Upcoming Regional Coalition Meetings
The Regional Pennsylvania Tobacco-Free Coalition meeting is coming up fast. Join us for our March meeting to learn about the latest resources, webinars, projects and updates currently taking place and to network. All meetings below will be held from 10 AM through 2 PM.
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SC Region: March 7, 2023 - Giant, Camp Hill
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NC Region: March 14, 2023 - Best Western Country Cupboard, Lewisburg
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NE Region: March 15, 2023 - Lehigh Valley Pocono Hospital, East Stroudsburg
- SC Region: June 6, 2023 - TBD
- NC Region: June 7, 2023 - TBD
- NE Region: June 13, 2023 - TBD
If you are interested in attending the March meetings, click on the registration links above. For all others, please contact Jennifer King. There may be an option to attend these meetings virtually. Details coming soon.
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Day at the Capitol: Registration is Now Open!
The Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (PACT) and the Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU) invite you to join adult and youth advocates from across the Commonwealth as we return to Harrisburg for the Day at the Capitol 2023 (DATC) on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Together, we will work to shape future state tobacco control laws by meeting with legislators to advocate for comprehensive clean indoor air and MSA funding.
Adult advocates, including TRU+ members, can learn more about the event and register at PACTonline.org/datc-2023. TRU advisors can register their groups right from the TRU event page. If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please use the PACT form and select ‘Volunteer’ for the first question. Volunteers will not be able to participate in the DATC legislative meetings.
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Tobacco-Free Campus 2023 Summit
The Pennsylvania Department of Health, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (PACT), invites you to the 2023 Tobacco-Free Campus Summit taking place virtually on March 1, 2023 from 10:00 AM through 3:00 PM. Learn about the importance of a comprehensive tobacco-free campus policy and the resources available to support policy development and implementation on your campus.
This interactive summit is open to anyone interested in turning their college campus into a tobacco-free campus, whether they are just starting out or are in the process of drafting or updating a policy. Registration is open! For questions, please contact Amber Fields or Lauren Chappel.
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Let's Celebrate Black History Month
Since 1976, February has been designated as a time to prioritize honoring the history, culture, achievements, and resilience of Black Americans. A time to come together, to learn more and do more, as we create a more inclusive and a just future.
The Lung Association is observing Black History Month in several ways - both, internally and externally. Our 2023 Black History Month Series highlights several individuals or organizations for their work to improve lung health, spotlighted on our social media platforms weekly. In conjunction with the release of the Lung Association's State of Tobacco Control report, we will amplify our action alert asking the Biden Administration to remove menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars from the market.
Below, you can find actions you can take to honor and celebrate Black History Month:
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Continue to educate yourself on Black history. Sign up to receive 28 days of Black History emails containing cultural artifacts, action steps, and discussion questions you can use to have meaningful conversations.
- Learn about Black History. Visit a local museum or library and learn more about the history and contributions of the Black community in your area.
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Spend time with your children and learn more about Black history and the Black leaders who have fought for equity, equality, and social justice. Consider viewing Questlove’s animated Disney series for kids or reading these children’s books.
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Participate in a virtual Black History Month Festival. The theme for this year’s Association for the Study of African American Life is Black Resistance.
- Look for opportunities to be of service. Consider becoming the mentor for a child, young professional or colleague.
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Seek out and support Black-owned businesses near you.
I hope these resources and materials will serve as a catalyst for our collective journey toward understanding and growth. “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced,” -James Baldwin.
Article by: Lea S. Gutierrez, American Lung Association, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
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NEW! Freedom From Smoking Resources for Hispanic or Latino Communities
American Lung Association's National Tobacco Programs Team is proud to equip our trained facilitators with several new tailored resources to best engage Hispanic or Latino communities throughout their service area. This suite of new Hispanic or Latino resources include the following items below:
INDEPTH® Materials
NOT® Materials
NOT for Me Materials
Freedom From Smoking® Referral
Teen Resources
E-cigarette Resources
The team will continue to strive for equitable practices and resources to support the strategic imperative to create a tobacco-free world. For more details or questions, you can contact FreedomFromSmoking@Lung.org.
