Light House Studio partnered with Region Ten for the Clear the Air PSA project, an effort to spread the word about the dangers of tobacco use. The two organizations spent nine weeks with students at Charlottesville High School, first teaching them about common health risks from smoking and vaping, and then helping them spread that knowledge by writing, filming, and editing their own 90-second PSA. The hope is that teenagers who might not respond to adults telling them not to smoke or vape will listen when the message comes from their peers instead.‍‍

Rachel Lane, Program Director: Over the past nine weeks, we've been partnering with Region Ten at Charlottesville High School. Throughout the Clear the Air PSA program, high school students have been learning tobacco prevention facts from Region Ten staff and learning how to write, film and edit their own tobacco prevention PSA.

Yasmine, Student: We just finished up a PSA on the topic of tobacco and vaping usage in teens and adults.

Jakira, Student: We made a 90-second video and it was about vaping and stuff. It was good.

Zeniyah, Student: My role was the test taker student, and basically, I just took a test and showed how vaping can affect your concentration.

Yasmine, Student: My role in creating this PSA was pitching ideas and creative thoughts, how make this go or achievement come true?

Naimh, Student: I learned how to shoot videos, direct them.

Zeniyah: My favorite part of the project was using the camera and learning all the different buttons.

Jakira: My favorite part was using a camera and being on camera.

Laketa Kelly, Region Ten: I hope that the participants were able to learn a lot and to get a lot of experience with cameras. Definitely more experience about the dangers of vaping for themselves.

Yasmine: Making this PSA, I learned the harmful effects that vaping have on your body and the harmful effects that it have in your day-to-day attributes.

Naimh: I think I learned how bad vaping can be for your body.

Zeniyah: Basically, I just learned how to edit.

Laketa Kelly: I do think it's a big advantage of having the students versus professionals or adults, because I do feel like—that it meets the students where they're at, so they can see other peers that are on the same level as them make a wise choice. And that can also help them want to listen more to the information provided.