That's right, the 2010 JEL Summit is here! We've made the connection between Big Tobacco trying to hook US on their deadly product with their lies and deceit, all just to make a buck. We've made the connection between tobacco products and the harm it does to, not only the user, but to everyone around them! Now it is time for the youth of Iowa to stand together, fight to get their voices heard and Break the Connection!


The 2010 Break the Connection JEL Summit will be held June 17-19, 2010, at Central College in Pella. The Summit is a chance for teens all over the state to join together to take action against Big Tobacco and their deadly products.

YOU can be apart of the action, so click on the Summit application link below to sign up and participate in the 2010 Break the Connection JEL Summit!

2010 Break the Connection JEL Summit Application

HEEEAR YE, HEEEAR YE! The top 5 bands for the Battle of the Bands Presented by JEL have been chosen! Over 1,500 Battle of the Bands Presented by JEL Facebook fans voted and chose the lucky 5 Iowa-based teen bands to play at the FINAL BATTLE LIVE on April 10th, at Peoples on Court in downtown Des Moines. The bands are Graduating Summer from Waverly, Half Step Down from Osage and New Haven, Modern Day Satire from Ankeny, Purple Silence from Sully and Pella, and Thee Opening from Anita! These bands have LOADS of talent, so it should be a great show. Don't forget all the great activities and prizes JEL will be giving away. Check back here at The Latest for more info on the event as it approaches. Until then, save the date on your calendars!

JEL youth gathered at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls at the Iowa High School Class 2A and 3A State Football championships this past weekend to show their support and to get teens to "See the Connection" between tobacco use and its effects. The youth gathered in groups and handed out rally towels to the participating teams according to their teams colors. They also had sandwich boards with "connections" of how tobacco use effects the user and the people around them they care about the most, i.e. the secondhand smoke from a loved one can cause asthma in a child. See the Connection?

Solon, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Pella, and Harlan fans all received the rally towels that had JEL's new logo, as well as the See the Connection website. Stay tuned for more pics!

It is finally here! The event you’ve all been waiting for. The Battle of the Bands Presented by JEL gives high school age bands in Iowa a chance to win an out-of-this-world prize pack and to play on one of Iowa’s biggest music venues, while it also gives the people the chance to choose who gets that honor! JEL wants bands to sign-up here and send in video auditions that the Battle’s Facebook fans will check out and vote for who they want to move onto the next rounds. The final 5 bands will play in April 2010 at Peoples on Court in downtown Des Moines for a chance at a spot on the youth stage at the 80/35 Music Festival, $2,000 worth of FREE music equipment from Rieman Music, and a free day of recording at Envy Corps’ personal recording studio! Bands, enter today! Get your fans to become our fans and vote! And don’t worry fans, you can win awesome prizes, too! What are you waiting for?

Bands sign up here
Check out www.youtube.com/JELBattleoftheBands for band video auditions
Become a fan of the Battle of the Bands Presented by JEL Facebook page here.

JEL will hold a regional summit in Spencer on November 14-15. Please print out the registration form below and mail it back to JEL before November 6. The summit is free to attend but JEL is not providing transportation. Please contact Garin at info@jeliowa.org or 515.281.4299 if you have questions.

See you in November!

Spencer Regional Summit Brochure

Spencer Regional Summit Application Form

Welcome to the new and improved JEL Iowa website! As you can see, we have made a few changes to our look, especially our logo. Our new logo signifies all that JEL is about. When you see a lie about you on a notebook, bathroom wall, or a desk, what's the first thing you want to do? "X" it out as fast and as hard as you can! Our "X" stands for our attempt to scratch out and just eliminate as many of Big Tobacco's lies as possible.
We've also added a couple new functions to the site, including the calendar of JEL events, the cool JEL slideshow, showcasing our mission, and, the newest function, is, of course, what you are reading right now. Introducing JEL's new "The Latest" blog! We will be using this section to update you on everything that is going on with JEL. Whether it's some of our upcoming awesome street marketing events, news on JEL's battle with Big Tobacco, or really just anything going on with JEL. Be sure to check back often, as new updates will be popping up all the time! .