Recap: SacBreathe’s 12th Annual PSA Contest + Breathe Youth Fest

First Place winner, Hannah Gong from Franklin High School, and her family

Air quality is an ongoing issue in Sacramento, “ranked 5th in the nation for worst ozone pollution”[1]. Poor air quality can negatively affect lung health and increase the risk of respiratory illness, especially for youth, older adults, and individuals with existing health conditions. It is important to take action to educate the public on how to reduce their carbon footprint for better air quality, which leads to healthier lungs. We don’t always know how our everyday routines impact air quality, so it’s imperative that the public receives education and reminders to make better choices when possible.

That’s exactly what 6th-12th grade students in the Sacramento region did with their public service announcements. These students took initiative with SacBreathe’s 12th Annual PSA Contest to address issues related to lung health, including the Harms and Impacts of Commercial Tobacco, Air Quality Education and Information, and Food Scraps Recycling and Recovery. They did this by creating 30-60 second videos educating the public on how they can make a difference in Sacramento’s air through simple everyday changes. SacBreathe received over 30 submissions from 23 schools in the region! Students had the option to collaborate with peers, and over 80 students came together to take environmental action! We are proud and inspired by the creativity we saw in this year’s contest.

This year’s submissions included so many incredible videos, and the creativity and effort from students made it challenging to narrow down our final winners. Thanks to our panel of reviewers, we were able to carefully evaluate each submission and select this year’s winners. Awards were given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, as well as special recognitions for Breathe’s Pick, and YAB (Youth Advisory Board) Pick. The winning videos highlighted students’ work in each category: Food Scraps Recycling and Recovery, Harms of Commercial Tobacco, and Air Quality Education and Information. SacBreathe is proud to announce this year’s winners:

PSA Winners and their Videos

1st Place – Food Scraps Recycling & Recovery‍ ‍

First place was awarded to Hannah Gong from Franklin High School for her focus on Food Scraps Recycling and Recovery. This submission highlighted the importance of reducing methane emissions by correctly sorting food waste. Composting and food recovery can help lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, supporting an overall healthier community.

2nd Place – Harms and Impacts of Commercial Tobacco (Ariah, Danika, and Zahara)‍ ‍

Second place was awarded to teammates Ariah, Danika Leon, and Zahara. The team addressed the Harms and Impacts of Commercial Tobacco through an animated video. The group’s message emphasized the impacts of smoking on those around you. This submission encouraged viewers to make healthy choices to not only protect their own lungs, but also those around them.

3rd Place (Tie) – Air Quality Information and Education (Marwa and John)‍ ‍

Third place was a tie between Marwa Qadery from El Camino High School and John Walker from Franklin High School.  Both videos focused on Air Quality Information and Education, raising awareness about how our everyday decisions impact air pollution.  They encouraged community members to take action to reduce emissions to protect the air we all breathe.

Breathe’s Pick – Harms and Impacts of Commercial Tobacco (Navaeh and Nehemiah)‍ ‍

The Breathe’s Pick Award went to Navaeh Herron and Nehemiah Caldwell from Cordova High School. The duo delivered a powerful message against the harms of commercial tobacco. This submission stood out for its strong message against smoking and protecting lung health, overall helping youth understand the risks associated with tobacco and vape products.

YAB’s Pick – Harms and Impacts of Commercial Tobacco (James Lopez)‍ ‍

The YAB Pick Award was given to El Camino Fundamental’s James Lopez. His video highlighted the harms of commercial tobacco use. This video connected with the youth, giving a distorted, uneasy view of tobacco and vaping products. YAB selected this video for its creativity and ability to connect with young audiences about the negative impacts of tobacco products, both mentally and physically.

The PSA Contest is a reminder that education and youth leadership play an important role in creating healthier communities. By speaking out about the harms of commercial tobacco, the importance of air quality, and the impact of food scraps recycling and recovery, these students helped show how we can make small changes to improve our air quality.

Environmental justice and public health are closely connected, and it is inspiring to see young people in the Sacramento region take action on issues that directly impact their lives. SacBreathe is proud to continue supporting opportunities for students to use their voices to educate their peers and help build a future with cleaner air and healthier lungs for everyone. Want to be part of our next PSA contest? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @sacbreathe and keep a look out around fall to see details about our 13th Annual PSA Contest.

Author: Sharon Kaur

[1]https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/cdd/Planning/General-Plan/Air-Quality-and-Pollution-Exposure-Factbook-Updated.pdf

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