Baton Rouge, LA – The Communities of Color Network
(CoC) in the Southern University Agricultural Research & Extension Center is
helping male smokers quit the habit with its new African-American Male
Cessation Initiative.
Through educational awareness
workshops, the initiative will provide African-American men with cessation
resources and information about free services that may be available to help them
stop smoking.
These services include nicotine
gum, patches and prescriptions, but they must complete an application to see if
they qualify. CoC employees will be available to assist with the completion of
the application process during several kick-off events that will be held
throughout the state.
Kick-off locations and dates are:
Jefferson Parish
January 22nd
3:00 p.m.
Bridge City Community Center
301 3rd Street
Bridge City, LA
70094
Contact Person: Hendrix Broussard
504.228.4391
hendrix_broussard@suagcenter.com
Iberville
Parish
January 28th
6:30 p.m.
Greater St. Mary Baptist Church
58820 W. W. Harleaux Street
Plaquemine, LA
70764
Contact Person: Frankie Poland
225.771.6237
frankie_poland@suagcenter.com
St. Landry Parish
January 31st
2:00 p.m.
Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives
1209 Diesi Street
Opelousas, LA 70570
Contact: Troy Kennedy
337.943.2410
troy_kennedy@suagcenter.com
Rapides Parish
January 26th
6:30 p.m.
Christian Love Center
3515 Hudson Blvd.
Alexandria, LA
71302
Contact: Shawntell Harrell
318.767.3968
shawntell_harrell@suagcenter.com
Caddo
Parish
January 22nd
11 a.m.
Southern University at Shreveport
3050 Doctor Martin Luther King Drive
Jessie Stone Building
Shreveport, LA 71107
Contact: Urina Holt
318.670.9633
urina_holt@suagcenter.com
"This initiative will begin the process of improving
and perpetuating the health and well-being of African-American males,” stated
Linda Early Brown, Communities of Color Network Director. “When this
population upholds a tobacco-free lifestyle, they will affect change throughout
their circle of influence and positive health outcomes will be imminent."
Non-smokers are invited to attend
and learn how they can encourage their family members and friends to stop
smoking.
Funding for the initiative is
provided through a smoking cessation trust grant by the Louisiana Public Health
Institute/The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living.
The Communities of
Color Network provides support and technical assistance to African-American communities
to ensure they are well-informed about the dangers of tobacco, and understand how
to protect themselves from unhealthy exposure.
Its mission is to
eliminate health inequalities caused by or related to tobacco use among
Louisiana communities of color by building coalitions, increasing awareness of
the dangers of tobacco, and reducing tobacco consumption and secondhand smoke
exposure.
###
Contact:
LaKeeshia
Giddens
225.771.2160
lakeeshia_giddens@suagcenter.com
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