By Ana Martinez-Ortiz The first time Shyquetta McElroy puffed on a cigarette, she was 12 and had just lit it for her mom. She did not like it, but nearly a decade later, she tried again. For 11 years, McElroy smoked on and off. This past January, McElroy quit smoking for good and instead picked […]
No Menthol Sunday Goes Virtual for 2020
By Ana Martinez-Ortiz La’Ketta Caldwell knew she had to be a part of No Menthol Sunday. As a youth development professional and an artist, Caldwell viewed the opportunity as a chance to positively impact her community, especially the youth. For her part in last Sunday’s statewide day of observance, Caldwell recited her poem, “Awaken.” “The […]
The Next Steps in Wisconsin’s Plan for Clean Air
By Ana Martinez-Ortiz In the summer heat and humidity, it’s not always easy to catch a deep breath. However, when one finally gets an opportunity to inhale, there’s a good chance that it is smoke free air. Nine years ago, on July 5, 2010, Wisconsin implemented its Smoke Free Air law. The law advocated for […]
Milwaukee Health Department Plans to Address Tobacco Disparities
By Ana Martinez-Ortiz When it comes to tobacco, most people know at least one person in his or her life who smokes. In Wisconsin, the state average reaches 16 percent, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Last week, the Wisconsin African-American Tobacco Prevention Network (WAATPN) and the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network […]
As we Reflect on the Legacy of African-Americans this Month, Let’s not Forget to Talk about Menthol
By Jeff Engelmann and Delores Green As we celebrate Black History Month, there are many notable achievements our state can be proud of. We elected Mandela Barnes, the first African-American Lieutenant Governor in our state. On Jan. 7, 2019, 19-year-old college student Kalan Haywood became the youngest state legislator in Wisconsin, and perhaps, the nation. […]
Local Teens Celebrate Fifth Anniversary of Wisconsin Law Barring Indoor Smoking
by Edgar Mendez Milwaukee, WI — With the sun shining down on their smiling faces and a gentle breeze keeping them cool, members of FACT, Wisconsin’s youth-led tobacco prevention movement, gathered recently in front of Atkinson Library, 1960 W. Atkinson Ave., to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the enactment of Wisconsin’s indoor smoking law. The […]