UK tobacco prevention initiative hosts open mic night to inspire change
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 18, 2025) — A University of Kentucky initiative focused on tobacco prevention and cessation is inviting youth and adults to share their experiences via an open mic night at EPIC – An Annual Urban Art Hop Celebrating Community Voice. EPIC will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at LexArts, in collaboration with Urban Art Hop and Project Ricochet.
The UK initiative, EMPOWER is part of the UK PREVENT Alliance aimed at improving the health of the Commonwealth of Kentucky using a community-engaged, evidence informed approach. EMPOWER focuses on reducing the use of menthol and flavored tobacco products in underrepresented communities in Kentucky.
During the EPIC arts event, BREATHE: Champions of Change Open Mic Night, will invite participants to share original poetry/prose pieces that reflect their experiences with tobacco marketing, social influence and opportunities to support health for all in their communities.
EPIC will showcase art, music and powerful spoken word performances. It will feature a performance by Taca Hollis, spoken word artist and 2024-25 Project Ricochet Artist-in-Residence.
“We are delighted to provide an opportunity for community voice and engagement during this event. I hope everyone will feel empowered to step up to the mic and share personal stories, hope for change, or calls to action,” said Melinda Ickes, Ph.D., acting associate dean of research at the UK College of Education and professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion.
Project Ricochet, a sponsor of the event, was founded by Abeni El-Amin, Ph.D., public health innovation program manager for the EMPOWER initiative at UK.
“EPIC is a vibrant celebration of community, creativity, and cultural expression,” El-Amin said. “By viewing tobacco’s impact through the lens of artistic expression, we hope this shared experience will elevate the voices of our communities most impacted and inspire hope for change.”
Since its inception, EMPOWER has engaged more than 1,500 individuals in tobacco prevention and cessation through training and outreach activities across Lexington and Louisville, with community health educators and community champions leading the way. EMPOWER has strengthened partnerships with cultural hubs such as community-based organizations and schools to integrate health education into community settings in innovative ways, co-created for and with the community.
To learn more about community-engaged tobacco prevention and cessation activities at UK, visit ukprevent.org.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.