Nicole Sutton | YEA Key Liaison

Nicole Sutton is the Youth Engagement Alliance (YEA) Key Liaison and a founding member of YEA. She has been a health justice and commercial tobacco control advocate for 25 years and has empowered youth and communities around the world. Her expertise includes community-based participatory research, health equity, community-driven policy change, health communication, and guerrilla activism. Nicole’s work with the University of South Florida Center for Social Marketing focuses on vaping and emerging nicotine product use on college campuses and supporting the success of this next generation of public health researchers and practitioners.

Caroline Bennett Anderson | Truth Initiative

Caroline Bennett Anderson is the Manager of Activism & State Strategy at Truth Initiative. In her role, she provides technical assistance support to adults who work with youth across the country, trains community partners on best practices for youth organizing, and designs and implements the organization’s online activism strategy. She previously served as the adult coordinator for D.C.’s youth engagement program, NextGen Action, and coached youth advocates creating change in their own communities. Prior to joining Truth Initiative in 2021, Caroline held positions at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. She is deeply passionate about health equity and providing communities quality health information.

Caroline earned a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the George Washington University. In her free time, she enjoys running, cooking, concerts and cuddling with her cats.

Nicolas Suarez | Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Nicolas Suarez is the Youth Advocacy Program Manager at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, where he leads the organization’s engagement of advocates nationwide and advances the organization’s goals. With over seven years of experience in organizing and political advocacy, Nicolas has a demonstrated ability of empowering others and advancing equity in public health.

Nicolas has worked on political campaigns across Massachusetts, most recently at GOTVAX, a start-up nonprofit where he directed and co-managed efforts combining political organizing tactics with medical expertise, ensuring equitable COVID-19 vaccine access in disenfranchised communities.

Nicolas earned a dual bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations and several accolades including the prestigious Gold Congressional Medal and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ 2017 South Region Youth Advocate of the Year. In his free time, Nicolas enjoys playing soccer, exploring D.C. restaurants, and hiking. As a dynamic leader and advocate in the public health and social impact space, he is committed to spearheading initiatives that drive meaningful change.

Dr. Heather Kennedy | UpRISE

Dr. Heather Kennedy is an Assistant Professor and Manager at UpRISE, Colorado’s social justice youth tobacco control movement. Heather is a youth engagement activist and scholar. As an activist, she has created over a dozen youth leadership groups and engaged teens in local, state, and federal policy advocacy. As a scholar, she is involved in a variety of community-engaged public health and transformative teaching activities. She has almost 25 peer-reviewed publications advancing the knowledge base for high-quality youth-adult partnerships, youth participatory action research, and youth-led health promotion. At 17, Heather learned the power of her voice, and ever since she has been a stalwart advocate for supporting adults to engage youth authentically.

Luke Witkowski | Wisconsin CTPTP

Luke Witkowski is the Youth Programs Coordinator at the Wisconsin Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Program (CTPTP). With over 20 years of experience, Luke provides contract administration for the youth and young adult programs that CTPTP funds. Mr. Witkowski also provides training and technical assistance to local, state, and national organizations on issues related to youth and young adult tobacco prevention, intervention, and cessation.

Jill Wright | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Jill Wright, MPH, is the ISTEP Youth Coordinator and Community Health Consultant at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Jill has over eight years of working alongside young people. Her passions lie in youth-adult partnerships and youth leadership development. She finds joy in coaching and mentoring young people to gain the skills and confidence toward becoming young leaders. Outside of work, you can find Jill loving on her family, volunteering at church, and enjoying the smalltown life of farmer’s markets and community events.

Ignacio Burgos | CYAN

Ignacio Burgos is Youth and Young Adult Program Manager at the California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN). He has over five years of experience in youth engagement, education and advocacy. His diverse background in the arts, cultural studies and inclusive education has guided his passion for community healing, action, and change. His work with youth, young adults, and their adult allies across California has helped to expand intergenerational partnerships and shift the culture of youth engagement toward strength-based processes. Throughout his efforts, Ignacio aspires to be a bridge maker for unheard voices and a beautifier of the journeys toward community resilience. Beyond work, Ignacio enjoys nerding out with his children, eating great food with family and friends, being in nature, and reading imaginative stories.

