The dangers of vaping remain at the top of the headlines. Join Megan Jacobs during her Upswell Chicago Spark Talk to learn how she’s helping young people stop vaping through a text messaging program that shares the advice of other young people who have quit e-cigarettes.

Megan is among the six finalists vying for the 2019 NGen Leadership Award, presented annually to a changemaker age 40 or younger who has demonstrated transformative impact and collaborative leadership in addressing a critical societal need.

She’s also managing director of product innovations at Truth Initiative, America’s largest nonprofit public health organization committed to making tobacco use a thing of the past.

During her Spark Talk, Megan will provide details about Truth Initiative’s new effort, “This is Quitting,” a free, 24-7 text-to-quit vaping service. This first-of-its-kind program offers vaping cessation support by leveraging the advice young people want to give each other, along with evidence-based approaches to treat nicotine addiction.

Megan will also educate changemakers about the dangers of e-cigarettes, particularly for young people; discuss innovative solutions to stop vaping; and share a common vernacular changemakers can use to discuss this prominent health threat with young people. According to Megan, attendees “will be inspired by the ways that young people help each other, supported by this novel cessation program.”

Megan and her fellow NGen Leadership Award finalists will all be presenting or speaking during our three days in Chicago. They’ll also be at our Leadership Awards Reception—happening Thursday, November 14—where we’ll announce the winner of the 2019 award!

If you haven’t already, save your spot to join us this November and make plans to meet our six fabulous finalists and celebrate our winner when we announce them in Chicago!

Helping Young People Quit Vaping by Helping Each Other is happening Thursday, November 14 from 4:00 – 4:10pm.