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Help Us Help Our Veterans! FREE Cessation Program for Military Personnel or Veterans
While anyone can get lung cancer, smoking is the leading risk factor. According to CDC, in the US, cigarette smoking prevalence is higher among people currently serving in the military than among the civilian population. Cigarette smoking prevalence is even higher among military personnel who have been deployed.
Veterans may not know that if they stop smoking, their lung function can improve within a month and, within ten years, their chance of developing lung cancer and dying from it is roughly cut in half. If younger veterans quit before the age of 40, their risk of dying from a smoking-related disease drops by about 90%.
American Lung Association was recently awarded $10,000 from Veterans United to support tobacco cessation programming for military personnel and veterans. Through this gift, the Lung Association aims to connect an additional 100 military personnel and veterans to Freedom From Smoking Plus (FFS Plus), help them quit smoking for good and reduce their risk of lung cancer. To claim their freedom from tobacco, military personnel and veterans are invited to register for their own FFS Plus Membership ($99.95 value). For questions, contact the FFS team. Help us spread the good word today.
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Seeking Premier Youth Ambassadors for Radon Reduction Program
Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction (CR3) is presently recruiting youth to participate in the Premier Youth Ambassadors for Radon Reduction (PYA) program. The program aims to provide support to students interested in radon activities and are willing to participate in a radon industry mentorship program.
The goal is to develop young adults from across the country that have a strong sense of civic responsibility and a commitment to their communities regarding radon gas testing, mitigation, and education. The program aims to promote mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration between people in the industry and health care fields. The program is open to youth ages 14 and up and adult leaders who will serve as mentors.
This program will explore themes such as the science of radon testing and mitigation, as well as education, leadership, cross-cultural connections and community service. The youth will develop their interests through specific activities such as: leadership trainings, civic participation, mentoring by the community and by engaging with families and volunteerism.
APPLICATION: Students ages 14 and up must apply by filling out an application. For more details, contact Jackie Nixon by emailing her or by calling (412) 961-1980.
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Through with Chew Youth Activity
To celebrate Through with Chew week, which is February 19-25, and the Great American Smoke Out on February 23rd, TRU is encouraging youth to complete the Chew on This activity. This is an opportunity for TRU groups to educate others about the dangers of smokeless tobacco and offer them a tasty treat to chew on instead. Find all the details for this activity in the instruction sheet.
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Coalition Member Spotlight / Highlights |
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Va-Lung-Tine's Day, February 4th Event
Article by Mary Frasier, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
The Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center hosted a "Va-lung-tine" TRU program at their center on February 4th. Youth participated in a number of self-love activities, including facemasks, journaling, practicing positive self-talk, and learning about how to love their lungs. We spoke about the dangers of vaping and secondhand smoke and that self-love included their physical body's health. The participants learned that loving themselves and others includes caring about lung health. Additionally, we had craft supplies to create "va-lung-tines" to give to friends, loved ones, or even themselves! The "va-lung-tines" featured fun phrases like "we be-lung together," "I'm so glad we get a-lung," and "you take me breath away." The participants had a great time!
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Celebrating Health and Martin Luther King Day
Article by Amy Lauver, Harrisburg Area YMCA
The Harrisburg Area YMCA Center for Healthy Living attended the Penn State Department of Emergency Medicine, Martin Luther King Day 2023 celebration. The event was held at the Central Allison Hill Community Center in Harrisburg. The YMCA staff shared a plethora of information regarding chronic disease prevention programs and tobacco cessation programs, such as their Freedom From Smoking classes, among several others that they offer. Youth were also educated on the harmful effects of tobacco use and vaping. It was a very educational and successful day for everyone involved!
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