Kim Homer Vagadori | CYAN

Kimberlee Homer Vagadori, MPH, is the Project Director at the California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN). With 24 years of experience in tobacco prevention, she is an expert on youth and young adult tobacco and cannabis use behavior, engaging young people in systems change initiatives, and smoke- and tobacco-free campus advocacy. She has successfully coordinated systemwide college policy initiatives in California. Ms. Homer Vagadori also provides assistance and training to local, state, and national organizations on issues such as youth engagement in local advocacy, campus-based tobacco treatment, and youth and young adults substance use. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Davis, and Master’s in Public Health from San Jose State University.

Bryce Kahari | The Center for Black Health & Equity

Bryce Kahari (he/him) is the Cancer Program Manager at The Center for Black Health & Equity, where he oversees and coordinates the planning, implementation, and evaluation of cancer initiatives within The Center’s Tobacco & Cancer programs. Bryce is an educator, facilitator, writer, and storyteller with over 12 years of experience in public health. He has worked with local, state, and national partners across various fields, including substance use, tobacco control, cancer control, LGBTQI+ health, racial equity, and youth/young adult programs. In 2016, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids named Bryce the National Youth Advocate of the Year.

Bryce served as the Training and TA Manager at the National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network for three years. He graduated in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in communication studies. In his spare time, Bryce is the editor-in-chief of an online poetry community. He lives along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Amanda Irizzary | Truth Initiative

Amanda Irizarry is the Manager of Youth Advocacy at Truth Initiative. As a proud Philadelphia native, Amanda has dedicated the past 12 years to ensuring every young person she encounters feels seen, valued, and heard. Her passion lies in creating spaces that empower youth and marginalized communities to recognize their individual strength and collective power to drive systems-level change. With expertise in Social Justice Youth Development (SJYD), Youth-Adult Partnerships (YAP), and public health advocacy, Amanda has spent a decade at the forefront of tobacco control, serving as both a social innovator and a steadfast champion for young people.

Amanda holds a Master of Public Health Management and Administration from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she was honored with the Provost Award for Advocacy, Leadership, and Service. She previously served as Manager at The Advocacy Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Director of Youth Programs at the Indiana Department of Health, where she managed VOICE Indiana’s State Department of Health’s Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Division; and Senior Manager at The 84 Movement, a statewide program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program.

Patricia Bailey-Jones | Vikings Kicking Out Tobacco

Patricia Bailey-Jones is the founder of Vikings Kicking Out Tobacco (VKOT), an organization she started in 2024 that develops youth leadership and advocates for tobacco prevention. Patricia’s commitment to creating a healthier future for young people was the driving force behind VKOT. Under Patricia's leadership, VKOT has achieved remarkable success. The group was honored as the top-performing tobacco prevention group in Texas in the years 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2024. These accolades are a testament to Patricia's dedication and the hard work of the youth involved in VKOT. In 2019, VKOT received the prestigious National Youth Advocate Group of the Year Award. This national recognition highlighted the impact of the organization and reinforced Patricia's belief in the power of youth advocacy.

Patricia is a dedicated educator and advocate who has made significant strides in youth empowerment and tobacco prevention. She pursued both her bachelor's and master's degrees in education at Arkansas State University, where she cultivated a passion for nurturing young minds and fostering leadership skills. Patricia's approach is rooted in the philosophy of a youth-adult partnership, where she collaborates closely with young people to develop and implement innovative strategies for change. Her motivational leadership style encourages youth to take ownership of their roles as agents of change, allowing them to thrive in environments that foster growth and resilience. The organization quickly gained recognition for its innovative approach to engaging youth in meaningful advocacy efforts.

Patricia Bailey-Jones is deeply committed to empowering young people. Through VKOT, she has created a platform for youth to voice their concerns and take active roles in their communities. Her work emphasizes the importance of youth leadership and the potential of young advocates to effect lasting change. Patricia's efforts have left an indelible mark on the field of tobacco prevention and youth advocacy. Her work continues to inspire future generations of leaders, proving that with passion and dedication, change is possible. Through VKOT, Patricia Bailey-Jones has not only advocated for a tobacco-free future but has also championed the empowerment of youth across the nation.

Steven Sergent | FL SWAT

Steve Sergent is the Statewide Youth Advocacy Coordinator at Florida Students Working Against Tobacco (FL SWAT). He has been a member of the YEA Leadership Team since 2024.