YUBA COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Blue Zones Project Yuba-Sutter, in partnership with the Yuba County Tobacco Coalition and Community Health Action Team, is launching Wellness Wins: High School Club Creative Competition to empower youth to inspire their peers to choose wellness over nicotine. Starting Sept. 15, high school clubs across Yuba County can submit creative projects, videos, posters, art, social media campaigns, skits or school-wide initiatives that showcase wellness as a powerful alternative to tobacco and vaping.

This effort comes at a critical time, as nearly nine out of 10 long-term nicotine users begin before age 18. With products like vapes and Zyn often marketed in candy and fruit flavors to attract youth, peer-to-peer education is more important than ever. The competition encourages students to channel their creativity to promote wellness strategies like walking, journaling, and connecting with friends as positive, healthy alternatives to nicotine. 

“We believe young people are the most powerful advocates for change among their peers,” said Ricky Samayoa of Blue Zones Project Yuba-Sutter. “This competition gives them a platform to speak out and share their vision for a healthier future.”

Key dates include a virtual information session on Sept. 8 (after press time), on Sept. 15 the contest officially opens, on Oct. 1 there will be a virtual check-in session, on Oct. 22 submissions are due, on Nov. 13 winners will be announced at the Yuba County Community Tobacco Forum

Prizes include $500 for first place, $300 for second and $200 for third. Winning projects will be showcased at the Nov. 13 Tobacco Forum, alongside conversations with community leaders, educators, parents and health providers. 

Clubs can register and find full contest details at yubasutter.bluezonesproject.com/.

About Blue Zones Project

Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to a city's environment, policy and social networks. Blue Zones Project is based on research by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow and New York Times best-selling author who identified five cultures of the world, or blue zones, with the highest concentration of people living to 100 years or older. The Project incorporates Buettner’s findings and works with cities to implement policies and programs that will move a community toward optimal health and well-being. Blue Zones launched the first pilot community in 2009 in Albert Lea, MN with groundbreaking results. In partnership with Sharecare, the model has since been applied to more than 70 communities across North America, impacting more than 4.35 million citizens. The population health solution includes two Health Districts in California; 15 cities in Iowa; the city of Fort Worth, Texas; Corry, Pennsylvania; Brevard, North Carolina; Walla Walla Valley, Washington; and communities in Southwest Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Oklahoma, Oregon and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.bluezonesproject.com.

About Blue Zones Project Yuba-Sutter

Blue Zones Project works with the Yuba-Sutter community to create an even better place to live, learn, work and play. When the entire community participates – from worksites and schools to our restaurants and grocery stores – small changes contribute to huge benefits for us all: lowered health care costs, improved productivity and ultimately, a higher quality of life. We look forward to working together to help make healthier choices easier for everyone in the Yuba-Sutter area.

About Yuba County Tobacco Coalition

The Yuba County Tobacco Coalition is a collaborative effort of community organizations, health advocates and local leaders working to reduce tobacco and nicotine use, particularly among youth, through education, policy advocacy and community engagement.