Monthly Archives: September 2009

ATTENTION BLACK CAUCUS! Make Banning Menthol Cigarettes a priority

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Every year in DC the Black Caucus arrives to DC to discuss important issues surrounding the black community. I am asking to make the banning of MENTHOL CIGARETTES like NEWPORTS and KOOLS ILLEGAL and a TOP priority!

It is not enough for the FDA to simply ban fruit flavored cigarettes.

Candy and Fruit Flavored Cigarettes Now Illegal in United States; Step is First Under New Tobacco Law
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The black youth of today are smoking- Newports and Black & Milds in DC. Black & Milds are sadly considered cigars and are not even regulated with a warning of their health risks.

Did you know that 75%-90% of African Americans smoke menthols?

U.S. Tobacco Bill Puts Focus on Menthol Cigarettes – Stop Smoking – FOXNews.com
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SMOKING STILL is the leading cause of preventable death in the US!
400,000 deaths a year.
Alcohol-30,000 deaths a year.

It is so ironic that I found this pack of Newports on the ground in Target last week, because Tobacco was on my mind! I had just spent the day with PRO- CLEAN AIR, and yes ANTI-TOBACCO people at the DC Tobacco Free Families Conference.

DOAN
“death of a Newport”
na na na na hey hey hey GOOOD BYE!

HEALTHCARE REFORM NOW! This is Personal! I ♥ DC

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It has now been 78 days that I have been “couch surfing” and without my own place due to my own student loan mis-management and high health insurance costs. I am so grateful and blessed for my friends that have taken me in during this time in my life. I am horrified that my 86-year-old grandmother has basically maxed out her credit cards paying for my $600 a month health insurance/Rx. She knows that if I loose my insurance I will never be covered again due to pre-existing conditions. HELP ME to HELP MYSELF!




I ♥ DC

I ♥ Ballou on BET!

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As many of you know I have been following Ballou, a documentary film for now about a year! I was so sad when I missed the movie in theaters that when the movie was available to order on DVD I was one of the first to order it! I was shocked when I received the DVD in the mail before the release date. I e-mailed the producer to make sure there was no mistake. I was so shocked when I heard back from the producer Mr. Casey Callister. He simply said, “We are trying to get the DVD out to DC residents early!” I knew from that point on that Mr. Callister was in tune with the DC community and I have been attached to the Ballou movie ever since.

Please make sure and check out this post about the movie from last year.

This last weekend Ballou, a documentary film premiered on BET.
Casey invited me to the Premiere Party for the Movie this last weekend at Indulj on U Street. I ♥ Indulj! They always run a great mix, and the DJ’s that are in the house can keep the crowd moving. One thing I appreciate about the club is that it is a totally black-owned Club and all of the owners are native Washingtonians!

The event was hosted by: Tim O. and the Guest Hosts were of course Casey Callister, Producer/Director of Ballou, a Documentary Film and Matthew Barnhill Jr., Senior Executive at BET.
The night was a blast and I even got to meet Mr. Watson the band director!!!!! What I love to see is positive images about the (youth of today) YOT’s in DC! Thank you Mr. Callister, for portraying the youth as they are and Mr. Watson for encouraging the youth to move forward, to want more and to be more! Thank you again everyone for a great evening!!!

DC Tobacco Free Families Annual Conference! COST. . . FREE. . . Experience- PRICELESS!

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For anyone that knows me they know that the DC Tobacco Free Families (DCTFF) Conference changed my life. YES, changed my life!!!! The contacts I made were endless, the information I gained was not only new and fresh but the conference addressed issues, and helped me gain skills that were relevant to me in serving the DC community as a stand-alone volunteer! The DCTFF addresses the needs for youth, organizations, faith-based initiatives, HIV/AIDS, the Latino population, the LGBT community and any suggestions the community wants to hear!

Please check out this flyer. . .
And also visit DC Tobacco Free Families website here
and for any questions or additional information contact Charles Debnam @ cdebnam@aladc.org
Did I mention this is where I met Paul Spires aka “Crucial Thoughtz?”
(Team Champions, Star of DCTFF Secondhand Smoke Commercial, Artist, PG Community College)
Ashley Blakeney, Ballou High School (Team Champions, Ballou, A Documentary Film)
Because I attended the conference I was able to be involved in future DCTFF events like the “Follow the Signs” Workshop given by my newly discovered sister Ms. La Tanisha Wright of the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAAPTN).

Follow the Signs (FTS) is a training program that raises awareness about how Big Tobacco specifically targets Black communities. It was developed by NAATPN’s West Region Director, La Tanisha Wright. Ms. Wright is a former tobacco industry manager. She has expertise in tobacco marketing, merchandising and advertising.

What can I say? I ♥ DCTFF!!

See you at the Conference!