NYC Smoke-Free at Public Health Solutions

🎤🔥 It’s BACK, NYC! 🔥🎤
The NYC No Menthol Poetry Event returns for another powerful night of youth and adult voices, spoken word, and community.
Come hear from our young leaders, feel the energy, and be part of a movement for change.
🍽️ Free food
🎁 Giveaways
🎤 Live performances
💬 Real community vibes
Let’s come together, lift our voices, and build a to***co-free future.
👉 Register now — don’t miss it!

Our NYC Smoke-Free Manhattan team showed up strong at the 7th Annual Legislative Town Hall alongside our partners at NYC Treats To***co.

In partnership with the East Harlem Community Health Committee, the Human Services Consortium of East Harlem, and Senator Cordell Cleare, this powerful gathering brought together elected officials, service providers, and community members to elevate the voices and needs of East Harlem.

Together, we discussed major issues impacting our communities. With leaders from every level of government in the room, the morning centered on deepening shared understanding of key policy issues and advancing health equity.

October is LGBTQ History Month! LGBTQ History Month was first proposed by Rodney Wilson, the first out Missouri Public School teacher. Wilson's rationale behind selecting October as LGBTQ History Month was to honor National Coming Out Day (October 11) which was first celebrated in 1988 as well as the 1979 March on Washington for Le***an and Gay Rights.
(University of Illinois, Gender & Sexuality Resource Center)

October is LGBTQ History Month! LGBTQ History Month was first proposed by Rodney Wilson, the first out Missouri Public School teacher. Wilson's rationale behind selecting October as LGBTQ History Month was to honor National Coming Out Day (October 11) which was first celebrated in 1988 as well as the 1979 March on Washington for Le***an and Gay Rights. (University of Illinois, Gender & Sexuality Resource Center) #nycsmokefree #lgbtq #lgbtqhistorymonth

NYC Smoke-Free had the privilege of attending the 2025 National Conference on To***co or Health (NCTOH) in Chicago, IL last week. As one of the largest gatherings for to***co control professionals in the U.S., the conference brought together public health leaders, to***co control experts, and national representatives dedicated to reducing to***co-related harm and improving public health.

Our team was proud to contribute through sessions, presentations, and networking opportunities, exchanging ideas and learning from colleagues across the nation. The conference offered a valuable space to explore emerging strategies and evidence-based approaches to advancing to***co control policies and advocacy.

NYC Smoke-Free is excited to bring these insights back to New York City and continue working towards building healthier communities.

***cocontrol ***cofree

NYC Smoke-Free had the privilege of attending the 2025 National Conference on To***co or Health (NCTOH) in Chicago, IL last week. As one of the largest gatherings for to***co control professionals in the U.S., the conference brought together public health leaders, to***co control experts, and national representatives dedicated to reducing to***co-related harm and improving public health. Our team was proud to contribute through sessions, presentations, and networking opportunities, exchanging ideas and learning from colleagues across the nation. The conference offered a valuable space to explore emerging strategies and evidence-based approaches to advancing to***co control policies and advocacy. NYC Smoke-Free is excited to bring these insights back to New York City and continue working towards building healthier communities. #to***cocontrol #publichealth #to***cofree #healthequity #communityhealth

This past Friday, our NYC Smoke-Free Summer interns had the opportunity to tour the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant through the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. Our DEP educators taught interns about NYC water testing/treatment, water resources throughout New York, green infrastructure, the effects of climate change/waste on our water systems and day to day operations for DEP workers. Thank you so much to the NYC DEP staff for having us. It was an amazing program!

NYC Smoke-Free in partnership with African American To***co Control Leadership Council and The Poet Life hosted the first ever NYC Menthol Poetry Contest on May 30th, 2025. Here are some of the photos from the event showcasing a night of spoken word, culture, food, education, awareness, advocacy, and more! We would like to give a special Thank You to Mother AME Zion Church as well as partners from the American Heart Association, Campaign for To***co-Free Kids, and The Center for Black Health & Equity. Thank you to our youth and adult poets. We look forward to seeing you at the next event.

On Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, NYC Smoke-Free a program of Public Health Solutions alongside our Reality Check Youth, met with the Office of the New York State Attorney General, Health Care Bureau- To***co Enforcement Division. The meeting fostered a critical conversation regarding the current to***co control enforcement within our communities. Reality Check youth were able to share what they see in their communities including smoke shops, continued advertising, to***co product waste, and the continued presence of electronic ci******es.
Members of the AG’s office shared how their work is vital in the fight against the to***co industry and how important it is for them to continue hearing from the youth and community on what’s impacting them and how they can continue to support this fight and be part of the change!

Reality Check Poets use their voices to speak out against the commercial to***co industry in our 1st NYC Smoke-Free No Menthol Poetry Showcase!

Getting ready for the NYC SMOKE-FREE MENTHOL POETRY CONTEST!!!!🎆🎆🎆