FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

City of Riviera Beach Youth Council Wins 2026 Youth Council Excellence Award for Anti-Vape Campaign 

RIVIERA BEACH, FL. (April 21, 2026) – The City of Riviera Beach proudly announces that the Riviera Beach Youth Council has been named one of three winners of the 2026 Youth Council Excellence Award by the Florida League of Cities (FLC). This annual statewide competition recognizes outstanding youth council initiatives that make significant, positive impacts on their local municipalities. 

The Riviera Beach Youth Council earned this prestigious recognition for its impactful Anti-Vape Campaign. This community awareness initiative was specifically developed to protect young residents by educating them on the severe health dangers of vaping and the serious legal consequences associated with THC-related products. Recognizing that vaping has become increasingly normalized among middle and high school students, the council took decisive action to address the crisis. 

To maximize the reach and impact of their message, the Youth Council formed strategic partnerships with the City of Riviera Beach Chief of Police, the Palm Beach County School District, and the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition. Together, they delivered a comprehensive, multi-layered campaign. The initiative featured informational posters distributed throughout local schools, an engaging Youth Town Hall, recorded public service announcements, and a dynamic social media awareness drive using youth-friendly graphics and short videos. The campaign achieved regional prominence when a Youth Council member appeared in a local news special segment on teen vaping, proving that young people can successfully identify community challenges and lead meaningful solutions. 

In recognition of their hard work, the Riviera Beach Youth Council will receive a $500 monetary award and a trophy. They share this year's honors with the Pembroke Pines Youth Advisory Board and the West Park Youth Council. All winning projects will be featured online, on the League’s social media outlets, and in the FLC's Quality Cities magazine. 

For more information on the winning projects and the 2026 Youth Council Excellence Award, visit flcities.com/youth-councils. 

For media inquiries and more information, please contact: 

Brittany Thomas 

Public Information Officer 

Bthomas@rivierabeach.org 

C: 561-371-1533