Tyree. Max presented on the environmental impacts of tobacco products, raising awareness of the waste that tobacco and e-cigarette-use produce – accounting for nearly 40% of all littered items – and its harmful effect on the environment, and shared his student advocacy work as part of the Share The Air campaign.

Y Street is the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide volunteer initiative for high school students. Y Street members like Max strive to make sure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthy spaces and do this by promoting the Share The Air campaign. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free parklands by encouraging Parks and Recreation Departments and other local government officials to adopt tobacco-free outdoor policies.

Max shared a variety of data and research highlighting that a strong majority of Virginians (89%) agree that parklands should be tobacco-free and vapor-free. Additionally, Virginians (88%) feel strongly that secondhand smoke is a dangerous hazard outdoors, and that tobacco and e-cigarette products cause damage to the environment (91%).

Beyond the data and research though, Max also shared his own personal experiences as part of Share The Air and the impacts he’s had in making Virginia’s outdoor public spaces 100% free of tobacco smoke and litter, and vape aerosol. Participating in “campaign community events is fantastic as they inform the community about the campaign and are so fun.” Max also noted his meetings with policymakers have been very impactful, and he feels that each of the meetings set up by the campaign “have all been vital to policy change.”

Continued work and dedication from Y Street members like Max are helping push Share The Air forward as it continues to promote healthier outdoor spaces that all Virginians are able to enjoy. You can view Max’s session online here.

______________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity.

VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Chesterfield, VA (May 2, 2022) – This week, Rev Your Bev, an initiative of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) supported by its statewide youth-led program Y Street, kicked off a new statewide event, Rev Your Bev Week. The week of action aims to promote water and support schools across Virginia in maintaining a positive, healthy learning environment by educating youth and encouraging increased water promotion and access in schools. 

As part of Rev Your Bev Week, Y Street’s partner schools and members are participating in a variety of activities to energize their schools’ existing efforts to increase students’ and staff’s access to water. This includes hosting events at their schools to provide tips on how to model healthy behaviors and providing students an opportunity to share their thoughts on water consumption and access. Members are also inviting their school administrators to join the celebration and encouraging them to team up with the Rev Your Bev campaign. 

Y Street members from Lloyd C. Bird High School hosted their Rev Your Bev event on May 2. These students set up a table during their lunch periods to ask their peers to show their support for Rev Your Bev and its model policy by writing messages of support and taking fun pictures with Rev Your Bev-themed items that were displayed on a banner. Y Street members shared their thoughts on the event’s impact.

Sophomore student Kaliyah Ampy noted that “events like this will benefit people to start drinking water more.” Fellow sophomore Jayla Johnson stated, “events like today’s are important because it promotes and supports the benefits of drinking water and why it is important to our bodies and needed for our existence.”

Through numerous events, direct outreach to policymakers, and the collection of over 8,000 surveys to date, the ongoing efforts of Y Street members in their schools and community highlight a dedication to promoting healthy lifestyles and demonstrate the impact youth can have in their schools and communities.

______________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. 

VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Hi everyone! My name is Amber, and I am in the 10th grade at Manor High School in Portsmouth. This is my first year as a member of Y Street, and it has been an absolutely incredible experience. One of the most amazing things I have participated in was our Rev Your Bev event that we hosted at our school.

The Rev Your Bev campaign works with schools across Virginia, encouraging students to drink water! School events are essential because we are able to engage our peers in conversations about healthy hydration and get them excited about drinking water through fun activities. During our event, tons of students and staff filled out our campaign survey that asked them insightful questions about their water consumption habits, providing them with the opportunity to truly think about their current beverage choices. Collecting surveys are important because we share the information gathered with our school administrators to educate them about Rev Your Bev’s model policy and why it’s beneficial.

Once individuals completed a survey, they were allowed to spin a prize wheel and win a fantastic prize! Prizes included fidget cubes, PopSockets, fun stickers, and more! We also offered delicious fruit-infused water, which our school members thoroughly enjoyed. The event was so successful that many students wanted to know how they could show further support!

I am super excited to continue progressing the Rev Your Bev campaign with my fellow Y Street members and hope to have more events at my school. Water is incredibly important to our health, and we want to make sure our school community knows this.

Want to learn more about the Rev your Bev campaign? Follow us on Instagram: @revyourbev or go to revyourbev.com!

Hello! My name is Aliyah and I am currently a junior at Granby High School in Norfolk. This is my second year in Y Street and my first year on the Y Street Leadership Team (YSLT). I have participated in multiple opportunities for our campaigns, Rev Your Bev and Share The Air, that have provided me with an in-depth understanding of the issue of tobacco and e-cigarette-use in outdoor spaces and the importance of healthy hydration, as well as the methods by which I can bring about positive change. I have especially enjoyed the Rev Your Bev campaign, which focuses on increasing the promotion of and access to water in Virginia schools.

On March 16, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in a Rev Your Bev tabling event with a St. Patrick’s Day theme that was held during the lunch period at my school! I worked alongside other Y Street members to educate our peers on the benefits of drinking water throughout the day. We asked students to complete a survey to assess individuals’ attitudes and behaviors regarding water consumption and access. Additionally, we provided fruit-infused water samples for everyone to try – apple kiwi and cucumber lime were the delicious options! Initially, I was nervous to approach and introduce students to the campaign. However, engaging with everyone was a rewarding experience.

