Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health to host annual Break Free Youth Action Summit

Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health (BBPH) will host the Break Free Youth Action Summit (YAS) on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at the Bismarck Event Center. The event is organized and supported by BBPH and Tobacco Free North Dakota. Approximately 150 middle and high school students and their advisors are expected to attend. The summit is offered at no cost to participants.

The YAS provides an opportunity for youth advocates to demonstrate their commitment to creating 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 is Samuel Allen, a national Truth Initiative youth advocacy leader. He will be joined by Truth Champions. Together, they will share their experience with tobacco prevention efforts at the national level and highlight Truth strategies that help reduce youth tobacco use. Attendees will learn about leadership principles and how to amplify the youth voice on tobacco prevention initiatives.

"We are excited to host the annual Bismarck Youth Action Summit," Alex Menke, BBPH tobacco prevention specialist, said. "National organizations like Truth Initiative have made an impact in the tobacco prevention space, and we are looking forward to providing students with new ways 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 vaping epidemic. Although youth smoking rates have decreased in recent years, e-cigarette use among high school students remains high. According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, current vaping among North Dakota high school students is 18%, compared with 9% among adults.

In the weeks and months following the summit, students will work with their peers to create activities for the Great American Smokeout (Nov. 20) and the Great American Spit Out (Feb. 19, 2026).

For more information, visit https://tfnd.org/youth-action-summit/.

Editor's note: Media will be allowed into the event for recording purposes, but are asked to keep their entrance and exit discreet to avoid disrupting participants. Media may request interviews with youth participants on the day of the summit through coordination with Alex Menke.