In participating in events like the Rev Your Bev tabling event, I’ve seen first-hand the impact of youth activism. I look forward to continuing to work with my school’s Y Street members to advocate for Rev Your Bev and Share The Air.

Want to learn more about the Rev Your Bev campaign? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook: @revyourbev, or go to revyourbev.com!

Hey! My name is Kevin. I’m a sophomore at Page County High School. This is my first year in Y Street, and so far I’m enjoying it. Recently, some other members and I helped host a Rev Your Bev event at our school and it was a lot of fun.

The event took place during our lunch periods. At our table, students were asked to fill out the campaign survey. After completing the survey, they could spin a wheel and win a prize. Prizes included water bottles, fidget spinners, magnets, PopSockets, reusable straws, and bracelets. We also set up a hydration station to offer water to participants.

Through campaign opportunities like these, I understand the importance of a healthy school environment. It was nice to spread this messaging and talk with my peers about healthy hydration, while also making it fun for them.

The Rev Your Bev event was not only a fun experience but also an important one. Ensuring that water is easily accessible is vital for the health of students. Making water easy to access helps students develop healthy habits. Rev Your Bev is an awesome campaign that supports schools in promoting water.

Want to learn more about the Rev Your Bev campaign? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook: @revyourbev, or go to revyourbev.com!

Hello! Our names are Vivian and Ayla, and we are 9th graders at King George High School. This is our first year in Y Street. Recently, we had the amazing opportunity to meet virtually with Delegate Margaret Ransone to discuss Y Street’s campaigns and goals.

We first heard about the opportunity to meet with Delegate Ransone through one of our Youth Field Organizers in Y Street. Knowing this would be an exciting chance to engage with our state representative, we promptly said yes. After a practice session and review of talking points, we joined the Zoom meeting. Delegate Ransone immediately eased tensions with kind greetings as we talked. The actual presentation was only about five minutes long; we spent most of the time on Q&A. It was a very respectful and comfortable environment where Delegate Ransone expressed great interest in our campaigns. She was so interested that she filled out a support card for Share The Air and Rev Your Bev and wanted to attend our next campaign event. After the meeting, it felt like we had accomplished even more than we expected and made an impact!

This meeting, like other key decision-maker meetings we have participated in, has helped us to raise awareness and build support for our campaigns. Working as a team, we were able to support each other in sharing our thoughts, while having fun together. We are so grateful to have had this opportunity!

To learn more about Y Street visit ystreet.org.

Hey! My name is Daniela and I am a sophomore at J.R. Tucker High School. I have been a part of Y Street for two years now. This year, as a returning member, participating in the training was straightforward and educational. The training consisted of four online modules. These modules included information about our campaigns, Rev Your Bev and Share The Air, explaining the benefits of drinking water and creating tobacco-free and vapor-free parklands, and how we can raise awareness.

Did you know that our brains are composed of 73% water, which means water is a real necessity! Fun facts like these are very educational. In reading through the material, watching videos, and completing short quizzes, I was able to easily absorb the information. As a returning Y Street member, I’m genuinely glad I went through the training. The training allowed me to fully comprehend the goals of our campaigns and learn more about exciting new opportunities to get involved.

Now that I’m officially a member again, I have enjoyed interacting with the program and advocating for increased water access in our schools and 100% tobacco-free outdoor spaces.

To learn more about Rev Your Bev and Share The Air, visit revyourbev.com and sharetheairva.com.

Prince George County, VA (April 5, 2022) – The Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department made the decision to update its parks rules prohibiting tobacco- and e-cigarette-use in all of its outdoor recreational areas, effective March 30, 2022. The department has a longstanding rule that prohibits tobacco use in the general vicinity of playgrounds, athletic fields, restroom/concession buildings, and trails. However, following a meeting with Hopewell High School students and Y Street leaders, Phylisha Taylor and Anita Hall, and hearing their testimony on why adopting a comprehensive policy is important and beneficial for everyone, the department signed a commitment form to expand their existing rule so all parklands will be smoke-free, vapor-free, and tobacco-free.

Y Street is the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide volunteer initiative for high school students. Y Street members like Phylisha and Anita strive to make sure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthy spaces and do this by promoting the Share The Air campaign. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free parklands by urging parks and recreation directors and other local government officials to adopt tobacco-free outdoor policies.

Research has demonstrated that a strong majority of Virginians (89%) agree that parklands should be tobacco-free and vapor-free. Additionally, Virginians (88%) feel strongly that secondhand smoke is a dangerous hazard outdoors, and that tobacco and e-cigarette products cause damage to the environment (91%).

With Hopewell partnering with the Share The Air campaign and joining other park leaders in promoting clean outdoor air, more Virginians now have healthier outdoor spaces where they can gather and be active. VFHY Executive Director Marty Kilgore thanks Y Street members like Phylisha and Anita for their continued advocacy and commends Hopewell for their commitment. “VFHY is proud to see youth advocacy like Phylisha and Anita’s lead to healthier communities. This decision by the Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department is a testament to their dedication to provide safe parklands and public spaces for all visitors.”

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity.

VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.